William Shakespare

A cura di J. Pignet
 Hamlet is one of the most famous and frequently represented plays written by Shakespeare. Its psychological, relational and existential implications make this tragedy remain relevant and intriguing.
 Hamlet’s father’s ghost appears to him to ask to avenge his death caused by his brother Claudius, who has usurped the throne and married his sister-in-law after the murder.
 Hamlet’s witty plan to organize the revenge goes along with his presumed madness. The sequence of woeful events and the finale loaded with violent deaths are the typical ingredients of the “revenge tragedies” of the time.
 The book, written in narrative form, is interspaced with authentic lines, among the most famous ones. It is also enriched with inserts on theatre and cinema performances, the sources, the various themes of the tragedy and the study of its main characters. 
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Summing-up Activities
 
 Una delle più celebri e rappresentate tragedie di Shakespeare, i cui risvolti psicologici, relazionali ed esistenziali la rendono ancora attuale ed intrigante. La successione di funesti eventi e il finale carico di morti violente sono i tipici ingredienti della tragedia dell’epoca. Il reader è esposto in forma narrativa con intermezzi di versi autentici tra i più famosi. È corredato da approfondimenti, tra i quali, le fonti, le problematiche e lo studio dei personaggi, le rappresentazioni teatrali e cinematografiche della tragedia.

William Shakespeare

Chapter 1 – An Unweeded Garden

Extension: Composition and Texts

Chapter 2 – The Cause of the Defect

Extension: Hamlet and the Stage

Chapter 3 – Blasted with Ecstasy

Extension: What is the Problem?

Chapter 4 – The Tormentor

Extension: The Springs of Corruption

Chapter 5 – A Lady Called Death

Extension: The Rose of May

Chapter 6 – The Readiness is All

Extension: Adapting Hamlet to Film

Summing-up activities

Glossary

The earliest surviving literary tale of Hamlet is found in Historia Danica (circa 1200) by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, printed only in 1514; it was later included in a very popular collection in French, Histoires Tragiques (1576), by Fran ois de Bellforest: it narrates how the future King of Denmark, Hamlet, killed his uncle to punish him for his father s murder. The basic themes of Shakespeare s Hamlet (fratricide, revenge, assumed madness, the girl loved by the hero) are all present in Belleforest s version, and the existing differences confirm that there was a significant elaboration of the sources. Shakespeare knew that audiences were familiar with a Hamlet story and with a number of tragedies of blood and revenge in the Senecan6 tradition. He added the intellectual debate of the protagonist, the apparently studied ambiguity, the complexity of character portrayal and the poetic quality of the language. It is interesting to notice that in Hamlet, as in the historical plays (Henry VI, Richard III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V), Shakespeare supported the accepted medieval theories on regicide7. The killing of the lawful King, old Hamlet, is a most terrible crime: not only does Claudius murder a brother without giving him time to repent, but he also kills the head of the state. As a consequence, the peaceful life of the Danes is put in danger by Fortinbras of Norway s claim8 for his lands and by the moral dissolution of the court. Though Claudius at times feels remorse, he remains a murderer and a usurper, both of the crown and his marital role. He is a  villain 9, as Hamlet often calls him, and divine justice works against him: his attempt to eliminate Prince Hamlet, the lawful heir to the crown, fails10; indirectly he poisons his Queen and is finally stabbed11 by the dying Hamlet, who fulfils12 his promise to his father s spirit. Hamlet is not guilty of regicide like his uncle, he is a hero, because he redresses13 all the wrongs done by Saxo Grammaticus, Historia Danica (printed in Paris in 1514) Claudius and punishes a criminal. 6. Senecan: from the Roman philosopher and tragic poet Seneca (c. 4 BC   AD 65), term used for very violent, bloody tragedies. 7. regicide: the killing of a king. 8. claim: request. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 22 villain: person who is morally bad. fails: is unsuccessful. stabbed: hit with blade (sword, knife). fulfils: executes. redresses: corrects something that is unfair or wrong. 

2  The Cause of the Defect Chapter BEFORE READING 1 Tick what c Hamlet c Hamlet c Hamlet c Hamlet c Hamlet 2 Complete the passage using the words given below. you think Hamlet will do after the Ghost s revelation. will inform his mother of the encounter. will keep his promise and kill the murderer at once. will make sure that what he learnt is true. will keep the encounter secret and continue mourning. will openly accuse his uncle and demand justice. hand   night   rapidly   horrible   armour   suddenly   speak   face   battlements   voice That night Horatio went to the .............................................. but, when he tried to .............................................. to the Ghost, it .............................................. disappeared. The next ......................................... Hamlet was waiting, too. The Ghost appeared ................................................... and with his ................................................... invited Hamlet to follow it. The Ghost was wearing its ....................................................... and its .................................................. was hidden, but its .................................................. was the late King Hamlet s and what it revealed was ................................................. . 3 Match the pairs of opposite adjectives. 1. distant ............................................. a. pleasant 2. bitter ................................................ b. alive 3. calm .................................................. c. uncommon 4. dead ................................................. d. empty 5. sad .................................................... e. near 6. common ........................................ f. 7. next .................................................. g. angry 8. full ...................................................... h. sweet 9. evil ..................................................... i. happy 10. terrible ............................................ j. previous 23 good 

Narrativa inglese, livello B2 intermedio, tragedia di Shakespeare corredata da approfondimenti specifici come la caratterizzazione dei personaggi.

Hamlet - Collana RAINBOWS

Level B2 • Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

Hamlet

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