Criticism and Tragedy

Start with critical views

The Criticism and Tragedy section of the Hamlet unit brings together different ways of reading the play. Start with the flashcard deck Shakespeare - Hamlet Critics for quotes and references to critics, including Kermode and Voltaire. Then try Hamlet Critics, a deck that includes views associated with thought and reflection.

The Critical Interpretations flashcards offer another collection of critics to explore. As you study, note which interpretation each card presents and how it relates to the others.

Move from flashcards to mind maps

After looking through the decks, open Critic Quotes. This mind map brings together comments from critics, including Coleridge and Hazlitt. Use it alongside the flashcards to connect a critic’s name with a view. Return to either resource when you want to check a point or find another perspective.

The page has no quizzes. If you want to test yourself, a free GoConqr account lets you make your own quiz and save your scores. You can use a mind map to review the views before and after taking it.

Explore tragedy

For a closer look at tragedy, try Is Hamlet a Shakespearean Tragic Hero? The map considers Hamlet’s suffering and circumstances. Follow it with Considering 'Hamlet' as a tragedy, which includes a critical view of the emotional struggle in Shakespeare’s plays.

Compare these maps with the critical views in the flashcards. The resources sit together in the Hamlet unit of Literature, so you can use the section to move between individual critics and questions about tragedy. Choose a map or deck and begin with the approach that interests you.