Hamlet Activities: Introduction, Lessons, and Teaching Ideas

I have an English teacher’s confession: I avoided teaching Hamlet forever. Though many consider Hamlet to be Shakespeare’s greatest play, I had a preconceived notion that I (and my students) would hate it. I thought it lacked the action-packed drama of Macbeth and the iconic scenes of Romeo and Juliet. And I was wrong. It has all that plus so much more! With your guidance and these meaningful and fun Hamlet activities, your high school students will enjoy exploring the meaning of life and the complexities of the mind.

Hamlet might be Shakespeare’s longest play, but this Hamlet teaching guide won’t be. Let’s jump right into how to introduce Hamlet, break down its complex themes, and provide fun yet educational activities that capture students’ imaginations. By the end of this post, you’ll have all the teaching ideas you need for your Hamlet unit plan!

Hamlet Pre-Reading Activities

Hamlet Setting

The setting of “Hamlet”—Elsinore Castle in Denmark—plays a crucial role in the mood and atmosphere of the play. It offers an eerie backdrop that enhances the themes of deception, betrayal, and madness. Use this haunted castle ambience to provide a visual and hook students from the start!

Discussing the significance of this setting opens up conversations about how Shakespeare uses place to mirror the internal conflicts of his characters. How does the setting evoke feelings of mystery or tension? Ask students to compare the coldness of Elsinore with the warmth of places that bring them comfort.

Hamlet Characters

The brilliance of Hamlet lies in its complex characters. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, struggles with decisions, morality, and madness. Characters like Ophelia, Claudius, and Gertrude each add layers of intrigue and tension.

To help students keep track of the characters and their reading parts, use a Hamlet playbill. Not only does this set the scene for a theater production, but it also gives students a character list to reference throughout the play.

Hamlet Play Summary

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns to his homeland to find his father dead and his mother remarried to his uncle, Claudius. Already struggling with his mental health, Hamlet is driven deeper into turmoil after a visit from his father’s ghost. Instructed to avenge his father’s murder, this mission drives Hamlet into a spiral of doubt and existential dread, ultimately leading to a tragic conclusion. The drama unfolds through a series of betrayals, secrecy, paranoia, and soul-searching, leaving a profound impact on readers.

Hamlet Themes

Shakespeare’s Hamlet play revolves around the themes of mayhem, madness, and the meaning of life. A fun way to introduce these themes and other topics is with a Hamlet BINGO board. As you can see, students use the board to see how well they relate to topics, try to guess how they might all be connected, and get a visual general overview of the play. Would you like a copy of this Hamlet BINGO board? You can grab FREE resources by signing up for my Building Book Love Letter here!

Introducing Hamlet

Like with every unit, it’s important to hook students from the start with engaging pre-reading activities! Here are some intro to Hamlet ideas that will spark their curiosity and help set the tone of the play:

Set the Scene– As mentioned above, ambient media goes far in getting students into the setting of Hamlet. Just hit play and you’ve set the mood for your Hamlet unit plan!

Create Intrigue: Did you know that The Lion King is loosely based on Hamlet? When I learned this little tidbit, I was IN. I imagine it will do the same for students like me who love the movie! Plus, it builds confidence. If children can understand The Lion King, then high school readers can comprehend the gist of the play!

Spark Curiosity– The third intro to Hamlet idea includes six different stops in the form of Hamlet introduction stations. For example, station two piques their interest by helping students discover relatable Hamlet themes. Station three provides some necessary context, and station five gives them an anticipation guide for Hamlet. Stations are my favorite way to introduce any topic because they get students moving, talking, and excited about their unit without a ton of effort on the teacher’s part!

Hamlet Unit Plan

The unifying elements of this Hamlet unit plan are the Interactive Notes and Acting Troupe Drama Activities. They’re incorporated through the entire unit plan for Hamlet, ensuring that your students not only understand Shakespeare’s language but also bring it to life. The interactive notes help students decipher the text and encourage critical thinking, while the drama activities add an element of fun and gamification. Together, they create an engaging learning experience for your high school students!

Hamlet Activities Act 1 (Act I)

Just like when Hamlet meets his father’s ghost, first impressions are everything. Make sure your Hamlet lessons for Act I hook students, keep them interested, and most importantly set them up for Shakespeare success. Even though Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play, I think it’s worth taking your time with Act I. It’s much easier to make up time later than to rush through the groundwork. That said, you’ll need some fun Hamlet activities to break up the challenging reading and engage students with the text such as:

Use interactive notes to break up the text and chunk close reading
Help students explore character status through warm-up games
Analyze the first few pages of the Hamlet graphic novel
Hold a philosophy forum discussion

Hamlet Activities Act 2 (Act II)

Now that the plot is thickening, it’s the perfect opportunity to delve into Hamlet’s inner turmoil and unravel the intense dilemmas he grapples with. Act II is your chance to pick up the pace by summarizing key moments or using abbreviated readings where necessary. To achieve this, consider these engaging Hamlet teaching strategies:

Use interactive notes to summarize the plot and practice close reading skills
Help students explore madness scenes through warm-up games
Show a film adaptation to review and sum up the play thus far (see below for film options)

Hamlet Activities Act 3 (Act III)

With Act III comes pivotal moments like the iconic “To be or not to be” soliloquy. When you consider the massive amount of work Shakespeare (and associates?) produced, it’s pretty incredible to teach ~the~ most quoted lines of his work. To do this soliloquy justice, here are some Hamlet teaching ideas:

Analyze the “not to be” list and draw comparisons to today using a Hamlet worksheet
Brainstorm positive aspects of life and create a counter “to be” list in poetry format
Incorporate drama techniques by having groups act out an important scene
Create a blackout poem that reveals the meaning of Hamlet’s soliloquy
Hold a philosophy forum discussion

Hamlet Activities Act 4 (Act IV)

Act IV prompts us to explore Hamlet’s psychological descent and Ophelia’s heartbreaking actions. Here are some ways to reflect with meaningful Hamlet activities:

Use interactive notes to make connections and analyze the text
Incorporate set design by having students create a finger puppet play for an important scene
Host a gallery walk to interpret artistic interpretations of Ophelia

Hamlet Activities Act 5 (Act V)

The final act is full of dramatic revelations and poignant conclusions, perfect for dissing themes of mayhem, madness, and the meaning of life. Here are some Hamlet activities that will end the play on a reflective note:

Use interactive notes to process the ending and analyze the themes
Incorporate drama techniques by creating Theme Tableaus
Compare a film production to the script (see below for film options)
Hold a philosophy forum discussion
Analyze the Hamlet skull scene with this informational pairing

After Reading Hamlet Activities

After reading, guide students to reflect on personal connections to the play. Engage them in discussions about how Hamlet resonates through the ages. To do this, consider showing a TED Talk or playing a podcast pairing.

Hamlet TED Talk Pairings:

When I asked for pairing recommendations on Instagram, the top suggestion was Hip-Hop & Shakespeare? Akala at TEDxAldeburgh and another was On being just crazy enough by Joshua Walters. While both of these are excellent choices, I went with: Depressed dogs, cats with OCD — what animal madness means for us humans. Not only does this TED Talk delve into the theme of madness, but it also has a nice anthropomorphization tie to The Lion King (which is based on Hamlet). If you’d like a TED Talk guide, you can download that here: Hamlet Unit.

Hamlet Podcast Pairings:

Though only for mature audiences, the most poignant podcast pairing I’ve found for Hamlet is Act V by This American Life. It’s about a group of inmates at a high-security prison who put on a production of the last act of Hamlet. Even if you’ve taught Hamlet 100 times, this episode will have you viewing the play in a whole new light.

Another suggestion from Instagram is from Stuff You Should Know and titled Revenge: Bitter, Not Sweet. This episode will help students work through their own feelings of revenge and understand, like with Hamlet, that it’s not healthy.

Hamlet Essay Ideas

Because of its philosophical nature, Hamlet lends itself well to critical lenses. Have students choose a critical lens like a historical lens, psychological lens, feminist lens, or Marxist lens to explore the deeper themes. These Hamlet essay ideas give students choice, create a personal connection, and encourage students to uncover new insights and perspectives.

Hamlet Project Ideas

Projects inspire creativity and self-expression which is the heart of theater! Throughout this Hamlet unit, students will work in groups to form acting troupes, act out scenes, create miniature sets, and learn about drama techniques. This hands-on approach to Hamlet will bring the play to life for your students!

Hamlet Movie Options

Plays are meant to be watched! One of the best ways to review Hamlet and ensure comprehension is to watch a production of the play. Here are some choices for a Hamlet Movie by William Shakespeare.

Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet (1996) PG-13: Branagh provides a full-text adaptation with a faithful version of the play. Featuring an impressive cast and Branagh’s notable performance, this film is a true cinematic experience for fans of Shakespeare.
Mel Gibson’s Hamlet (1990) PG: Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, this adaptation offers a more digestible length and focuses on the psychological aspects. Gibson brings an intense energy to the role, offering a portrayal that feels accessible and deeply human.
Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet (1948) NR: This version is a black-and-white classic that captures the essence of Shakespeare’s work with moody cinematography and an intense focus on the character’s psychological depth. Olivier’s interpretation presents a brooding and introspective Hamlet in a concise, engaging format.
The Lion King (1994) G: This classic animation reimagines the drama of Hamlet in the African savanna, with Simba stepping into the paws of the conflicted prince. Though it doesn’t follow the play exactly, pairing The Lion King with Hamlet provides a fantastic way to analyze author choices, audience considerations, and themes across genres.
The Simpsons Hamlet PG-13: This episode summarizes and parodies Hamlet casting Bart as the prince in a lighthearted, comedic take. If you need a bit of dark comic relief, this is it!

If you prefer to watch Hamlet in a true theater format, I recommend Shakespeare at Play because I love how it organizes the scenes, provides the script, and allows you to play clips rather than full acts!

Hamlet Adaptation Ideas

Adaptability is crucial to ensure every student has the chance to engage meaningfully with the play. If you’re seeking creative Hamlet activities or innovative methods to captivate all learners, here are some exciting adaptation ideas:

Visualize with a Hamlet graphic novel- For students who are visual learners and striving readers, a graphic novel adaptation can be a game changer. Graphic novels not only break down the language into digestible chunks but also make the narrative come alive with visuals. If you don’t have the funding for a classroom set, you can get creative by allowing students to digitally flip through the preview to start the play and then use a single copy for read-alouds as the play progresses.
Translate with helpful resources- How about turning the Bard’s words into a language they better understand? Sites like My Shakespeare translate key scenes using simpler language. This not only helps students understand the content but also bolsters their confidence by showing that they can indeed “speak Shakespeare.”
Watch movie recaps- Watching a film adaptation can help students understand the plot and characters and review acts before moving on.
Chunk scenes for understanding- Consider ‘chunking’ the play into more manageable segments. Rather than analyzing entire scenes or acts at once, break the text down into smaller, digestible parts. This approach respects the depth of the material while accommodating students who may need more support. The interactive notes in this Hamlet unit are designed to help you easily chunk and check for understanding.

Teaching Hamlet is about more than understanding Shakespeare’s language; it’s an opportunity to engage students in exploring timeless themes and complex characters. With these Hamlet activities, you can bring the world of Shakespeare to your classroom in a way that resonates and captivates.