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Hamlet Story Maker

Hamlet Story Maker

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Classic Hamlet
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. A ghost has been seen walking the battlements. The old King died randomly in his sleep. The new King – his brother Claudius – married the old king’s wife. Sounds fishy? It’s up to you… the Danish Detective – to solve the mystery.

Resources to print for this activity:
Printable Writing Frames (pdf)

Download Hamlet Detective Story Writing Frame
Download Hamlet Vampire Writing Frame

Printable Page Borders (pdf)

Page Border 1
Page Border 2
Page Border 3
Claudus Sheet
Hamlet Sheet
Laertes Sheet
Ophelia Sheet
Gertrude Sheet

⊕ Go through the steps below to create your story…

1. Choose a character to be the ‘detective’?

  • Hamlet Prince of Denmark (the dead king’s son)
  • Horatio (Hamlet’s best friend)
  • Fortinbras (military leader)
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet’s university pals)

2. Where do you look for clues first?

  • the castle battlements
  • the king’s chamber
  • the queen’s bedroom
  • behind the arras (curtain)
  • the stream
  • the courtyard theatre
  • Hamlet’s room


3. When you search the area – you find…

  • a ghostly figure saying: “Avenge me!”
  • old Polonius has been stabbed behind the curtain
  • Ophelia has been drowned
  • Queen Gertrude in tears
  • King Claudius confessing his crime to heaven
  • Laertes with a sword in his hand
  • The players putting on a play about a King who murders his brother

4. Two pieces of evidence have been discovered…

  • a skull
  • a rapier (sword)
  • a bottle of poison
  • a string of flowers
  • the Queen’s gold
  • witnesses report a ghost saying “AVENGE ME HAMLET FOR I WAS KILLED BY YOUR UNCLE”

5. What happens next? Write the story from the most exciting scene.