HamletThe authoritative edition of Hamlet from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers. Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most popular, and most puzzling, play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties. Among them: What is the Ghost—Hamlet’s father demanding justice, a tempting demon, an angelic messenger? Does Hamlet go mad, or merely pretend to? Once he is sure that Claudius is a murderer, why does he not act? Was his mother, Gertrude, unfaithful to her husband or complicit in his murder? This edition includes: -Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play -Newly revised explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play -Scene-by-scene plot summaries -A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases -An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language -An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play -Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books -An up-to-date annotated guide to further reading Essay by Michael Neill The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu. |
From inside the book
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Page xxvii
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Contents
Editors Preface | ix |
Hamlet | xv |
Shakespeares Life | xxv |
Shakespeares Theater | xxxv |
The Publication of Shakespeares Plays | xlv |
Longer Notes | 289 |
Textual Notes | 297 |
A Modern Perspective | 319 |
Further Reading | 339 |
371 | |
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Common terms and phrases
action actors audience BARNARDO Claudius Claudius’s dead dear Denmark doth e’en earth edition editors England Enter Hamlet Enter King Exeunt exit eyes father father’s death fear Folger Shakespeare Library Folio Fortinbras friends Gertrude Ghost Ghost exits give Globe GRAVEDIGGER grief hast hath hear heaven Henry Peacham HORATIO King Claudius King Hamlet King’s Laertes line earlier London longer note look madness MARCELLUS means mother murder night o’er omit F omit Q2 Ophelia OSRIC perhaps phrase picture play’s players playhouses poison POLONIUS Polonius’s pray Prince printed Q2 after line Q2 and F QUEEN rapier revenge REYNALDO Rosencrantz and Guildenstern scene SD Enter SD F Second Quarto Shake Shakespeare’s plays sings skull soul Spanish Tragedy speak speare’s speech story sweet sword tell texts theater thee There’s thou thought tion tragedy What’s William Shakespeare words