| What is “rotten in the state of Denmark,” as Marcellus tells us? What do we learn about the situation in Scene I? In Scene II? | marcellus reveals the death of the king hamlet as well as seeing the ghost. in scene 2 gertude marries his deceased husband brother right after the death |
| In what ways is Scene II a contrast to Scene I? What do we learn about Gertrude, Claudius, and Hamlet in this scene? | in scene 1 the reader recieves a myserious vibe to the action taking place. in contrast to scene 2 it is a more eventful scene rather then full of depression |
| What is the function of the Polonius-Ophelia-Laertes family in this play? What parallels exist between their situation and that of the ruling family? | the laertes family makes conflict in between the family who has the power. they wish they had as much power as the conflict family. ophelia has a love for hamlet an dis confused at his actions. gertrude his mother also is at a questioning as for what to do. |
| What does Hamlet learn from the Ghost’s speech? | claudius killed his father king hamlet |
| Why does this act open with Polonius and Reynaldo? What does this tell us about Polonius’s character, and what theme or motif does it introduce in the play? | polonius acts differently |
| How does the interaction between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern help to explain what’s wrong with Hamlet? Why are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Denmark? | to spy on hamlet for the king and queen in order to find out if he is truly insane |
| The First Player’s speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut. | creates the scene and meaning for the entire play. it often shows the greatest conflict for what is to come. |
| Hamlet’s “O what a rogue and peasant slave am I” is the first of his soliloquies. What is he saying, and how does this set of words help to move him to action? | hamlet decides what he is going to do for revenge. hamlet no longer has control over his actions. |
| What does hamlet decide to do at the end of this speech? | puts on a play for claudius to confront him about the murder of his father |
| What is the subject of Hamlet’s second soliloquy, the famous “To be or not to be” speech? | whether or not he wants to live or commit suicide, he compares death to sleep and how it wouldn’t be so bad |
| Why is he so cruel to Ophelia immediately thereafter? | Claudius and Polonius are present he wants his revenge plan to show strongly and to convince everyone that he is insane |
| What happens in the “play-within-a-play”? How do the speeches and actions reflect on events in the kingdom of Denmark? How does the king respond? | reflects the death of King Hamlet and the marriage of Claudius and Gertrude. During the play King Claudius gets very antsy and cannot sit still. When the murder of the ¨King¨ by his own brother occurs, King Claudius jumps up from his seat and yells for the play to stop. After the play stops Claudius storms out of the theater full of anger. |
| In what way is Hamlet’s second major interaction with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (III.ii.375-415) different from his first encounter with them? | Hamlet no longer likes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Over the course of time, Hamlet was good friends with them until he learned that they were plotting with Claudius |
| Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? | kill Claudius because if he were to kill him then, then Claudius would go to heaven. Hamlet wants to wait until Claudius admits to his sins in order to kill him. |
| What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent? | hamlet kills polonius that is hiding behind a curtain. In this encounter hamlet assumed that claudius was behind the curtain. |
| Based on what you’ve seen in III.iv, do you think Gertrude knew about the murder? | Gertrude knew that Hamlet mistaken Polonius for Claudius |
| Is Hamlet really mad in this play, or is merely pretending to be mad? (Find lines that support your answer.) | hamlet has a strong sense of humor towards the death of polonius. Hamlet’s madness is feigned because gertrude lies to claudius in the beginning of the act |
| A foil is a character who is like the protagonist in some respects but who has contrasting qualities that “reflect” or illuminate the traits of the main character. Who are Hamlet’s foils, and in what ways do their characters shed light on his? | Hamlets main foil in this play is Laertes. They are both suffering from the death of their fathers and are mourning. Laertes wants revenge against hamlet while hamlet is out against claudius. Hamlet and laertes are sharing emotions but also driving each other insane. |
| Do Hamlet and Fortinbras meet in IV.iv? Why is this significant? | no, would have revealed the information about fortinbras wanting to march his army across denmark where hamlet has come from |
| Why is Ophelia mad? Does anything she say make sense? What happens to her at the end of Act IV? What does her madness and death symbolize about the kingdom? | she has discovered the death of her father. She has become insane and anything she says does not make sense in the end of act 5 ophelia dies in the lake by falling out of a tree and drowning |
| Look at the scene with Laertes and Claudius (IV.vii). What plans do they have for Hamlet? How does this scene establish Laertes as a foil for Hamlet? | Claudius and laertes plan to get revenge against hamlet and put him up to a fencing match against laertes will kill hamlet with a poisoned sword. If laertes does not kill hamlet then claudius will have hamlet drink a beverage with poison inside that will kill him instantly |
| Why is Hamlet less present in this act than in the previous three? | hamlet is on the ship to england |
| Why does this scene begin with two clowns trading jokes? Do their jokes make any sense in the context of the play? | add character to the play no one knows about ophelia’s death beside gertrude claudius and laertes. It is at question whether ophelia was on purpose or an accident |
| Where do Hamlet and Laertes fight in V.ii? | in the hall of the castle |
| Who is Osric, and why is he included in the play? | king claudius servant since rosencrantz and guildenstern were on a ship to england |
| Does Hamlet realize that he might not come out of this fight alive? See V.ii.225-238. | not realized the idea that he may die |
| What is the outcome of the fight scene at the end? | Hamlet is poisoned by the sword hamlet stabs laertes with the sword both of them die. Hamlet makes claudius drink the poisoned drink that also killed gertrude |
| When Gertrude drinks from the cup, Claudius asks her not to drink and she refuses. Has she ever disobeyed Claudius before? | Yes she has disobeyed claudius before because she lied to him about hamlet’s madness |
| Who is alive at the end of the play, and how do the others meet their ends? | Horatio and fortinbras are alive at the end of the play. Fortinbras allows for hamlet to have a military burial and funeral for his test of a royal soldier |
| Why is Fortinbras’s presence important? | He was the man who made hamlet want to take action on his revenge. Fortinbras had respect for hamlet and will make sure that everyone knows his action and intentions were at a good cause. He now becomes king of denmark no one else is in line to rule |
| claudius | king hamlet brother, hamlets uncle, gertrudes new husband |
| horatio | hamlets closet friend |
| polonius | father of ophelia and laertes |
| fortinbras | prince of norway |
Hamlet
July 1, 2019