This resource considers the complex family relationships explored in Hamlet. It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge (not included). Taster: One dubious father figure is Claudius. He advises Hamlet that it is time for him to stop grieving his late father in Act I Scene ii: ‘But you must know your father lost a father; / That father lost his.’ The audience may at first be fooled into thinking Claudius is offering comfort to his son-in-law but the rhyming quality betrays his insincerity.

This resource considers a variety of examples of where appearance masks the reality in Hamlet. It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge. Taster: The state of Denmark is not what it appears: it’s led by a false king and its prince feigns madness to uncover the true circumstances surrounding the late king’s death. The first line of the play, ‘Who’s there?’, introduces ideas of uncertainty and dubious identity. The question is repeated prior to Horatio’s entrance, building an atmosphere of nervous expectation.

This resource considers in detail how Heaven and Hell is presented and explored in Hamlet. It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge (not included). Taster: Hamlet, aware of the dangers involved in associating with the supernatural, is driven by his desire to know what the ghost of his late father wants to communicate. In Act I Scene ii, Hamlet explains: ‘If it assume my noble father’s person, / I’ll speak to it, though hell itself should gape / And bid me hold my peace.’ Hamlet is prepared to risk God’s disapproval. Hell itself would be shocked, as suggested by his words.

This resource considers in detail the key themes of honour and reputation in Hamlet. It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge (not included). Taster: *Hamlet’s late father is a figure repeatedly described in honourable terms. He is presented as a war hero, leading Denmark to victory against Norway. Horatio explains the apparition to Hamlet as: ‘A figure like your father, / Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe, / Appears before them.’ He is described as ‘valiant Hamlet’ and by his son of having ‘an eye like Mars, to threaten and command.’ This is particularly important since Prince Hamlet will fail time and again to measure up to his father’s sense of honour. *

This resource considers justice in revenge, themes that may well be considered the most important in Hamlet. It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge (not included). Taster: In Act I Scene v, the ghost declares to Hamlet, ‘I am thy father’s spirit / Doom’d for a certain term to walk the night… / Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature / Are burnt and purg’d away.’ A key part of Hamlet’s motivation, given the Christian influences of Jacobean times, must be the desire to free his father from his state of purgatory. Such a loved king cannot be left to endure unfair punishment in the afterlife.

This resource considers the important themes of role play and performance in Hamlet. It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge (not included). Taster: *Hamlet is a character whose existential crisis sees him frequently debating the nature of humankind and particularly his place in the world. Interestingly, he expresses his dissatisfaction with life in theatrical terms, claiming the world is nothing more to him than ‘a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours’. This links with his earlier wish to thaw into a vapour in Act II Scene ii. *

This resource explores the treatment of women by men in Hamlet. It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge (not included). Taster: *Gertrude is instrumental in manipulating our view of Ophelia’s death. The language surrounding her report of Ophelia’s ‘accident’ is almost fairytale-like. She describes ‘fantastic garlands’ and Ophelia as ‘mermaid-like’ and ‘like a creature native and indued / Unto that element.’ Perhaps Shakespeare felt it important that Gertrude be the one to break this news – a helpless female trying to save another’s reputation. *

This resource considers the theme of the natural versus the unnatural in Hamlet. It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge (not included). Taster: *The concept of the unnatural is initially expressed by Hamlet. In his first soliloquy, in Act I Scene ii, he states that the world around him has become an ‘unweeded garden / That grows to seed’. The imagery suggests a stagnant environment, in need of attention. Denmark is not thriving under the rule of King Claudius: unbeknownst to both Hamlet and the audience, the means by which he gained the crown are unnatural and immoral. *

This resource considers the central theme of madness in Hamlet It could be given to students to facilitate independent learning by asking them to make notes for revision purposes. This could be followed with a practice exam question which allows students to demonstrate their new knowledge (not included). Taster: After sharing with his friend the cunning purpose of the performance of ‘The Murder of Gonzago’, he spots others coming and says, ‘They are coming to the play; I must be idle.’ In other words, he needs to go back to his own performance of playing the madman. The audience may feel Hamlet, if truly mad, could not pick and choose when he retains control of his faculties.

This resource is a printable sheet to aid student revision. It contains a selection of key quotations that link to a variety of key themes within the play for Act II. For each quotation, students are told who said it, provided with detailed analysis of language and methods along with how they can use the quotation to bring in contextual knowledge. It comes complete with all answers but you could delete all or part of them to create a revision activity for your students depending on their ability. I have created the same resource for the other four acts of the play which are available in my shop at only £1.50 each. The bundle can be purchased for a discounted £5 - only £1 for each act and it will save you loads of time!

This resource is a printable sheet to aid student revision. It contains a selection of key quotations that link to a variety of key themes within the play for Act I. For each quotation, students are told who said it, provided with detailed analysis of language and methods along with how they can use the quotation to bring in contextual knowledge. It comes complete with all answers but you could delete all or part of them to create a revision activity for your students depending on their ability. I have created the same resource for the other four acts of the play which are available in my shop at only £1.50 each. The bundle can be purchased for a discounted £5 - only £1 for each act and it will save you loads of time!

This (primarily) A level resource is a printable sheet to aid student revision. It contains a selection of key quotations that link to a variety of key themes within the play for Act I. For each quotation, students are told who said it, provided with detailed analysis of language and methods along with how they can use the quotation to bring in contextual knowledge. It comes complete with all answers but you could delete all or part of them to create a revision activity for your students depending on their ability. I have created the same resource for the other four acts of the play which are available in my shop at only £1.50 each. The bundle can be purchased for a discounted £5 - only £1 for each act and it will save you loads of time!

This (primarily) A level resource is a printable sheet to aid student revision. It contains a selection of key quotations that link to a variety of key themes within the play for Act I. For each quotation, students are told who said it, provided with detailed analysis of language and methods along with how they can use the quotation to bring in contextual knowledge. It comes complete with all answers but you could delete all or part of them to create a revision activity for your students depending on their ability. I have created the same resource for the other four acts of the play which are available in my shop at only £1.50 each. The bundle can be purchased for a discounted £5 - only £1 for each act and it will save you loads of time!

This (primarily) A level resource is a printable sheet to aid student revision. It contains a selection of key quotations that link to a variety of key themes within the play for Act I. For each quotation, students are told who said it, provided with detailed analysis of language and methods along with how they can use the quotation to bring in contextual knowledge. It comes complete with all answers but you could delete all or part of them to create a revision activity for your students depending on their ability. I have created the same resource for the other four acts of the play which are available in my shop at only £1.50 each. The bundle can be purchased for a discounted £5 - only £1 for each act and it will save you loads of time!

This resource can be printed out and given to students to work through during lessons or as home learning / independent exam revision. Each resource is 2-3 pages long and contains a detailed scene by scene plot summary. Students are asked to identify key themes of the act and to complete some revision questions following their reading. Ideal A level exam preparation resource for anyone studying Hamlet. Answers are not provided in the spirit of independent study at A level. You can buy a bundle of 5 - for each act - at a discounted price of £5.

This resource for Act II can be printed out and given to students to work through during lessons or as home learning / independent exam revision. Each resource is 2-3 pages long and contains a detailed scene by scene plot summary. Students are asked to identify key themes of the act and to complete some revision questions following their reading. Ideal A level exam preparation resource for anyone studying Hamlet. Answers are not provided in the spirit of independent study at A level. A bundle - one resource per act - can be purchased at the discounted price of £5.

This resource for Act III can be printed out and given to students to work through during lessons or as home learning / independent exam revision. Each resource is 2-3 pages long and contains a detailed scene by scene plot summary. Students are asked to identify key themes of the act and to complete some revision questions following their reading. Ideal A level exam preparation resource for anyone studying Hamlet. Answers are not provided in the spirit of independent study at A level. A bundle - one resource per act - can be purchased at the discounted price of £5.

This resource for Act IV can be printed out and given to students to work through during lessons or as home learning / independent exam revision. Each resource is 2-3 pages long and contains a detailed scene by scene plot summary. Students are asked to identify key themes of the act and to complete some revision questions following their reading. Ideal A level exam preparation resource for anyone studying Hamlet. Answers are not provided in the spirit of independent study at A level. A bundle - one resource per act - can be purchased at the discounted price of £5.

This resource can be printed out and given to students to work through during lessons or as home learning / independent exam revision. Each resource is 2-3 pages long and contains a detailed scene by scene plot summary. Students are asked to identify key themes of the act and to complete some revision questions following their reading. Ideal A level exam preparation resource for anyone studying Hamlet. Answers are not provided in the spirit of independent study at A level. A bundle - one resource per act - can be purchased at the discounted price of £5.

This resource for Act V can be printed out and given to students to work through during lessons or as home learning / independent exam revision. Each resource is 2-3 pages long and contains a detailed scene by scene plot summary. Students are asked to identify key themes of the act and to complete some revision questions following their reading. Ideal A level exam preparation resource for anyone studying Hamlet. Answers are not provided in the spirit of independent study at A level. A bundle - one resource per act - can be purchased at the discounted price of £5.