Hamlet. Scene by Scene

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The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

I.

a) Time: Sixteenth Century

b) Place: Denmark

c) Preliminary situation: King Hamlet, King of Denmark is killed. Hamlet the Prince's uncle,

Claudius, receives the throne and marries Queen Gertrude.

II.

a) Initial Incident: A ghost appears to Marcellus and another guard who decide to inform Hamlet of

it's presence.

b) Rising Action:

1.2 Claudius, the new King, is holding court and thanks his subjects for their support. He

then sends an ambassador to Norway to protect from an invasion from Fortinbras, Hamlets second

cousin. He gives Laertes permission to return to France but will not allow Hamlet to go to

Wittenburg. Hamlet feels alone and is upset that his mother married so shortly after her husband's

death. The guards arrive and tell Hamlet about the ghost and Hamlet agrees to join them that night in

search of the ghost, his father.

1.3 At Polonius's room, Laertes says good-bye to his sister Ophelia and tells her not to

trust Hamlet. Polonius arrives and says good-bye Laertes and offers him advice. He then talks to

Ophelia about not seeing Hamlet and then orders her stay away from him.

1.4 Claudius is drinking the night and Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus see the ghost again.

The ghost signals to Hamlet to come, but the others try and hold him back. Hamlet struggles free

and moves towards the apparition.

1.5 The ghost tells Hamlet that he is the spirit of his father and that he was not poisoned, but

murdered. He demands that Hamlet avenge his death by murdering the killer, King Claudius.

Hamlet promises to get revenge and orders the other to swear they haven't seen anything with the

help of the ghost.

2.1 Polonius sends his servant, Reynaldo, to Paris to spy and ask...