Hamlet

The Prince of Denmark

Hamlet--fascinating factsfascinating facts

• Willie’s most popular play• The longest of Shakespeare’s plays (when

performed in full)• This play gets beat up on stage more than his

others (because of its length)• There are a variety of written versions of the play

(Quartos I, II and III and Folio I)• You are reading a combination of Quarto II and

Folio I—standard practice among Hamlet geeks.

More fascinating Hamlet facts

• Was probably first performed in 1600 by Shakespeare and his theater company (known at this time as Lord Chamberlain’s Men).

• A revenge play based on a story well known to Elizabethan audiences.

• Loosely based on a 12th century historical document called Historia Danica by a guy named Saxo Grammaticus.

• When someone got a call for him I’m sure they yelled, “Saxo—phone!”

• Hamlet was first printed in 1602, which was no big deal because it is only six letters.

Still more Hamlet

• The famous actor (and W.S.’s partner) Richard Burbage was the first well known Hamlet.

• Willie himself played the ghost of Hamlet’s papa.

• Shakespeare had a son named Hamnet who died very young, but there seems to be no clear connection between the dead kid and the living drama.

Hamlet—the fun never ends

• As you will discover, there has been a ton of criticism written about Hamlet. If any piece of literature in English has been examined more closely, I’m surprised. http://webpac.library.unlv.edu/search~S1/?searchtype=X&searcharg=hamlet+criticism&searchscope=1&SORT=D&extended=1&SUBMIT=Search&searchlimits=&searchorigarg=dhamlet+criticism

Hamlet Ii

• For tomorrow read Ii.• Note how you have a wealth of wonderful

info on all of the left-facing pages, so don’t whine too much about comprehension problems.

• All of W.S.’s plays begin with pizazz. This one has the tension of impending war, a ghost, and the possible murder of a king (not unlike the 6 0’clock news).

The final slide is a special treat.

Behold—the lost lines from the ending of Hamlet. The few remaining characters chant this together while dancing something like the

modern Hokey-Pokey.

Hamlet, Hamlet, two by fourYou said your momma was a whore. You think your uncle offed your dad.

It ain’t no wonder you always feel so bad.Ooh Hamlet—it’s not your birthday

Ooh Hamlet—you so dead!

--William Shakespeare