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15 Dec 2025

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Hamlet Act Summaries with Mindmaps

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sam

@samj0yce

Shakespeare's Hamlet is one of literature's most complex revenge tragedies,... Show more

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Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Act 1: The Ghost's Command

Everything kicks off when guards spot a ghost that looks exactly like Denmark's recently deceased king outside Elsinore Castle. His brother Claudius has swooped in to claim both the throne and Queen Gertrude as his new wife—talk about moving fast after a funeral.

The ghost reveals the shocking truth to Hamlet: Claudius murdered him and stole everything. Now Hamlet's got a massive problem on his hands—seek revenge for his father or risk eternal damnation for the ghost's restless spirit.

Key quotes show Hamlet's immediate disgust with the situation. His sarcastic "a little more than kin, and less than kind" throws serious shade at Claudius, whilst "Frailty, thy name is woman" reveals his bitter disappointment in his mother's hasty remarriage.

Did you know? This play is based on a 12th-century Danish legend and has been adapted more than any story except Cinderella!

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Act 2: Spies and Schemes

Everyone's watching everyone else in this act—it's like a Renaissance version of Big Brother. Polonius sends a servant to spy on his son Laertes, whilst Claudius brings in Hamlet's old mates Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to figure out why the prince is acting so strangely.

Ophelia gets the fright of her life when Hamlet visits her looking completely disheveled and wild-eyed. She's convinced he's gone mad, but Hamlet's playing a clever game—his "antic disposition" is actually a calculated performance to throw everyone off whilst he plans his next move.

The act's highlight is Hamlet's philosophical musing: "What a piece of work is man"—he's reflecting on humanity's potential whilst feeling completely disillusioned with the corrupt world around him. Meanwhile, travelling actors arrive, giving Hamlet a brilliant idea for exposing Claudius.

Reality Check: Hamlet's "madness" isn't genuine—he admits "I am but mad north-north-west," meaning he's only pretending when it suits his purposes.

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Act 3: The Mousetrap Springs

This is where everything properly kicks off. Hamlet delivers the most famous soliloquy in theatre history with "To be or not to be"—he's literally debating whether life's pain is worth enduring or if suicide might be easier.

The mousetrap play is Hamlet's masterstroke. He stages a performance that mirrors Claudius's crime, watching his uncle's reaction like a hawk. When Claudius storms out in obvious guilt, Hamlet knows he's got his man.

Things go horribly wrong when Hamlet confronts his mother. Hearing someone behind the tapestry, he stabs wildly, thinking it's Claudius—but kills Polonius instead. His justification "I must be cruel only to be kind" shows how twisted his sense of justice has become.

Plot Twist: The ghost reappears to remind Hamlet of his mission, but only Hamlet can see it—making Gertrude think he's genuinely lost his mind.

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Act 4: Madness and Revenge

The body count starts climbing as consequences spiral out of control. Hamlet refuses to tell anyone where he's hidden Polonius's body, leading Claudius to ship him off to England with a secret death warrant.

Ophelia's genuine madness contrasts sharply with Hamlet's performed version—grief for her father has completely broken her mind. Her brother Laertes returns with an angry mob, demanding vengeance for Polonius, but Claudius cleverly redirects his rage towards Hamlet.

Meanwhile, Fortinbras marches through Denmark with his army, making Hamlet reflect bitterly on his own inaction: "How all occasions do inform against me." Here's a prince who actually gets things done, unlike our hesitating hero.

Character Development: Claudius reveals his true cunning by manipulating Laertes into a poisoned sword duel—showing that multiple revenge plots are now in motion.

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I


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Most popular content: Hamlet

Hamlet: Interpretative Perspectives

Explore critical interpretations of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' through the lenses of Freud, Eliot, and Garber. This summary delves into psychological, feminist, and artistic analyses, highlighting the evolution of thought surrounding the play's themes and characters. Ideal for students seeking a comprehensive understanding of Hamlet's complexities.

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

 

English Literature

160

15 Dec 2025

5 pages

Hamlet Act Summaries with Mindmaps

user profile picture

sam

@samj0yce

Shakespeare's Hamlet is one of literature's most complex revenge tragedies, following a Danish prince torn between duty and doubt. When Hamlet's father's ghost demands vengeance against his murderer—Hamlet's own uncle Claudius—the young prince must navigate a corrupt court where appearance... Show more

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Act 1: The Ghost's Command

Everything kicks off when guards spot a ghost that looks exactly like Denmark's recently deceased king outside Elsinore Castle. His brother Claudius has swooped in to claim both the throne and Queen Gertrude as his new wife—talk about moving fast after a funeral.

The ghost reveals the shocking truth to Hamlet: Claudius murdered him and stole everything. Now Hamlet's got a massive problem on his hands—seek revenge for his father or risk eternal damnation for the ghost's restless spirit.

Key quotes show Hamlet's immediate disgust with the situation. His sarcastic "a little more than kin, and less than kind" throws serious shade at Claudius, whilst "Frailty, thy name is woman" reveals his bitter disappointment in his mother's hasty remarriage.

Did you know? This play is based on a 12th-century Danish legend and has been adapted more than any story except Cinderella!

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Act 2: Spies and Schemes

Everyone's watching everyone else in this act—it's like a Renaissance version of Big Brother. Polonius sends a servant to spy on his son Laertes, whilst Claudius brings in Hamlet's old mates Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to figure out why the prince is acting so strangely.

Ophelia gets the fright of her life when Hamlet visits her looking completely disheveled and wild-eyed. She's convinced he's gone mad, but Hamlet's playing a clever game—his "antic disposition" is actually a calculated performance to throw everyone off whilst he plans his next move.

The act's highlight is Hamlet's philosophical musing: "What a piece of work is man"—he's reflecting on humanity's potential whilst feeling completely disillusioned with the corrupt world around him. Meanwhile, travelling actors arrive, giving Hamlet a brilliant idea for exposing Claudius.

Reality Check: Hamlet's "madness" isn't genuine—he admits "I am but mad north-north-west," meaning he's only pretending when it suits his purposes.

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Act 3: The Mousetrap Springs

This is where everything properly kicks off. Hamlet delivers the most famous soliloquy in theatre history with "To be or not to be"—he's literally debating whether life's pain is worth enduring or if suicide might be easier.

The mousetrap play is Hamlet's masterstroke. He stages a performance that mirrors Claudius's crime, watching his uncle's reaction like a hawk. When Claudius storms out in obvious guilt, Hamlet knows he's got his man.

Things go horribly wrong when Hamlet confronts his mother. Hearing someone behind the tapestry, he stabs wildly, thinking it's Claudius—but kills Polonius instead. His justification "I must be cruel only to be kind" shows how twisted his sense of justice has become.

Plot Twist: The ghost reappears to remind Hamlet of his mission, but only Hamlet can see it—making Gertrude think he's genuinely lost his mind.

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Act 4: Madness and Revenge

The body count starts climbing as consequences spiral out of control. Hamlet refuses to tell anyone where he's hidden Polonius's body, leading Claudius to ship him off to England with a secret death warrant.

Ophelia's genuine madness contrasts sharply with Hamlet's performed version—grief for her father has completely broken her mind. Her brother Laertes returns with an angry mob, demanding vengeance for Polonius, but Claudius cleverly redirects his rage towards Hamlet.

Meanwhile, Fortinbras marches through Denmark with his army, making Hamlet reflect bitterly on his own inaction: "How all occasions do inform against me." Here's a prince who actually gets things done, unlike our hesitating hero.

Character Development: Claudius reveals his true cunning by manipulating Laertes into a poisoned sword duel—showing that multiple revenge plots are now in motion.

Summary of act 1
A ghost resembling the late
Ring Hamlet is spotted on a
olayoim before Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. King Claudius, who now
I

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.

Where can I download the Knowunity app?

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Is Knowunity really free of charge?

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Most popular content: Hamlet

Hamlet: Interpretative Perspectives

Explore critical interpretations of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' through the lenses of Freud, Eliot, and Garber. This summary delves into psychological, feminist, and artistic analyses, highlighting the evolution of thought surrounding the play's themes and characters. Ideal for students seeking a comprehensive understanding of Hamlet's complexities.

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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user