The origin of the play called Hamlet

Rachel Sheakley, Kaylee Richards, Clint VanWormer

Ur-Hamlet

• Earlier play • possibly wrote by Thomas Kyd or William Shakespeare 

 •  Copies of this play are now lost 

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Judging by the number of reprints, Hamlet appears to have been Shakespeare's fourth most popular play during his lifetime.  William wrote the original Hamlet           

Thomas Kyd

Thomas Kyd

In the 1580`s evidence shows that Thomas Kyd was an important playwright, but not much is known about his play writing.

 Kyd is more generally accepted to have been the author of a Hamlet. Some poems by Kyd exist, but it seems that most of his work is lost or unidentified.

The Play Hamlet

William Shakespeare wrote the play Hamlet.  It is believed that the play was first performed between 1600 and 1601.  It is believed that the play was first printed in 1603.