Chapter 1
The ghost on the castle wall
Chapter 2
Madness, mirrors, and monarchs
Chapter 3
Secrets behind the skull
Chapter 4
The prince in pop culture
YOUR GOAL
Master of The mystery of the melancholy prince
Ch 3 · Secrets behind the skull
schopenhauer The tragic death of William Shakespeare's young son Hamnet changed theatre history.
schopenhauer Yorick's Real Skull
He left his actual skull to play the dead So David Tennant held a real man's head
schopenhauer An infographic timeline displays character profiles, play synopses, and pop culture trivia
BETA
schopenhauer Tap the chatter box to discover Hamlet's plot, characters, and pop culture references.
Fun Fact
The longest role: Hamlet has 1,530 lines, making it the largest single role in any of Shakespeare's plays.
Glossary
skull (noun)
The bony framework of the head in vertebrates, which encloses and protects the brain. In 1982, composer André Tchaikowsky bequeathed his real cranium to the Royal Shakespeare Company for Hamlet productions.
The bony framework of the head in vertebrates, which encloses and protects the brain. In 1982, composer André Tchaikowsky bequeathed his real cranium to the Royal Shakespeare Company for Hamlet productions.
schopenhauer William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet as his longest theatrical masterpiece.
Quiz
What was the name of Shakespeare's only son who died shortly before Hamlet was written?