Hamlet The context of Hamlet The Theatre Contents Guide Recent Hamlet Contents Introduction Timeline Images Author(s) Shakespeare, William 1564 - 1582: William Shakespeare's Stratford Beginnings 1582 - 1592: William Shakespeare's Marriage, Parenthood and Early Occupation 1592 - 1594: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 1 1594 - 1611: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 2 1594 - 1611: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 3 1611 - 1616: William Shakespeare - Back to Stratford Walpole, Horace The context of HamletSocial / political contextThe Catholic heritageThe Tudor monarchyThe grounds for divorceSeparating from the Catholic ChurchProtestant versus CatholicThe situation in Shakespeare's dayReligious / philosophical contextDivine right of kingsThe RenaissanceThe ReformationThe TheatreMystery and morality playsPermanent theatresDesign of theatresThe role of womenChild actorsHamlet SynopsesAct IAct I, Scene iAct I, Scene iiAct I, Scene iiiAct I, Scene ivAct I, Scene vAct IIAct II, Scene iAct II, Scene iiAct IIIAct III, Scene iAct III, Scene iiAct III, Scene iiiAct III, Scene ivAct IVAct IV, Scene iAct IV, Scene iiAct IV, Scene iiiAct IV, Scene ivAct IV, Scene vAct IV, Scene viAct IV, Scene viiAct VAct V, Scene iAct V, Scene iiShakespeare's LanguageThe evolution of the languageThee, thou and youThe royal pluralBlank verse, prose & rhymeVariations from the normHamlet's awareness of languageCharacterisationHamletOpheliaGertrudeClaudiusPoloniusLaertesHoratioRosencrantz and GuildensternFortinbrasVoltimand and CorneliusMarcellus, Barnado and FranciscoOsricThemes and significant ideasSetting 'Hamlet' within a Christian world viewHeaven, hell and judgementMercy and forgivenessGraceVengeancePrayerMass and Holy CommunionThe Ten CommandmentsIncestIdentityNature and the unnaturalDeathFalse appearancesImagery and symbolismThe Garden of EdenThe Fall and original sinCain and AbelThe chain of beingPaintingTrapsPrisons and punishmentCorruption and diseaseStructureCritical analysisHow to approach the questionHow to approach the questionApproaching exams and essaysWhat makes a good English exam answerHow to plan an essayPossible essay questionsEngaging with the textResources and further readingBooksWebsitesTheatre and mediaWorksheet downloadsTimeline of Shakespeare's works The Theatre Tweet Recently Viewed Hamlet » The Theatre now Scan and go Scan on your mobile for direct link.