AP Lit- Hamlet-Act/Scene Notes

ACT 1 SCENE 1:

 
 

Bernardo, Marcellus, Horatio see the ghost of Hamlet's father and decide to tell Hamlet what they've seen

 
 

ACT 1 SCENE 2:

 
 

Claudius and Gertrude decide that Hamlet has gone mad. Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo tell Hamlet about the ghost they saw and how they thought it was Hamlet's father and Hamlet tells them that he will meet them at midnight to see the ghost himself.

 
 

ACT 1 SCENE 3:

 
 

Ophelia tells her brother Laertes about Hamlet's supposed advances towards her. She then tells her father, Polonius who gets really upset.

 
 

ACT 1 SCENE 4:

 
 

Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus meet at midnight and wait for the ghost to appear. When the ghost does appear and Hamlet speaks to it the ghost doesn't answer, only beckons for Hamlet to follow. Hamlet follows against Horatio and Marcellus' advice to not. After they leave Marcellus and Horatio decide to follow in case Hamlet should need help.

 
 

ACT 1 SCENE 5:

 
 

Hamlet follows the ghost and finally the ghost speaks when Hamlet demands that he won't follow anymore unless he answers. The ghost says that he doesn't have much time to explain. He is Hamlet's father. He says that Hamlet must solve his murder. The ghost tells him that his uncle, who is now the king, was the one who killed him. He says that his uncle killed him and married his widowed wife to become king. The ghost then leaves right before Horatio and Marcellus enter. They ask what happened, but Hamlet refuses to tell, but makes them swear (with the ghosts help) to never repeat what happened/what they saw that night.

 
 

ACT 2 SCENE 1:

 
 

• Polonius send Reynaldo to spy on Laertes
  
• Ophelia tells Polonius that Hamlet came in while she was sewing and held her
  
• They go to tell the king
  

   
   

  ACT 2 SCENE 2:
  

   
   

• Claudius and Gertrude tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to talk to Hamlet
  
• Polonius explains to Gertrude and Claudius what Hamlet did and reads to them a letter from Hamlet addressed to Ophelia
  
• They determine him mad and agree to spy on him to see if it is the truth
  
• Polonius speaks to Hamlet, Hamlet pretends he doesn't know who he is, but asks if he has a daughter
  
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern talk to Hamlet, but Hamlet knows why they came to speak to him and gets them to confess that his mother sent them.
  
• Hamlet tells the players to do a special scene
  
• Hamlet's soliloquy about why he hasn't killed Claudius yet
  

   
   

  ACT 3 SCENE 1:
  

   
   

• Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy
  
• Claudius and Polonius hide while Hamlet speaks to Ophelia
  
  • Hamlet denies sending Ophelia notes and asks about her father
    
  • Claudius and Polonius decide that Hamlet is mad and should go to England
    

   
   

  ACT 3 SCENE 2
  

   
   

• Hamlet instructs the players what to do for their scene. He asks Horatio to watch Claudius' reaction during the play
  
• The players pretty much reenact the death of King Hamlet by Claudius
  
• Horatio says that he did see the king react during the scene
  
• Ends with another soliloquy by Hamlet about how he will be rude to his mother and show his anger, but he will not kill her
  

   
   

  ACT 3 SCENE 3
  

   
   

• Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet with them to England
  
• Polonius tells Claudius that Hamlet is going to speak to his mother privately
  
• Claudius speaks a soliloquy in the form of a prayer, admitting what he did and asking for help from the angels
  
  • Hamlet hears the prayer and tells Claudius he shall spare him for now
    

     
     

  ACT 3 SCENE 4
  

   
   

• Polonius hides in Gertrude's room to hear what they are going to talk about
  
• Hamlet starts off in a rude manner, talking to his mother
  
• Polonius accidentally reveals himself and Hamlet kills him
  
• Hamlet confronts Gertrude about his father's premature death. Accusing her of having a part
  
  • The ghost shows up and tells Hamlet to talk to his mother
    
  • Gertrude truly think him mad when Hamlet starts talking to a ghost that she can't see or hear
    
• Hamlet tells his mother to live purer
  
• He takes Polonius' body and leaves
  

   
   

  ACT 4 SCENE 1
  

   
   

• Gertrude tells Claudius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern about how Hamlet killed Polonius and took his body, and how he spoke to no one
  

   
   

  ACT 4 SCENE 2
  

   
   

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern confront Hamlet about what he did and ask where he put the body
  
• Hamlet refuses to tell them, saying that he has to look out for his own interests
  

   
   

  ACT 4 SCENE 3
  

   
   

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bring Hamlet to see Claudius
  
  • Claudius asks where Polonius is and Hamlet once again refuses to tell
    
  • Claudius tells Hamlet to go to England
    
  • After Hamlet leaves Claudius has a mini soliloquy about killing Hamlet
    

     
     

  ACT 4 SCENE 4
  

   
   

• Fortinbras comes and tells Hamlet that he is against Poland and wants to travel through Denmark
  
• Hamlet says another soliloquy and reveal his shame that he has not killed Claudius yet
  
  • He thinks that if Fortinbras can lead a worthless fight he should be able to take care of Claudius, but then again, he thinks Fortinbras a fool
    

     
     

  ACT 4 SCENE 5
  

   
   

• Ophelia is revealed to have gone mad after the death of her father
  
• The people are calling for Laertes to be king
  
• Laertes comes back and accuses Claudius of having his father
  
  • Claudius tells him that he is dead
    
  • Laertes sees what Ophelia has become
    
  • Claudius tells Laetres that if he is responsible for Polonius' death he could have the kingdom, but if not, he would help him get revenge on who really did it
    

     
     

  ACT 4 SCENE 6
  

   
   

• Horatio gets a letter from Hamlet saying that his ship was attacked by pirates and that he convinced them to bring him back to Denmark
  
  • Hamlet also tells Horatio to deliver his other letters to the king
    

     
     

  ACT 4 SCENE 7
  

   
   

• At the opening Claudius has finished telling Laertes what Hamlet did
  
  • He explains why he didn't turn Hamlet in for a trial
    
    • Gertrude loves him too much and Hamlet has the support of the people
      
• Claudius gets the letter from Hamlet and reads it aloud
  
  • He then convinces Laertes to kill Hamlet by poisoning him
    
• Gertrude comes and tells the two about the death of Ophelia
  
  • She drowned
    

     
     

  AC 5 SCENE 1
  

   
   

• Hamlet and Horatio meet up with two 'clowns' and they hear them talking about the death of someone. They are digging a grave. They are debating whether of not she deserves a proper burial
  
  • They mention Hamlet being mad in England, not knowing who they are talking to
    
• The grave turns out to belong to Ophelia and Hamlet walked in right before the start of the funeral
  
• Hamlet reveals himself and Laertes fights him
  
  • Gertrude gets them to stop and Hamlet leaves.
    
  • Claudius assures Laertes that he will have his chance to slay Hamlet