20-minute plan
- 1. Jot down Laertes’ core motivation and his proposed killing method
- 2. Note Claudius’ added modifications and his hidden agenda for each plan
- 3. Draft one thesis statement linking their plans to their character traits
Keyword Guide · study-guide-general
Ways Laertes and Claudius Wanted to Kill Hamlet: Study Guide
High school and college lit students need clear, organized notes on the collaborative plots to kill Hamlet. This guide breaks down their distinct and shared plans, with actionable tools for essays, discussions, and exams. Start by mapping each plan to its character motivation.
Laertes and Claudius devised two main coordinated plans to kill Hamlet: a poisoned duel with a sharpened, unblunted rapier, and a backup poisoned wine goblet. Laertes pushed for direct, violent revenge, while Claudius prioritized secrecy to avoid blame. Write each plan’s core details in two separate bullet points for quick reference.
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Answer Block
Laertes, driven by grief over his father and sister, partnered with Claudius, who feared Hamlet’s growing suspicion and threat to his throne. Their plans combined Laertes’ reckless rage with Claudius’ calculated cunning to ensure Hamlet’s death without exposing their guilt. Each plan had a primary and secondary layer to eliminate failure risk.
Next step: List each plan’s specific mechanics and the motivation driving Laertes and. Claudius for each in your study notes.
Key Takeaways
- Laertes pushed for a brutal, personal killing method to satisfy his revenge
- Claudius added secret, untraceable elements to avoid political backlash
- Their plans had redundant layers to ensure Hamlet could not survive
- Each man’s motivation shaped the violence and secrecy of their strategies
20-Minute Plan and 60-Minute Plan
60-minute plan
- 1. Map each killing plan to specific play events and character interactions
- 2. Compare how Laertes’ grief and Claudius’ ambition clash and align in their plotting
- 3. Write a 3-paragraph mini-essay analyzing their collaborative strategy
- 4. Quiz yourself on the details of each plan using your notes
3-Step Study Plan
Action: List each proposed killing method side by side
Output: A 2-column chart of Laertes-led and. Claudius-modified plans
Action: Link each plan to the character’s core desire
Output: A bullet point list connecting method to grief (Laertes) or power (Claudius)
Action: Note how each plan’s design impacts the play’s final act
Output: A short paragraph on the plans’ role in the tragic ending
Discussion Kit
- What specific detail of their first killing plan reflects Laertes’ grief?
- How does Claudius’ modification to the plan reveal his fear of exposure?
- Why did they need a backup plan, and what does that say about their trust in each other?
- How might the plans have failed if Hamlet had acted differently before the duel?
- Which character’s influence is more visible in the final execution of their plans?
- How do their killing methods contrast with Hamlet’s own hesitation to act?
- What does their collaborative plotting reveal about the play’s theme of revenge and. ambition?
- How would the play’s ending change if only one of their plans had been put in place?
Essay Kit
Thesis Templates
- Laertes and Claudius’ coordinated plans to kill Hamlet expose the tension between raw grief-driven revenge and cold, power-hungry calculation, shaping the play’s tragic final act.
- By combining Laertes’ unbridled rage with Claudius’ deceptive cunning, their dual plans to kill Hamlet ensure both their personal and political goals are met—at the cost of their own lives.
Outline Skeletons
- I. Intro with thesis linking their plans to character motivations; II. Laertes’ initial plan and grief-driven motivation; III. Claudius’ modifications and political agenda; IV. Redundant backup plan and its role in the tragedy; V. Conclusion tying plans to play themes
- I. Intro with thesis on collaborative plotting; II. First plan design and character alignment; III. Backup plan as a reflection of mutual distrust; IV. Plan execution and unintended consequences; V. Conclusion on how their plans mirror the play’s core conflicts
Sentence Starters
- While Laertes focused on personal revenge, Claudius prioritized
- The redundant layers of their killing plans reveal that both men feared
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Exam Kit
Checklist
- Can you name both primary and backup killing plans
- Can you link each plan to Laertes’ grief or Claudius’ ambition
- Can you explain how their plans worked together to ensure success
- Can you contrast their plotting style with Hamlet’s hesitation
- Can you identify the key flaw in their backup plan
- Can you connect their plans to the play’s theme of revenge
- Can you describe how Claudius modified Laertes’ original idea
- Can you explain why they needed to hide their involvement
- Can you list the unintended consequences of their plans
- Can you draft a thesis statement for an essay on their plotting
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the mechanics of the primary and. backup killing plans
- Failing to link each plan to the specific character’s motivation
- Ignoring the tension between Laertes’ rage and Claudius’ caution
- Forgetting that their plans had redundant layers to avoid failure
- Overstating one character’s influence and minimizing the other’s
Self-Test
- What two key elements did Claudius add to Laertes’ original killing plan?
- How does Laertes’ motivation differ from Claudius’ in wanting to kill Hamlet?
- What was the purpose of their backup killing method?
How-To Block
Action: Re-read the play sections where Laertes and Claudius discuss killing Hamlet
Output: A list of 2 distinct killing strategies with specific details
Action: Label each plan element as driven by Laertes’ grief or Claudius’ political fear
Output: A color-coded or annotated list connecting method to motivation
Action: Trace how each plan impacts the play’s final act and character fates
Output: A short paragraph on the plans’ role in the tragic ending
Rubric Block
Accuracy of Plan Details
Teacher looks for: Correct identification of both primary and backup killing plans, with no invented details
How to meet it: Cross-reference your notes with the play’s text to confirm each plan’s mechanics and timing
Motivation Analysis
Teacher looks for: Clear connection of each plan’s design to Laertes’ grief and Claudius’ ambition
How to meet it: Cite specific character interactions in the play that reveal their respective drives
Thematic Linkage
Teacher looks for: Connection of their plotting to the play’s core themes of revenge, power, and mortality
How to meet it: Draft one sentence linking each plan to a key theme and use it in your essay or discussion
Laertes’ Initial Killing Proposal
Laertes wanted a direct, personal confrontation to avenge his father and sister. He pushed for a method that would let him express his rage openly, without subtlety. Use this before class to lead a discussion on grief-driven violence.
Claudius’ Calculated Modifications
Claudius altered Laertes’ plan to add secret, untraceable elements that would avoid suspicion. He prioritized protecting his throne over satisfying Laertes’ immediate revenge. Add these modifications to your exam checklist for quick recall.
The Redundant Backup Plan
To eliminate all risk of failure, the pair added a secondary killing method. This layer reflected both Claudius’ paranoia and Laertes’ desperation to ensure Hamlet’s death. Note how this backup plan backfires in your essay outline.
How Their Motivations Clashed and Aligned
Laertes cared only about revenge, while Claudius cared only about self-preservation. Their shared goal of killing Hamlet let them set aside their differences long enough to act. Map this clash in a 2-column chart for your study notes.
Unintended Consequences of Their Plots
Their overcomplicated plans led to the death of more people than just Hamlet. Both men’s selfish drives resulted in their own demise, alongside innocent bystanders. List these consequences in your exam prep checklist.
Linking Plans to Play Themes
Their collaborative plotting highlights the play’s focus on revenge as a corrupting force. It also shows how ambition and grief can push people to abandon morality. Draft one thematic analysis sentence using a sentence starter from the essay kit.
Why did Laertes agree to work with Claudius to kill Hamlet?
Laertes was consumed by grief over his father and sister, and Claudius offered him a chance to act on his rage without immediate punishment. Claudius also promised to cover up any evidence of Laertes’ involvement.
What made Claudius’ modifications to the plan necessary?
Claudius feared that a public, violent killing would lead to suspicion and a challenge to his throne. His modifications ensured Hamlet’s death would seem like an accident or a result of fair combat.
Did Laertes feel guilty about his part in the plans?
Laertes shows remorse in the play’s final act, once he realizes the full scope of Claudius’ manipulation and the innocent lives lost. He tries to make amends before his own death.
How do their killing plans reflect their characters?
Laertes’ initial plan shows his impulsive, emotional nature, while Claudius’ modifications reveal his cold, calculating, and politically savvy personality.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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