Hamlet: Study Guide | SparkNotes

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 scene by scene Summary and Analysis.

Plot Overview
Video Plot Summary
Key Questions and Answers
What Does the Ending Mean?

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

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Hamlet and in-depth analyses of Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Polonius.

Character List
Hamlet
Claudius
Gertrude
Ophelia
Polonius

Main Ideas

Here's where you'll find analysis about the play as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.

Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Allusions
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Is Hamlet really mad?

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the play by reading these key quotes.

Important Quotations Explained

Quotes by Theme
Madness
Performance
Decomposition and Decay
Doubt
Misogyny
Plotting, spying, and stratagems

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 Character
Hamlet
Ophelia
Polonius
Gertrude
Claudius

Quotes by Symbol
Yorick’s Skull

Further Study

Test your knowledge of Hamlet with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on the context and background and links to the best resources around the web.