How Does Hamlet's Father Die?

Hamlet's father, also called Hamlet, dies by having poison poured into his ear while he is sleeping in his orchard. The murderer is his brother Claudius, who wants to inherit the throne and marry Gertrude, his brother's wife. Everybody believes King Hamlet has been killed by a snake, except for young Hamlet who is told the truth by his father's ghost.

You can find a full summary of the play at www.rscshakespeare.co.uk

Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, poisons King Hamlet. He then takes the throne and marries King Hamet's wife.

He was poisoned, to inherit the throne.

Scholars believe this incident, (Hamlet's father relating his own murder to his son), as John Shakespeare talking to his own son William.

"Sleeping within mine orchard, my custom always in the afternoon,/

Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole/

With juice of curs-ed hebanon in a vial/

And in the porches of mine ears did pour/

The leperous distilment"

Thus the ghost of Hamlet's father tells his son who murdered him!