Hamlet
by William Shakespeare
- Grade range
- Grades 11–12
- Age range
- Ages 15–18
- Pages
- 342
- First published
- 1603
- Genre
- Tragedy
- ISBN-13
- 9780743477109
About this book
The Prince of Denmark, haunted by his father's ghost, weighs revenge against his uncle — the new king who married Hamlet's mother. Shakespeare's longest play is the most frequently assigned work on AP Literature reading lists and appears in IB DP English Literature syllabi worldwide.
Themes
- revenge
- madness
- mortality
- appearance vs reality
- grief
Content notes
- violence
- suicide
- death
- betrayal
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
AP English Literature & Composition
- required· 12th gradesource: AP Lit — one of the most frequently cited FRQ3 texts
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 12th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 11-CCR drama exemplar
IB Diploma Programme — English A: Literature
- required· 12th gradesource: IB DP English A Literature Prescribed Reading List
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Hamlet?
- Hamlet is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 11–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Hamlet?
- Hamlet appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, Common Core State Standards (ELA), IB Diploma Programme — English A: Literature. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Hamlet banned in schools?
- Hamlet does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Hamlet explore?
- Central themes in Hamlet include revenge, madness, mortality, appearance vs reality, grief. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.