First performed around 1600, Hamlet tells the story of a prince whose duty to revenge his father’s death entangles him in philosophical problems he can’t solve. Shakespeare’s best-known play is widely regarded as the most influential literary work ever written. Read a character analysis of Hamlet, plot summary, and important quotes.
Summary
Read a Plot Overview of the entire play or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis.
-
Summary & Analysis
- Act I, scene i
- Act I, scene ii
- Act I, scenes iii–iv
- Act I, scene v–Act II, scene i
- Act II, scene ii
- Act III, scene i
- Act III, scene ii
- Act III, scene iii
- Act III, scene iv
- Act IV, scenes i–ii
- Act IV, scenes iii–iv
- Act IV, scenes v–vi
- Act IV, scene vii
- Act V, scene i
- Act V, scene ii
Main Ideas
Here's where you'll find analysis about Hamlet as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.
Quotes
Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes
-
Quotes by Section
- Act I, scene i
- Act I, scene ii
- Act I, scenes iii – iv
- Act I, scene v – Act II, scene i
- Act II, scene ii
- Act III, scene i
- Act III, scene ii
- Act III, scene iii
- Act III, scene iv
- Act IV, scenes i – ii
- Act IV, scenes iii – iv
- Act IV, scenes v – vi
- Act IV, scene vii
- Act V, scene i
- Act V, scene ii
-
Quotes by Symbol
- Yorick’s Skull
-
Quotes by Setting
- Denmark
Further Study
Test your knowledge of Hamlet with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.
-
- Act 1, scene 1
- Act 1, scene 2
- Act 1, scenes 3-4
- Act 1, scene 5-Act 2, scene 1
- Act 2, scene 2
- Act 3, scene 1
- Act 3, scene 2
- Act 3, scene 3
- Act 3, scene 4
- Act 4, scenes 1-2
- Act 4, scenes 3-4
- Act 4, scenes 5-6
- Act 4, scene 7
- Act 5, scene 1
- Act 5, scene 2
- Character List
- Analysis of Major Characters
- Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
Section Quizzes
Writing Help
Get ready to write your paper on hamletwith our suggested essay topics, sample essays, and more.
Teacher's Handbook
Teachers, check out our ideas for how you can creatively incorporate SparkNotes materials into your classroom instruction.
Purchase
Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources.Take a Study Break
-
Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Quote from The Office
-
Every Marvel Movie Summed Up in a Single Sentence
-
Macbeth As Told in a Series of Texts
-
QUIZ: Is This a Great Gatsby Quote or a Lorde Lyric?
-
QUIZ: Which Coming-of-Age Trope Will You Experience This Summer?
-
QUIZ: Are You a Hero, a Villain, or an Anti-Hero?
-
Pick 10 Books and We'll Guess Whether You're an Introvert or an Extrovert