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Hamlet sees the ghost of his father, and it tells him that Claudius murdered him by pouring poison in his ear.
Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he will not be played like a flute by them any longer.
Claudius sends a letter to the uncle of young Fortinbras to ask him to stop young Fortinbras’ plan to attack Denmark.
Even after the “nunnery scene,”Polonius still believes that Hamlet is acting crazy because of his unrequited love for Ophelia.
Ophelia tells Polonius about how a disheveled Hamlet entered her room and stared at her with a crazy look in his eyes.
Laertes advises Ophelia not to fall for Hamlet.
Polonius tells Ophelia that she may not see Hamlet anymore.
Polonius tells Hamlet that Gertrude wants to speak with him privately.
The ghost of Old King Hamlet appears to Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo.
Claudius gives Laertes permission to return to school in France.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Hamlet about the players.
Polonius tells the king and queen that he believes Hamlet is acting crazy because he has forbidden Ophelia to see Hamlet.
Claudius and Gertrude ask Hamlet to stay in Denmark and not return to college in Wittenberg.
Polonius formulates a plan to use Ophelia by having her talk to Hamlet so that Polonius and Claudius can eavesdrop on their conversation.
Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that Denmark is a prison.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern inform Claudius and Gertrude that they have not found out the reason for Hamlet’s madness.
Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes at school in France.
Hamlet greets the players and asks one to perform a few lines from Aeneas’ tale.
Claudius goes to “confession.”
Hamlet asks one of the players if they can insert a few lines that he will write into their performance. The player agrees.
The players perform the play which has the scene depicting Old King Hamlet’s death.
Hamlet speaks nonsense to Polonius (“Words, words, words!”), but Polonius notices that even though his speech seems crazy, there is some sense to it.
Hamlet tells Ophelia that he never loved her and to “get thee to a nunnery!”
Marcellus, Horatio, and Barnardo decide to inform Hamlet about the ghost’s appearance.
Hamlet delivers his “O what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” soliloquy. In that soliloquy he outlines his plan to “catch the conscience of the king.”
Hamlet delivers his “To be or not to be” soliloquy.
Hamlet first states his plan to act crazy so that he can investigate his father’s murder.
Claudius now believes that Hamlet is suspicious of him and plans to send him to England.
Hamlet asks Horatio to help watch Claudius during the play to see if he is guilty.
Polonius screams for help. Hamlet thinks it is Claudius behind the tapestry, and he stabs him through the arras.
Claudius makes a speech to the court in which he mentions the loss of his brother and the celebration of his new marriage and coronation.
Claudius asks Hamlet the name of the play and he responds, “The Mousetrap.”
Claudius immediately gets up and leaves the play. Hamlet now believes Claudius is guilty.
Claudius and Gertrude ask Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet to see if they can find out why he is acting so strangely.
Just before the play-within-a-play begins, Hamlet further taunts Ophelia.
Hamlet commands Gertrude not to sleep with Claudius anymore. She agrees, and then Hamlet drags Polonius’s body out of her room.
Polonius gives Laertes his “To thine own self be true” speech.
Hamlet sees Claudius “praying” and decides not to kill him because he does not want his soul to go to heaven.
Hamlet asks Gertrude what she thinks of the play, and she responds, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
Hamlet enters Gertrude’s room and begins speaking harshly to her.
Hamlet continues chastising Gertrude until he sees his father’s ghost. Gertrude cannot see the ghost.
Claudius says, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; \Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
Hamlet makes Horatio and Marcellus swear not to tell anyone that they saw Old King Hamlet’s ghost.