Introduction to Hamlet
English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet, topic 1.1.1
Introduction to Hamlet
Hamlet was written between 1599 and 1600 and was first performed in either 1600 or 1601. Hamlet is perhaps Shakespeare’s most widely known play.
Why is Hamlet so well known?
- Hamlet contains the single most famous line in all of Shakespearean drama (“To be, or not to be”).
- Hamlet also features many of the most iconic moments in all of English literature. For example:
- The Ghost on the battlements;
- The troubled hero in the graveyard;
- The drowned maiden.
Critical responses to Hamlet
- More has been written about Hamlet than on any other Shakespeare play.
- For over 400 years, audiences and critics have debated the play’s meaning, with each generation discovering its own Hamlet.
- Many of these different interpretations will be examined in the Critical Debates section of this course.
Drama & Poetry Pre-1900 paper
- You are studying Hamlet in preparation for the Component 01 Drama & Poetry Pre-1900 examination paper.
- You are required to:
- Analyse the text in close detail, exploring Shakespeare’s use of language and dramatic effects;
- Consider issues raised in a specific extract in relation to your understanding of the play as a whole;
- Explore ways in which the chosen play is/has been interpreted by different audiences, including over time.
Test yourself on Introduction to Hamlet
When was Hamlet written?
When was Hamlet first performed?
Which moments feature in Hamlet?