Hamlet – Teacher Answers

1. Warm-up: answers will vary.
2. Vocabulary: 1-b, 2-e, 3-d, 4-f, 5-c, 6-a.
3. Comprehension: 1) His father, the king, has died. 2) The ghost says Claudius murdered Hamlet’s father and asks Hamlet to take revenge. 3) Hamlet arranges a play that copies the murder and watches Claudius’s reaction. 4) Hamlet killed Laertes’s father, Polonius. 5) Gertrude drinks poison; Hamlet and Laertes are wounded with the poisoned sword; Laertes reveals the plot; Hamlet kills Claudius; Hamlet and Laertes die.
4. Language focus: 1) because 2) Although 3) while 4) so 5) before.
5. Speaking: answers will vary. Encourage students to support opinions with events from the story.
6. Characters: A-3, B-4, C-1, D-5, E-2. Adjectives will vary; suitable examples include Hamlet: thoughtful/uncertain, Claudius: secretive/manipulative, Gertrude: concerned/loyal, Ophelia: vulnerable/obedient, Laertes: angry/determined.
7. Evidence Board: possible evidence includes the ghost’s accusation, Claudius’s strong reaction to the play, and Claudius’s later actions against Hamlet. Questions will vary.
8. Writing: answers will vary. Look for clear organisation, relevant story details and appropriate linking words.

Puzzle/Game: answers will vary. Clues should accurately identify a character without using the name.

Success criteria: this is a student self-check. No single answer is required.

Teacher note: This lesson gives students a simplified overview of Shakespeare’s tragedy. It focuses on the central plot, characters and themes rather than every event in the original play.