Hamlet Activities
Hamlet Activities
Hamlet Activities
Lesson Plan
Viewing
• :04 Playing Video: Hand out Viewing Guide. Go over Viewing Questions and expectations. Tell the students to pay
attention to the program and answer the questions while watching. Don’t hesitate to stop the program and review if
the students seem confused.
15 minutes
• :19 Question & Answer Session: Ask the class the Viewing Questions. See if any parts of the program were difficult or
confusing for the students. Ask a few questions to check their understanding of the key topics.
4 minutes
Sample Questions
1. What type of play is Hamlet?
2. Where is the play set?
3. Whose death is Hamlet mourning at the beginning of the play?
Handouts
• :23 Practicing Material: Hand out the Worksheet and give the class 5-7 minutes to complete it. Students are allowed to
use their Viewing Guides. Monitor the students’ progress, helping where needed. Go over Worksheet as a class.
10 minutes
• :33 Applying Material: Separate the class into groups of four. Hand out the “Hamlet Needs Therapy” Activity and the
example sheet to each group. There are four different versions of the Activity. Have the students write a modern-day
dialogue that might take place between Hamlet and a psychiatrist. If time permits, have groups present their dialogue
to the class.
14 minutes
• :47 Wrap-up: Briefly sum up what has been covered in class by prompting students to list the main points covered.
Assign any homework.
3 minutes
Teacher Notes:
Hamlet Basics
Teacher’s Reference Guide
Materials
• Video: The plot of Hamlet, Hamlet’s character; 15 minutes
• Viewing Guide: The plot of Hamlet, the characters of Hamlet, tragic figure test, Hamlet’s character;
3 Viewing Questions
• Worksheet: “Hamlet Puzzle”
• Activity: “Hamlet Needs Therapy”
• Check Your Knowledge: 50 points
Background
None required.
Preparation
None required.
Extension
Have students bring in newspaper, magazine, or Internet articles containing examples of people that have been
wronged. Should the person seek revenge? Why or why not? Would they be justified in seeking revenge?
Hamlet Basics
Viewing Guide
Characters of Hamlet
Act Two
King Hamlet — deceased King of Denmark. Claudius summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,
Hamlet’s school friends, to the castle to spy on him.
A group of actors arrive at the castle and Hamlet
Hamlet — Prince of Denmark, son of the deceased
arranges for them to perform The Murder of Gonzago,
king. along with additional lines he has written. Hamlet hopes
to prove Claudius’s guilt by watching his reaction to
Claudius — the newly crowned king of Denmark the play.
and Hamlet’s uncle.
Act Three
Gertrude — Queen of Denmark, widow of the
The players perform the play which portrays King
deceased king and now wife of Claudius. Hamlet’s death. Claudius gets upset and leaves the room,
which confirms his guilt in Hamlet’s eyes. Out of concern
Polonius — councillor to Claudius; his right-hand for Hamlet’s welfare, Queen Gertrude meets with Hamlet
man. in her chambers. Polonius eavesdrops behind a curtain.
Hearing Polonius, Hamlet stabs through the curtain,
Laertes — son of Polonius. killing him.
Viewing Questions Laertes reveals Claudius’s wicked plans for the exhibition
1. Who is Hamlet’s mother married to? duel, in which Laertes has used a sword dipped in poison.
Hamlet stabs Claudius and makes him drink from the
2. Who is Polonius? poisoned cup of wine; Hamlet and Laertes forgive each
other and die.
3. What does the ghost demand that Hamlet do?
Horatio eulogizes over Hamlet’s corpse.
Hamlet Basics
Worksheet
1 2 3 4 5
7 8
10
11
12
13
If you think Hamlet is puzzling, try this. Complete the crossword puzzle.
Across
2. the son of Polonius
6. the Queen of Denmark and widow of the late king; now wife of Claudius
9. councillor to the king; his right-hand man
10. “To be or _____ _____ be”
11. the prince of Denmark and son of the late king
12. the setting of Hamlet
13. Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is categorized as a _______________.
Down
1. one of Hamlet’s “school chums”
3. the tip of this was dipped in poison, resulting in the deaths of both Laertes and Hamlet
4. the newly crowned king of Denmark and Hamlet’s uncle
5. the daughter of Polonius
6. a phenomenon seen as a sign of good or evil
7. the Prince of Norway
8. Hamlet was sent here by Claudius
Hamlet Basics
Worksheet
Answer Key
r l a e r t e s c
1
o
2 3 4 5
o w l p
s o a h
e g e r t r u d e
6
n h d d l
c f e i i
7 8
o
r p o l o n i u s u a
1
a r g t s
n o t t o l
10
h a m l e t
11
t i
z n n
b d e n m a r k
12
r
t r a g e d y
13
s
If you think Hamlet is puzzling, try this. Complete the crossword puzzle.
Across
2. the son of Polonius
6. the Queen of Denmark and widow of the late king; now wife of Claudius
9. councillor to the king; his right-hand man
10. “To be or _____ _____ be”
11. the prince of Denmark and son of the late king
12. the setting of Hamlet
13. Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is categorized as a _______________.
Down
1. one of Hamlet’s “school chums”
3. the tip of this was dipped in poison, resulting in the deaths of both Laertes and Hamlet
4. the newly crowned king of Denmark and Hamlet’s uncle
5. the daughter of Polonius
6. a phenomenon seen as a sign of good or evil
7. the Prince of Norway
8. Hamlet was sent here by Claudius
Hamlet Basics
Activity
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
Hamlet Basics
Activity
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
Hamlet Basics
Activity
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
Hamlet Basics
Activity
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
PSYCHOLOGIST:
HAMLET:
Hamlet Basics
Activity
Answer Key
HAMLET: “Can you believe she married my uncle? My dad hasn’t even settled in his grave and she does this. She
should be mourning or something. So, get this—my mom is now my aunt and my uncle is now my stepfather and the
king. I feel like I’m losing it.
PSYCHOLOGIST: “I see.”
PSYCHOLOGIST: “ Exactly.”
Hamlet Basics
Activity
Answer Key
HAMLET: “Okay, this is what happened. The sentries in the castle told me and my good friend, Horatio, about this
ghost, right. And so, I decided to check it out. Guess what? The ghost turns out to be my dad. Yeah, that’s awesome,
huh? Anyway, my dad…”
HAMLET: “The ghost, my dad, same thing…tells me that my uncle Claudius, who is his brother, killed him by pouring
poison into his ear.”
PSYCHOLOGIST: “So, the ghost tells you that he is your father and that your uncle, who is also your new stepfather,
and is also the new king killed your father, which is his brother?”
HAMLET: “My dad, the ghost, tells me that he wants me to avenge his death.”
HAMLET: “I said okay. That’s my dad. So, what do you think, doc?
PSYCHOLOGIST: “I see.”
HAMLET: “Here’s the deal. A group of actors came to the castle, right? And I used my charm to persuade them to
perform a play for court that night…now get this, I inserted a few extra lines in the play. Pretty much my idea was to get
the actors to re-enact my father’s murder. If Claudius freaked out, then obviously he killed my dad. Good idea, right?”
PSYCHOLOGIST: “I see.”
HAMLET: “Anyway, Claudius freaked out and rushed out of the room. I was on my way to tell my mom what hap-
pened when I saw Claudius alone. I think to myself, he’s alone and defenseless, I should do it now. But then I realize
he’s praying.
HAMLET: “Doc, you’ve gotta help me. My mom thinks I’m crazy and it’s gotten to the point that I’m paranoid about
everything.”
PSYCHOLOGIST: “Paranoid?”
HAMLET: “Yeah. Paranoid. See, the other night I had the actors re-enact my father’s murder. Claudius freaked out
which was a sign of his guilt. Okay, so I try to tell my mother about her new husband and I hear this sound behind the
curtain in her room. I jabbed my sword through the curtain and Polonius fell dead. I actually thought he was my uncle
Claudius, but he wasn’t. I kind of lost my temper and I yelled at my mom about her marriage to Claudius. But my pops
appeared and told me to take his revenge on Claudius and not my mom.”
PSYCHOLOGIST: “I see.”
PSYCHOLOGIST: “Honestly?”
PSYCHOLOGIST: “No.”
HAMLET: “ I think you help me out more than you know—all I need is someone to talk to and someone to listen.”
C. A Complete Thought
Answer the questions. (2 points each)
C. A Complete Thought
Answer the questions. (2 points each)
1. What was the name of the play performed at the castle? The Murder of Gonzago
2. How did Claudius kill King Hamlet? Claudius pours poison in his ear while he sleeps.
3. Why have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern been summoned to Denmark? To spy on Hamlet for Claudius.