Hamlet summary

What's included?

Five-page PDF

Key Stage

KS3, KS4

Age

Years 7-11

Subjects

This Hamlet summary mini-pack contains an outline explaining the story of Hamlet, plus information about the play’s main characters, major themes and setting. It’s a great reference pack for teachers and students.

Shakespeare set Hamlet in Denmark. Claudius has become King after the death of his brother and has married his brother’s widow, Gertrude.

Prince Hamlet is visited by his dead father’s ghost. The ghost tells his horrified son that he was murdered – poisoned – by Claudius.

The ghost orders Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet isn’t sure whether to trust the ghost so decides to investigate and puts on an act of madness as a distraction.

Polonius, one of Claudius’s advisors – and father to Ophelia and Laertes – advises his daughter to be wary of Hamlet.

Performing a play

Hamlet enlists the help of a group of travelling players who perform a play about the ghost’s murder. He watches Claudius and sure enough, at the moment the actors enact the murder, Claudius storms out.

Hamlet deems this sufficient proof of his guilt. Hamlet confronts Gertrude, assuming that she’s complicit in his father’s murder.

Polonius eavesdrops on their conversation and, fearful that Hamlet may harm his mother, cries out. Hamlet, hearing the cry, stabs the tapestry and accidentally kills Polonius.

Claudius sends Hamlet away to England, with the aim of having him killed on the way. Hamlet discovers the plot and manages to escape and return.

Ophelia and Laertes

Ophelia, poor tortured creature, goes mad after her father’s death and drowns herself. Laertes, her brother, blames Hamlet for the death of his sister and father. Encouraged by Claudius, he agrees to fight Hamlet in a duel.

Claudius and Laertes hatch a plan. They poison the tip of Laertes’s sword and make sure Hamlet’s drink is poisoned too. At the sword fight Hamlet strikes first.

Gertrude drinks a toast to her son and downs the poison. She dies. Laertes wounds Hamlet but Hamlet doesn’t die immediately. He manages to turn the poisoned sword on Laertes.

Laertes dies, telling the world that Claudius murdered his own brother. Hamlet stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword then makes him drink the rest of the poisoned wine.

Claudius dies. Hamlet finally dies in Horatio’s arms, having avenged his father’s murder.

Arts On The Move, run by Alison Chaplin, provides high-quality creative resources and support for teachers, drama practitioners, young actors and youth theatre directors. Download a Hamlet key quotes poster pack.