EAL Nexus: Teaching notes

HAMLET ACT 1

KEY STAGE(S): 3-4 SUBJECT(S): English

TOPIC: Hamlet LANGUAGE LEVEL: New to English

RESOURCE CONTENTS
• Scene-by-scene summaries of Hamlet Act 1 in accessible English
• Two lists of key words or phrases to accompany each scene summary
• Set of pictures to accompany first list for each scene (second list is words or phrases
for translation)
• DARTs activities to go with each scene summary
• Answers to DARTs activities so learners can mark their own work
CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES
• To understand the plot of ‘Hamlet’
• To become familiar with the main characters and the motivation for their actions
• To reflect on the main themes of the play

Language functions Useful Language

Explaining • Hamlet is upset because …
• Horatio is frightened because …
Instructing Imperative: e.g. Don’t trust Hamlet. Be polite.
Indirect speech:
• Laertes tells Ophelia not to …
• Polonius tells Laertes to …
Vocabulary
Language used in the scene summaries and accompanying key words/phrases is as
simple as possible in terms of structure, but includes vocabulary that is fairly unusual but
likely to be frequently used in class in relation to this text, e.g. Royal Court, revenge.

PREPARATION
You will need:
• a copy of the set of flashcards for the EAL beginner(s)
• copies of all worksheets for each EAL beginner in the class.
You will need to:
• make flashcards by printing out the PowerPoint file as two-to-a-page handouts
(recommended) or six-to-a-page for smaller cards and then cutting them up. These can
be laminated for reuse.

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: Teaching notes

IDEAS FOR USING THE RESOURCE

This resource could be used:

• as differentiation within class for a learner or group of learners who are new or recent
arrivals and whose level of English is not yet sufficient to access the actual text of
Hamlet.

What to do
• Scene summaries are provided for the learner to read instead of the text. Learners can
be given the scene summary to read in advance of work in class on that scene / before
watching any film version that is being used. Scene summaries can also be read in
advance with a teaching assistant.
• If the EAL learner has a family member with good English literacy they may be able to
help them read the scene summary at home before the lesson, or re-read it afterwards to
check understanding and ensure the translations are accurate.
• EAL learners can be paired with a supportive peer who can provide a good model of
English and can read the scene summary with them.
• EAL learners who share a first language can work together to read the scene summaries
and translate key words and phrases.
• DARTs activities are provided on the scene summaries to make sure the EAL learner
understands the plot. These activities focus on plot, character and the main themes of
the play.
• Answers to DARTs activities are provided so learners can mark their own work if
appropriate.
• Speaking and writing activities are included that highlight specific features of English
explicitly. These activities focus on language needed for explaining, predicting and
narrating.
• The visuals in this resource pack are useful to provide a context and to reduce the need
for key words and phrases to be translated. This means that translation can be focused
on the more abstract language needed to understand the plot and main themes of the
play, e.g. revenge, appearance and reality.
• The EAL learner can be given a highlighter pen to highlight unfamiliar words in the scene
summaries as they read them. As these words are explained they can write the
translation of the word or phrase on the sheets.
• Each scene summary has a list of key words or phrases to translate. This can be done
by the learner themselves, a family member, a teacher, teaching assistant or student
who shares the language, with the use of a bilingual dictionary or translation software.

Other ideas for making the best use of this resource

• Some of the activities in the pack, for example making sentences from the substitution
tables, can be carried out as collaborative group or pair work. Early stage EAL learners
could be grouped with supportive peers who can provide good models of English for
them.
• Learners who share a language may find it helpful to discuss themes of the play in their
first language before trying to talk about them in English, e.g. discussing the emotions of
the characters.

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: Teaching notes

• If a piece of extended writing is required, learners with good L1 literacy skills may find it
helpful to write in their first language first and then translate it with support from a family
member, a teacher, teaching assistant or supportive peer.

POSSIBLE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

• The last of the DARTs activities could be extended by asking learners to rewrite the
sentences using indirect speech. This sounds like a simple exercise but is quite
demanding linguistically.

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: Scene Summaries

Hamlet Act 1:
Scene 1 Outside the castle of Elsinore
The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears at the castle of Elsinore. Horatio (Hamlet’s friend) and
the castle guards see the ghost. They decide to tell Hamlet.
Key words or phrases with pictures

the ghost of Hamlet’s father the castle Hamlet the King Horatio

Key words to translate

sunset
Word or phrase three
Translation witches
Meaning Macbeth

to appear (ghost)

to decide

to tell

Hamlet’s father

a guard

Scene 2 At the Royal Court in the castle

King Claudius (of Denmark) is at the Royal Court in the castle with Queen Gertrude, Hamlet
and others.

King Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle. Queen Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother. King Claudius married
Hamlet’s mother Gertrude when Hamlet’s father died.

King Claudius says he is upset that King Hamlet, Hamlet’s father, is dead. King Claudius
says he loves Prince Hamlet like a son.

Hamlet is upset because his father is dead. Queen Gertrude wants Hamlet to be happy
again.

King Claudius sends messengers to Norway to Prince Fortinbras. Prince Fortinbras of

Norway wants to invade Denmark. King Claudius doesn’t want Fortinbras to invade
Denmark. Fortinbras wants revenge for the death of his father (King Fortinbras).

Laertes is the son of Polonius. Laertes and Hamlet ask King Claudius for permission to go to
college. Claudius gives permission to Laertes but not to Hamlet.

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: Scene Summaries

When Hamlet is alone he speaks to the audience. He is furious with Claudius because
Claudius has married his mother.

Horatio (Hamlet’s friend) and the guards tell Hamlet about his father’s ghost. Hamlet decides
to watch for the ghost that night.

Key words or phrases with pictures

the Royal Court King Claudius and Queen Gertrude dead the audience Norway
Denmark a messenger Polonius furious (very angry) night Laertes

Key words to translate

Word or phrase Translation Meaning

to send

to invade

uncle

mother

upset

to marry

revenge

to ask for permission

to mourn

to speak

to watch

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: Scene Summaries

Scene 3 At Polonius’ house

Laertes is going to live in France. He says goodbye to his sister, Ophelia. Hamlet is courting
Ophelia. Laertes tells Ophelia not to trust Hamlet.

Polonius says goodbye to his son, Laertes. Polonius tells Laertes how to behave when he is
at college. Polonius also tells Ophelia to keep away from Hamlet.

Key words or phrases with pictures

France Ophelia Laertes says goodbye to Ophelia

Key words to translate

Word or phrase Translation Meaning

to live

to court

to trust

to behave

to keep away from

sister

son

Scene 4 Elsinore Castle

Hamlet waits with his friends, Horatio and Marcellus, outside the castle. Hamlet wants to see
his father’s ghost. Soon the ghost appears. The ghost beckons to Hamlet to follow him into
the dark night. Horatio and Marcellus are worried, but Hamlet follows the ghost.

Key words or phrases with pictures

the ghost of Hamlet’s father night Hamlet sees the ghost of his father

Key words to translate

Word or phrase Translation Meaning

to follow

to beckon

worried

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: Scene Summaries

Scene 5 Elsinore Castle

The ghost of Hamlet’s father speaks to Hamlet. The ghost tells Hamlet that:

Claudius killed Hamlet’s father. Claudius poisoned Hamlet’s father.

Claudius wanted to marry Gertrude and become king.

Queen Gertrude seemed to be a good queen.

Hamlet promises to get revenge on Claudius for his father’s death.

Hamlet tells his friends that the ghost was his father’s ghost.

Hamlet will pretend to go mad.

Key words to translate

Word or phrase Translation Meaning

to pretend

to go mad

to murder

to kill

to poison

to become

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: DARTs activities

Act One: Scenes 1 and 2

What do we find out about the main characters?
Match the adjectives in the cloud to the character.
Use a dictionary.

Horatio and the King Claudius

guards vengeful furious
content terrified
upset grieving
fearful smug

Hamlet
Fortinbras

Now make some sentences about the characters.

vengeful he is the king now.

Fortinbras
upset
his mother married Claudius.
Hamlet is fearful

terrified because they saw the ghost of Hamlet’s

Claudius father.
smug
are
Horatio and grieving his father is dead.

the guard content

the King of Denmark killed his
furious father.

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: DARTs activities

Act One: Scene 3

Giving advice! Match the speech bubbles to the character giving the advice.

A B C
Don’t trust Don’t lend
Be friendly!
Hamlet! money!

D E
Keep away
Be polite!
from Hamlet!

Polonius
? Laertes

Now make some sentences.

trust Hamlet.

Laertes Laertes lend money.

tells to
be polite at college.
Polonius Ophelia not to
keep away from Hamlet.

be friendly at college.

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: DARTs activities

Act One: Scenes 4 and 5

Put the sentences in the clouds in the right order to find out what the ghost
of Hamlet’s father said.

must revenge
not Gertrude
You get Hamlet
must harm You

me murdered to
my ear Claudius be Claudius
into poison king
poured

The ghost said:

“________________________________________________________.”

“________________________________________________________.”

“________________________________________________________.”

“________________________________________________________.”

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: DARTs activities answers

Act One: Scenes 1 and 2

What do we find out about the main characters?
Match the adjectives in the cloud to the character.
Use a dictionary.

Horatio and the King Claudius

guards vengeful furious
content terrified
upset grieving
fearful smug

Hamlet
Fortinbras

Now make some sentences about the characters.

Fortinbras is vengeful because he is the king now.

Hamlet are upset his mother married Claudius.
Claudius fearful they saw the ghost of Hamlet’s
Horatio and terrified father.

the guard smug his father is dead.

grieving the King of Denmark killed his

father.
content
furious

You can make lots of different sentences using the table. Here are some examples:
• Fortinbras is vengeful because the King of Denmark killed his father.
• Hamlet is grieving because his father is dead.
• Hamlet is upset because his mother married Claudius.
• Horatio and the guard are terrified because they saw the ghost of Hamlet’s father.
• Claudius is smug because he is the king now.

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: DARTs activities answers

Act One: Scene 3

Giving advice! Match the speech bubbles to the character giving the advice.

A B C
Don’t trust Don’t lend
Be friendly!
Hamlet! money!

D E
Keep away
Be polite!
from Hamlet!

Polonius
? Laertes

Now make some sentences.

Laertes tells Laertes to trust Hamlet.

Polonius Ophelia not to lend money.
be polite at college.
keep away from Hamlet.
be friendly at college.

You can make lots of sentences using this table. Here are some examples:
• Laertes tells Ophelia not to trust Hamlet.
• Polonius tells Laertes to be polite at college.
• Polonius tells Laertes to be friendly at college.
• Polonius tells Laertes not to lend money.
• Polonius tells Ophelia to keep away from Hamlet.

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk

EAL Nexus: DARTs activities answers

Act One: Scenes 4 and 5

Put the sentences in the clouds in the right order to find out what the ghost
of Hamlet’s father said.

must revenge
not Gertrude
You get Hamlet
must harm You

me murdered to
my ear Claudius be Claudius
into poison king
poured

The ghost said:

“You must not harm Gertrude”.

“You must get revenge, Hamlet.”

“Claudius murdered me to be king.”

“Claudius poured poison into my ear.”

EAL – Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials www.bell-foundation.org.uk