The play, set in Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father, the King, and then taken the throne and married Hamlet's mother. The play vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness-from overwhelming grief to seething rage-and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.
In this quintessential Shakespearean drama, Hamlet's halting pursuit of revenge for his father's death unfolds in a series of highly charged confrontations that climax in tragedy. Probing the depths of human feeling like few other works of art, the play is reprinted here from an authoritative British edition complete with illuminating footnotes.
For this updated edition Robert Hapgood has added a section on prevailing critical and performance approaches to Hamlet. Presents a graphic novel version of the classic tragedy about the struggle of Prince Hamlet to avenge his father's murder.
She has also published widely on editing Shakespeare and Shakespeare's language. She is one of the General Editors of the Arden Shakespeare. He has also published widely on editing Shakespeare, Shakespeare on film, and other aspects of Renaissance and modern drama. This text is designed as a supplement to the Arden Hamlet and refers to the Introduction and Appendices of that volume for a full discussion of dating, sources, textual matters, afterlife, and all other topics usually covered in an Arden edition.
In order to make use of this volume, the reader will need access to the Arden Hamlet but not vice versa. This volume gives readers the First Quarto text of and the Folio Text of , modernized and edited to the usual Arden standard. As a companion to the Second Quarto volume, the Arden Hamlet, it will be of particular interest to scholars and students of textual history and comparison, or to anyone studying Hamlet at an advanced level.
Both plays are edited and annotated, and the introduction contains the fullest available stage history of the First Quarto text. The Arden Shakespeare has developed a reputation as the pre-eminent critical edition of Shakespeare for its exceptional scholarship, reflected in the thoroughness of each volume.
An introduction comprehensively contextualizes the play, chronicling the history and culture that surrounded and influenced Shakespeare at the time of its writing and performance, and closely surveying critical approaches to the work.
Detailed appendices address problems like dating and casting, and analyze the differing Quarto and Folio sources. Highly informative and accessible, Arden offers the fullest experience of Shakespeare available to a reader. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more.
For any literature project, trust Shakespeare for Students for all of your research needs. In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing.
You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature. CliffsComplete Hamlet covers details of the most widely produced and critiqued Shakespearean play. O, answer me? Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death, Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd, Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws To cast thee up again.
What may this mean That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel, Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon, Making night hideous, and we fools of nature So horridly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? What should we do? Ghost beckons Hamlet. It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire To you alone. Look with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground.
But do not go with it! No, by no means! It will not speak. Then will I follow it. Do not, my lord! Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life at a pin's fee; And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself? I'll follow it. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base into the sea, And there assume some other, horrible form Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason And draw you into madness?
Think of it. The very place puts toys of desperation, Without more motive, into every brain That looks so many fadoms to the sea And hears it roar beneath. It waves me still. Go on. I'll follow thee. You shall not go, my lord. Hold off your hands! Be rul'd. You shall not go. My fate cries out And makes each petty artire in this body As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve. Unhand me, gentlemen. By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!
Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet. He waxes desperate with imagination. Let's follow. Have after. To what issue will this come? Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Heaven will direct it. Nay, let's follow him. Enter Ghost and Hamlet. Whither wilt thou lead me? I'll go no further. Father's Ghost. Mark me. I will. My hour is almost come, When I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Alas, poor ghost! Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold.
I am bound to hear. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. I am thy father's spirit, Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confin'd to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, Thy knotted and combined locks to part, And each particular hair to stand on end Like quills upon the fretful porcupine.
But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love- Hamlet. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murther. Murther most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.
Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge. I find thee apt; And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this.
Now, Hamlet, hear. So the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abus'd. But know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown.
O my prophetic soul! My uncle? Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts- O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power So to seduce!
O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there, From me, whose love was of that dignity That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine!
Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard, My custom always of the afternoon, Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursed hebona in a vial, And in the porches of my ears did pour The leperous distilment; whose effect Holds such an enmity with blood of man That swift as quicksilver it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body, And with a sudden vigour it doth posset And curd, like eager droppings into milk, The thin and wholesome blood.
So did it mine; And a most instant tetter bark'd about, Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust All my smooth body.
Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd; Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhous'led, disappointed, unanel'd, No reckoning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head. O, horrible! If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not. Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest. But, howsoever thou pursuest this act, Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught.
Leave her to heaven, And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once. The glowworm shows the matin to be near And gins to pale his uneffectual fire. Adieu, adieu, adieu!
Remember me. O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? Hold, hold, my heart! And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee? Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat In this distracted globe. Yes, by heaven! O most pernicious woman! O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! My tables! Meet it is I set it down That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain; At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. Now to my word: It is 'Adieu, adieu!
Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Lord Hamlet! Heaven secure him! So be it! Illo, ho, ho, my lord! Hillo, ho, ho, boy! Come, bird, come. How is't, my noble lord? What news, my lord? O, wonderful! Good my lord, tell it. No, you will reveal it. Not I, my lord, by heaven! Nor I, my lord. How say you then? Would heart of man once think it? There's neer a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he's an arrant knave.
There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this. Why, right! You are in the right! And so, without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and part; You, as your business and desires shall point you, For every man hath business and desire, Such as it is; and for my own poor part, Look you, I'll go pray. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.
I am sorry they offend you, heartily; Yes, faith, heartily. There's no offence, my lord. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, And much offence too. Touching this vision here, It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you. And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, Give me one poor request. What is't, my lord? We will. Never make known what you have seen to-night. Nay, but swear't. In faith, My lord, not I. Nor I, my lord- in faith. Upon my sword. We have sworn, my lord, already.
Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. Ghost cries under the stage. Aha boy, say'st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny? Come on! You hear this fellow in the cellarage. Consent to swear. Propose the oath, my lord. Never to speak of this that you have seen. Swear by my sword. Hic et ubique? Then we'll shift our ground.
Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword. Never to speak of this that you have heard: Swear by my sword.
Well said, old mole! Canst work i' th' earth so fast? Once more remove, good friends. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange! And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on , That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, With arms encumb'red thus, or this head-shake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As 'Well, well, we know,' or 'We could, an if we would,' Or 'If we list to speak,' or 'There be, an if they might,' Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me- this is not to do, So grace and mercy at your most need help you, Swear.
Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you; And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do t' express his love and friending to you, God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together; And still your fingers on your lips, I pray. The time is out of joint. O cursed spite That ever I was born to set it right! Nay, come, let's go together. Enter Polonius and Reynaldo. Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.
I will, my lord. You shall do marvell's wisely, good Reynaldo, Before You visit him, to make inquire Of his behaviour.
My lord, I did intend it. Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir, Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris; And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, What company, at what expense; and finding By this encompassment and drift of question That they do know my son, come you more nearer Than your particular demands will touch it. Ay, very well, my lord.
As gaming, my lord. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, Drabbing. You may go so far. My lord, that would dishonour him. Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge. You must not put another scandal on him, That he is open to incontinency. That's not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly That they may seem the taints of liberty, The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind, A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault.
But, my good lord- Polonius. Wherefore should you do this? Ay, my lord, I would know that. Marry, sir, here's my drift, And I believe it is a fetch of warrant.
Very good, my lord. And then, sir, does 'a this- 'a does- What was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something! Where did I leave? At 'closes in the consequence,' at 'friend or so,' and gentleman.
At 'closes in the consequence'- Ay, marry! He closes thus: 'I know the gentleman. I saw him yesterday, or t'other day, Or then, or then, with such or such; and, as you say, There was 'a gaming; there o'ertook in's rouse; There falling out at tennis'; or perchance, 'I saw him enter such a house of sale,' Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.
See you now- Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth; And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlasses and with assays of bias, By indirections find directions out. So, by my former lecture and advice, Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? My lord, I have. God b' wi' ye, fare ye well!
Good my lord! Observe his inclination in yourself. I shall, my lord. And let him ply his music. Well, my lord. What's the matter? O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted! With what, i' th' name of God? My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd, No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd, Ungart'red, and down-gyved to his ankle; Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors- he comes before me.
Mad for thy love? My lord, I do not know, But truly I do fear it. What said he? He took me by the wrist and held me hard; Then goes he to the length of all his arm, And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face As he would draw it.
Long stay'd he so. That done, he lets me go, And with his head over his shoulder turn'd He seem'd to find his way without his eyes, For out o' doors he went without their help And to the last bended their light on me. Come, go with me. I will go seek the King.
I am sorry. No, my good lord; but, as you did command, I did repel his letters and denied His access to me. That hath made him mad. I fear'd he did but trifle And meant to wrack thee; but beshrew my jealousy! By heaven, it is as proper to our age To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions As it is common for the younger sort To lack discretion.
Come, go we to the King. This must be known; which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide than hate to utter love. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Moreover that we much did long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sending. Something have you heard Of Hamlet's transformation. So I call it, Sith nor th' exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was.
What it should be, More than his father's death, that thus hath put him So much from th' understanding of himself, I cannot dream of. I entreat you both That, being of so young days brought up with him, And since so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time; so by your companies To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather So much as from occasion you may glean, Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus That, open'd, lies within our remedy.
Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you, And sure I am two men there are not living To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To show us so much gentry and good will As to expend your time with us awhile For the supply and profit of our hope, Your visitation shall receive such thanks As fits a king's remembrance. Both your Majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Put your dread pleasures more into command Than to entreaty.
But we both obey, And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To lay our service freely at your feet, To be commanded. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz. And I beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed son. Heavens make our presence and our practices Pleasant and helpful to him! Ay, amen!
Enter Polonius. Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, Are joyfully return'd. Thou still hast been the father of good news. Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege, I hold my duty as I hold my soul, Both to my God and to my gracious king; And I do think- or else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy so sure As it hath us'd to do- that I have found The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
O, speak of that! That do I long to hear. Give first admittance to th' ambassadors. My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. I doubt it is no other but the main, His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.
Well, we shall sift him. Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway? Most fair return of greetings and desires. Upon our first, he sent out to suppress His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack, But better look'd into, he truly found It was against your Highness; whereat griev'd, That so his sickness, age, and impotence Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys, Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine, Makes vow before his uncle never more To give th' assay of arms against your Majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee And his commission to employ those soldiers, So levied as before, against the Polack; With an entreaty, herein further shown, [Gives a paper. It likes us well; And at our more consider'd time we'll read, Answer, and think upon this business. Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together. Most welcome home! Exeunt Ambassadors. This business is well ended. My liege, and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night is night, and time is time.
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief.
Your noble son is mad. Mad call I it; for, to define true madness, What is't but to be nothing else but mad? But let that go. Not a mouse stirring. More likely the latter. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals6 of my watch, bid them make haste. Stand, ho! Horatio Friends to this ground.
Francisco Barnardo has my place. Give you good night. Barnardo Say,14 What, is Horatio there? What is printed as three lines is thus, metrically prosodically , only one iambic pentameter line. Barnardo Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus. Barnardo I have seen nothing.
Horatio Well, sit we down, And let us hear Barnardo speak of this. Look where it25 comes again! Marcellus Thou art a scholar;27 speak to it, Horatio.
Mark29 it, Horatio. Horatio Most like. It harrows30 me with fear and wonder. Barnardo It would31 be spoke to. Speak to32 it, Horatio. See, it stalks38 away! Horatio Stay! I charge thee, speak! Barnardo How now,41 Horatio! You tremble and look pale. Is not this something more than fantasy? Marcellus Is it not like the king?
Horatio As thou art to thyself. Such was the very armor he had on 60 When he the ambitious Norway combated;44 So frowned he once, when in an angry parle,45 He smote the sledded Polacks46 on the ice. Marcellus Thus twice before, and jump at this dead47 hour, 65 With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. Horatio In what particular48 thought to work49 I know not; But in the gross and scope of my opinion,50 This bodes some strange eruption to our state.
Horatio That can I — 64 goes so. Lo, where it comes again! Stay, illusion! If there be any good thing to be done, That may to thee do ease and grace to me, Speak to me. Stay, and speak! Stop it, Marcellus. Barnardo Do, if it will not stand. Horatio Do, if it will not stand. Barnardo It was about to speak, when the cock crew. Horatio And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons. Horatio So have I heard and do in part believe it. Break we our watch up; and by my advice, Let us impart what we have seen to-night Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.
For all, our thanks. So much for him. Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty. Claudius We doubt it nothing. Heartily farewell. You told us of some suit. You cannot speak of reason to the Dane21 45 And lose your voice. What wouldst thou have, Laertes? What says Polonius? Polonius He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow30 leave By laborsome petition,31 and at last Upon his will I sealed my hard32 consent. Claudius Take thy fair33 hour, Laertes.
Time be thine, And thy best graces34 spend it at thy will! But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son — 35 Hamlet aside A little more than kin, and less than kind. Hamlet Not so, my lord. Hamlet Seems, madam! These indeed seem, For they are actions that a man might play,50 85 But I have that within which passeth51 show; These but the trappings and the suits of woe. Gertrude Let not thy mother lose63 her prayers, Hamlet. I pray thee, stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. Madam, come. Come away. Heaven and earth!
Must I remember? O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity87 to incestuous88 sheets! It is not nor it cannot come to good. But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue. Or I do forget myself. Hamlet I am very glad to see you. Hamlet I would not hear96 your enemy say so, Nor shall you do mine ear that violence, To make it truster97 of your own report Against yourself. I know you are no truant. Hamlet I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student.
Horatio Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. Hamlet Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral baked meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio!
My father! Methinks I see my father. Horatio Where, my lord? Hamlet Where, my lord? Horatio My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Horatio My lord, the King your father. Hamlet The King my father! Horatio Season your admiration for awhile With an attent ear, till I may deliver, Upon the witness of these gentlemen, This marvel to you. Horatio Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch In the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus encountered.
I knew your father: These hands are not more like. Hamlet But where was this? Marcellus My lord, upon the platform where we watched. Hamlet Did you not speak to it? Horatio Did you not speak to it? My lord, I did, But answer made it none. Yet once methought It lifted up its head and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak, But even then the morning cock crew loud, And at the sound it shrunk in haste away, And vanished from our sight. Hamlet Indeed, indeed, sirs. But this troubles me.
Hold you the watch to-night? All We do, my lord. All Armed, my lord. Hamlet From top to toe? My lord, from head to foot. Hamlet Then saw you not his face? He wore his beaver up. Hamlet What, looked he frowningly? Horatio A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Hamlet Pale or red? Horatio Nay, very pale. Hamlet Nay, very pale. Horatio Most constantly.
I would I had been there. Horatio It would have much amazed you. Hamlet Very like, very like. Stayed it long? Horatio While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Marcellus, Barnardo Longer, longer. His beard was grizzled, no? Horatio It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silvered. Horatio I warrant it will. So, fare you well. All Our duty to your honour. Hamlet Your loves, as mine to you. All is not well. Would the night were come! Till then sit still, my soul.
Ophelia Do you doubt that? No more. Ophelia No more but so? He may not, as unvalued persons18 do, Carve19 for himself, for on his choice depends 20 The safety and health of this whole state, And therefore must his choice be circumscribed Unto the voice and yielding of that body20 Whereof he is the head.
The chariest28 maid is prodigal enough, If she unmask29 her beauty to the moon. Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace Occasion smiles upon a second leave.
Aboard, aboard, for shame! Farewell: my blessing season54 this in thee! Laertes Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. Polonius The time invites you.
Go, your servants tend. Laertes Farewell. Ophelia So please you, something touching56 the Lord Hamlet. What is between you? Give me up the truth. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? Ophelia I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Polonius Marry, I will teach you. Go to, go to. From this time Be something scanter of your maiden presence. This is for all I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, Have you so slander any moment leisure,89 As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
Horatio It is a nipping and an eager2 air. Hamlet What hour now? Horatio What hour now? I think it lacks of twelve. Marcellus No, it is struck. I heard it not.
It then draws near the season3 Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traduced and taxed of 11 other nations. They clepe12 us drunkards, and with swinish13 phrase Soil our addition,14 and indeed it takes 20 From15 our achievements, though performed at height,16 The pith and marrow of our attribute. The dram29 of evil Doth all the noble substance often doubt,30 To his own scandal. O, answer me! Say, why is this? What should we do? Ghost beckons Hamlet Horatio It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment43 did desire To you alone.
Horatio No, by no means. Hamlet It will not speak. Then I will follow it. Horatio Do not, my lord. Hamlet Why, what should be the fear? It waves me forth again. Think of it. Hamlet It waves me still. Marcellus You shall not go, my lord. Horatio Be ruled. Unhand me, gentlemen. Horatio Have after. Marcellus Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Marcellus Heaven will direct60 it.
Ghost Mark me. Hamlet Mark me. I will. Hamlet Alas, poor ghost! Hamlet Speak; I am bound1 to hear. Ghost So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Hamlet What? But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, 15 I could a tale unfold whose lightest6 word Would harrow7 up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, 1 duty bound 2 revenge what?
List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love — Hamlet O God! Ghost Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ghost Murder most foul, as in the best it is, But this most foul, strange and unnatural. Now, Hamlet, hear. My uncle! Ghost Ay, that incestuous,21 that adulterate22 beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous23 gifts — O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power 45 So to seduce!
But virtue, as it never will be moved, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, 55 So lust, though to a radiant angel28 linked, Will sate itself in a celestial bed, And prey29 on garbage.
Brief let me be. So did it mine, 70 And a most instant tetter barked40 about, Most lazar-like,41 with vile and loathsome crust, All my smooth body. O, horrible, most horrible! But howsoever thou pursuest this act, 85 Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, To prick and sting50 her.
Fare thee well at once! Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me. O earth! What else? And shall I couple53 hell? Remember thee? O most pernicious woman! My tables64 — meet65 it is I set it down That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.
Hamlet writes So, uncle, there you are. Marcellus Lord Hamlet! Horatio Heavens 66 secure him! Hamlet So be it! Hamlet Hillo, ho, ho, boy! Come, bird, come. What news, my lord? Hamlet O, wonderful! Horatio Good my lord,69 tell it. Hamlet Good my lord,69 tell it. No, you will reveal it.
Horatio Not I, my lord, by heaven. Nor I, my lord. Hamlet How say you, then? Would heart of man once70 think it? Horatio, Marcellus Ay, by heaven, my lord. Horatio These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. Touching this vision here, It is an honest73 ghost, that let me tell you.
And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars and soldiers, Give me one poor76 request. We will. Hamlet Never make known what you have seen to-night. Horatio, Marcellus My lord, we will not. Horatio In faith, My lord, not I. Marcellus Nor I, my lord, in faith. Ghost beneath the stage Swear. Hamlet Ah, ha, boy! Art thou there, Truepenny? Consent to swear. Horatio Propose the oath, my lord. Hamlet Never to speak of this that you have seen. Swear by my sword. Hamlet Hic et ubique?
Swear by my sword Never to speak of this that you have heard Ghost beneath the stage Swear by his sword. Hamlet Well said, old mole!
A worthy pioner! Horatio O day and night, but this is wondrous strange! There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me94 to you, And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do, to express his love and friending to you, God willing, shall not lack. The time is out of joint. Reynaldo I will, my lord. Reynaldo My lord, I did intend it.
Reynaldo Ay, very well, my lord. Take heed of that. But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips16 As are companions noted and most known17 To youth and liberty. Reynaldo My lord, that would dishonor him.
A Shakespearean actor reading the text simply makes it more understandable, and a British accent makes it more enjoyable, too. I chose the version narrated by B.
Harrison , but the Arkangel editions are also recommended. No lectures or charts or Socratic discussions necessary — not for elementary students. Another way the kids enjoyed acting out Hamlet was with the Masterpuppet Theatre set. They each picked a scene to read while using the puppets to act it out. If you can find a skull to toss around, even a Lego one, all the better. Remember that the point in the pre-high-school years is just to introduce the stories and get Shakespeare into their affections.
If they grow up thinking that Shakespeare is fun and normal, they will be ready to dive deep when maturity comes because there will be no fear or intimidation that comes with the assumption that Shakespeare is hard and enigmatic. As we study Shakespeare plays together in our homeschool, I am making available our lesson plans and resource lists.
Included in each one is a downloadable pdf set with not only the lesson plans, but also the printable quote cue pages we use for memorizing select lines from each play! What is a principle? Principle noun A basic truth, law, or assumption A rule or standard, especially of good behavior: a man of principle. A fixed or predetermined policy or mode of action.
A principle is something we know to be true, something that is foundational to our thinking that informs our choices. A principle….
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