English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet revision notes

1 Introduction
- 1.1 Introduction & Background to Hamlet
  1.1.1 Introduction to Hamlet
  1.1.2 The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story
  1.1.3 Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet
  1.1.4 Introduction to Social Issues Raised
2 Plot Summary
- 2.1 Act 1: Key Events & Ideas
  2.1.1 Act 1, Scene 1
  2.1.2 Act 1, Scene 2
  2.1.3 Act 1, Scene 3
  2.1.4 Act 1, Scenes 4-5
- 2.2 Act 2: Key Events & Ideas
  2.2.1 Act 2, Scene 1
  2.2.2 Act 2, Scene 2
- 2.3 Act 3: Key Events & Ideas
  2.3.1 Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events
  2.3.2 Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas
  2.3.3 Act 3, Scene 2
  2.3.4 Act 3, Scene 3
  2.3.5 Act 3, Scene 4
- 2.4 Act 4: Key Events & Ideas
  2.4.1 Act 4, Scene 1
  2.4.2 Act 4, Scenes 2-3
  2.4.3 Act 4, Scene 4
  2.4.4 Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events
  2.4.5 Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas
  2.4.6 Act 4, Scene 6
  2.4.7 Act 4, Scene 7
- 2.5 Act 5: Key Events & Ideas
  2.5.1 Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events
  2.5.2 Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events
  2.5.3 Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas
3 Character Profiles
- 3.1 Hamlet
  3.1.1 Hamlet's Speech & Mind
  3.1.2 Hamlet's Heroic Status
  3.1.3 Hamlet's State of Mind
  3.1.4 Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking
- 3.2 Claudius
  3.2.1 Claudius' Crime
  3.2.2 Changing Impressions of Claudius
- 3.3 Gertrude
  3.3.1 Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude
  3.3.2 Gertrude's Character
  3.3.3 Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet
- 3.4 Ophelia
  3.4.1 Ophelia
- 3.5 Polonius
  3.5.1 Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia
  3.5.2 Polonius' Spying & Death
- 3.6 Laertes
  3.6.1 Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia
  3.6.2 Laertes' Character Traits
4 Key Themes
- 4.1 Regicide in Hamlet
  4.1.1 Regicide in Hamlet
- 4.2 Madness in Hamlet
  4.2.1 Madness in Hamlet
- 4.3 Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet
  4.3.1 Guilt in Hamlet
  4.3.2 Punishment in Hamlet
- 4.4 Settings in Hamlet
  4.4.1 Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet
5 Writing Techniques
- 5.1 Structure
  5.1.1 Structure of Hamlet
  5.1.2 'Play Within a Play' Structure
  5.1.3 Play-Acting Motif
- 5.2 Form
  5.2.1 Soliloquy
  5.2.2 Comedy
- 5.3 Imagery
  5.3.1 Imagery of Corruption & Decay
  5.3.2 Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume
- 5.4 Language
  5.4.1 Word Usage & Hendiadys
  5.4.2 Questions & Classical Allusions
6 Context
- 6.1 Social & Historical Context
  6.1.1 Elizabeth I & Succession
  6.1.2 Cosmic & Social Hierarchy
  6.1.3 Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism
  6.1.4 Regicide
  6.1.5 The Reformation
- 6.2 Literary Context
  6.2.1 Seneca Tragedy
  6.2.2 The Revenge Tragedy
- 6.3 Performance & Textual History
  6.3.1 Performance History of Hamlet
  6.3.2 Textual History of Hamlet
7 Critical Debates
- 7.1 18-19th Century Responses to Hamlet
  7.1.1 Introduction to Critical Debates
  7.1.2 18th Century Commentary on Hamlet
  7.1.3 Romantic Commentary on Hamlet
- 7.2 20th Century Responses to Hamlet
  7.2.1 Freudian Response to Hamlet
  7.2.2 Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet
- 7.3 Feminist Readings of Hamlet
  7.3.1 Introduction to Feminist Criticism
  7.3.2 Feminist Readings of Hamlet
  7.3.3 Presentation of Ophelia
- 7.4 Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet
  7.4.1 Introduction to Marxist Criticisms
  7.4.2 Marxist Readings of Hamlet