Shakespeare's Hamlet

Christian Guides to the Classics

by Leland Ryken

We know about the classics and we assume they're great, but many of us are too intimidated to read them on our own. Crossway's Christian Guides to the Classics series helps readers enjoy the greatest literature in history with the aid of a gifted teacher. Popular professor, author, and literary expert Leland Ryken situates each work in its cultural context, incorporates published criticism, includes brief bibliographies for further study, and evaluates these works through a Christian worldview. This volume will help readers understand and engage with William Shakespeare's greatest tragedy: Hamlet.

Genres: Literature, Shakespeare, High School

83 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2014

About the author

Dr. Ryken has served on the faculty of Wheaton College since 1968. He has published over thirty books and more than one hundred articles and essays, devoting much of his scholarship to Bible translations and the study of the Bible as literature. He served as Literary Chairman for the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible and in 2003 received the distinguished Gutenberg Award for his contributions to education, writing, and the understanding of the Bible.

He is the father of Philip Graham Ryken

Reviews

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryken's whole series here explaining the great themes of the classics is absolutely phenomenal and my go-to resource now if I'm reading or teaching a book he's written on. This book is no exception. While I'm not quite sure if I buy his theory that Hamlet is a martyr as opposed to a tragic hero, he defended his theory well and brought up a lot of important aspects of the play while doing so. For a play as complex as Hamlet, this book is a great resource for understanding different interpretations of the play.

Rating: 4 Stars (Very Good).

[Mora]

someone got this for me as a gift years and years ago and i never read it. finally did and it was,, okay. pretty basic (i mean it's only 80 pg, focus on hamlet alone is expected) but still. honestly i was hoping for more explanation of the christian elements (considering "christian guide to the classics") since that's not something i have the background on in order to grasp the significance/implications, but it barely talked about it. the article i read about ophelia last month had wayyy more and that was literally Just about ophelia (whom this one barely touched on). this guy also seemed to take everything in the play at face value which seemed weird for an english professor. he did dismiss freud out of hand though and had a few thoughts i found interesting (1. hamlet/claudius parallels, 2. hamlet's delay in acting, 3. public justice v private revenge) so he has some rights. don't bother specifically seeking this out to read though, not worth it

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great commentary and summary. However, spoiler alert! If you read this commentary along with reading the play for the first time, this book spoils what happens. But I highly recommend this commentary nonetheless.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful and thought provoking guide to Hamlet.

[Mike Crews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Great guide through the themes and thought of the play. Especially appreciated not only Ryken’s defense of his own views but also his interactions with those who differ.