Hamlet: form

Structure in Hamlet

Five-act structure: This form was a convention in Elizabethan drama. The plot of Hamlet unfolds over five acts, inclusive of the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion.
Series of seven soliloquies: Hamlet’s soliloquies aid in tracking his psychological development throughout the play. They offer insight into his inner thoughts and feelings, from his contemplation on life and death to his struggles with taking revenge.

The use of blank verse and prose differentiates between the social status of the characters, with the nobility usually speaking in iambic pentameter and the commoners in prose.
The soliloquies and key speeches are primarily in verse, used to convey profound philosophical ideas and to create a sense of elevated emotion.
However, Hamlet sometimes uses prose when feigning madness, blurring the line between noble and common speech, and suggesting his tortured state of mind.

Dramatic irony plays a significant role in Hamlet, where the audience knows essential facts before the characters do, creating tension and anticipation.
For instance, the audience is aware that Hamlet’s ghostly father has been murdered by Claudius long before Hamlet confirms it.

Shakespeare uses potent imagery throughout the play to underscore themes and ideas.
Dominant images are related to disease and corruption, reflecting the moral decay in the Danish court.
The imagery of gardens is frequent, typically presented as fertile ground turned rotten.

Hamlet consists of multiple plot strands, which intertwine and echo each other, enhancing the overall dramatic impact.
Apart from the main conflict of Hamlet versus Claudius, secondary plots include Polonius’s family and Fortinbras’s military ambitions.