ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Hamlet was entered on the Stationers’ Register by James Roberts on 26 July 1602. The first ‘bad’ quarto, printed by Valentine Simmes for Nicholas Ling and John Trundell, appeared in 1603. James Roberts printed the second ‘good’ quarto in 1604/5 for Nicholas Ling.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hamlet, in full Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, tragedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, written about 1599–1601 and published in a quarto edition in 1603 from an unauthorized text, with reference to an earlier play.

Detailed explanation-3: -First Quarto (Q1): In 1603 the booksellers Nicholas Ling and John Trundell published, and Valentine Simmes printed, the so-called “bad” first quarto, under the name The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke.

Detailed explanation-4: -The intended publication of the play is entered in the Stationers’ Register in 1602 by James Roberts, but Q1 was not published until summer or autumn 1603. It was published by the booksellers Nicholas Ling and John Trundell, and printed by Valentine Simmes.

Detailed explanation-5: -In London in 1601, a company of boy players were enjoying great success at the Blackfriars Theatre, at the expense of the adult companies performing at other venues. So 1601 is the likeliest date of composition.