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Hamlet and Horatio Are Introduced
You meet the main character Hamlet and his friend Horatio. Hamlet is the prince and his father was recently killed. Two months afterward, his widowed mother married her dead husband's brother. This means that Hamlet's uncle is also his father. A young woman named Ophelia is also introduced: she is Hamlet's love interest throughout the novel. -
The Ghost of Hamlet's Father
"I am the spirit of your father."
During the night, Horatio and Bernado, his cousin, fetch Hamlet because they believe they saw the ghost of Hamlet's father. When Hamlet meets the spirit of his father, his father tells him that he was murdered by his brother so that Claudius could rule as King.He tells Hamlet that he must avenge him. "If ever you did love your father, I call upon you now to take revenge." -
The Actors Arrive
A group of well-known actors arrive at Elsinore to perform for the king. Hamlet decides to test the King, his uncle, and writes part of the script for the actor. When the king sees the play, he is outraged and the actors all hurriedly leave. -
Hamlet Nearly Avenges His Father
King Claudius starts to cry in his chamber bceause of his guilt for the act he committed against his brother. Hamlet tries to sneak up of him, intending to kill him but sees that the King is praying for forgiveness. Hamlet decides that he cannot kill him, for fear that if he is murdered while praying he will go to heaven instead of hell. -
Hamlet Kills Polonius
While Hamlet is still mad at the missed oppotunity that he had at killing his uncle, he goes to see his mother in her chambers. Before entering he hears a mans voice and thinks it must be the traitorous King. He enters and stabs the hiding person before he realises that it was Polonius, the Kings advisor and the love of Hamlet's life, Ophelia's father. -
Hamlet Gets Sent Away and Ophelia Goes Mad.
After the murder of Polonius, King Claudius orders that Hamlet be sent away to England. The king and Queen then wonder how they will cover up the murder as an accident and sooth the unrest over the incident. After Hamlet leaves and Ophelia has been told of her father's death, she begins to lose her mind. During one conversation, King Claudius asks his wife, "What on eath is she talking about?" In the next chapter, the King and Queen realise that Ophelia is completly mad. -
Laertes Gets More Than He Bargained For.
Laertes, the son of the late Polonius, comes back to Elsinore and tries to start a riot against the King. He is furious over the murder of his father and wants to see someone punished. He eventually gets an audience with the King, where he finds out his sister has gone mad. This adds to his anger at the Royal family. King Claudius calms him down by telling him that it was all Hamlet's fault and promisies the Laertes will get a chance to kill Hamlet and avenge his father. -
Hamlet's Return and Ophelia's Funeral
Hamlet returns to Elsinore and upon arrival, stops at the cemetry. He talks to the grave digger before he sees the King and Queen entering the cemtry. He wonders what they are doing and decides to watch them. While doing so, he learns that the funeral is for Ophelia because she killed herself. Hamlet then despairs and says, "Who has grief like i do?... Who is the one who stops the stars in their tracks with his grief?" He then fights with Laertes, who blames him for his sister's death. -
A Plot is Formed Against Hamlet
Hamlet, while catching up with his oldest friend, Horatio, is told that he is being asked to settle a bet for the King by having a duel with Laertes. Hamlet agrees, while unknown to him, it is a plot formed by King Claudius and Laertes to kill hime. They plot together and plan to put poison on Laertes' sword and in Hamlet's wine. -
Everybody But One Dies
During the duel, the King tries to get Hamlet to drink his poisoned wine but instead the Queen drinks it, unknowing of the poison. Hamlet and Laertes regain the battle and Laertes scrapes Hamlet's arm. Their swords are then mixed up and Hamlet scrapes Laertes' chest while the poisoned sword. Then the queen dies and Laertes soon follows after he tells Hamlet about the plot to kill him. Hamlet kills the King and then dies himself, leaving Horatio as the only main character still alive.
