When Act I begins, what time of night is it? | midnight |
When the ghost appears the second time, what do Barnardo and Horatio believe causes the ghost to leave? | crowing of the cock |
What does Claudius want the King of Norway to do? | Stop young Fortinbras efforts 1) wage war on Denmark 2) reclaim the lands lost by his father |
What is Laertes’ request? | Wants to return to France |
Who says, “A little more than kin, and less than kind”? | Hamlet |
“Seems” Madam? Nay, it is. I know not “seems.” Of what does Hamlet accuse his mother? | He accuses his mother about feigning her sadness over King Hamlet’s death |
In his first soliloquy, to what does Hamlet compare the kingdom of Denmark? | An unweeded garden that has gone to seed |
Hamlet compares Claudius to a satyr. What is a satyr? To receive full credit you must give me more than the animal description. | A satyr is a lecherous man; a man who has inappropriate sexual appetites |
“Frailty, thy name is woman!” What does frailty mean in this context? | moral weakness |
“My father’s spirit—in arms!” What does Hamlet believe this means? | he thinks that some kind of foul play is in the works |
Of what do both Laertes and Polonius warn Ophelia? | She should not count on any kind of long term relationship with Hamlet |
While Hamlet and his friends wait for the appearance of the ghost they hear a flourish of trumpets and two cannons being fired. According to Hamlet, what is the reason for the sounds? | Claudius likes to drink a lot. The sounds are part of that drinking revelry |
When the ghost does not speak to Hamlet, what does he decide to do? | follow it |
Why is Horatio concerned about Hamlet’s decision? | He is afraid the ghost will try to lure Hamlet off a cliff (literally or figuratively) |
According to the ghost, who murdered Hamlet’s father? | His Uncle Claudius |
How was Hamlet’s father murdered? | Claudius poured poison in his ear while he took his afternoon nap in the garden |
What does the ghost demand Hamlet do? | Avenge his murder |
What does the ghost want Hamlet to do regarding Gertrude? | Leave Gertrude’s punishment to heaven |
What does Hamlet make his friends swear? | They will never tell what they saw that night (the ghost) |
What is Hamlet’s plan? | He will put on an “antic disposition” and/or He will focus all of his attention on getting revenge—nothing else will exist in his mind |
According to Polonius, how do individuals “of wisdom and of reach, . . . find directions out”? | indirect approaches; Reynaldo will spy |
How did Hamlet look when he appeared in Ophelia’s private room? | disheveled |
What does Polonius believe is wrong with Hamlet? | Mad for Ophelia’s love |
Who has Claudius summoned to spy on Hamlet? | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern |
What does Young Fortinbras get for agreeing to stop his aggression against Denmark? | $$, use of the royal army, and support of the country to invade Poland |
What request does Norway make of Denmark? | The army’s safe passage through Denmark |
Having presented his theory about Hamlet’s madness to Claudius, how does Polonius plan to prove his theory is correct? | He and Claudius will spy (hiding behind an arras) on Hamlet while he is talking with Ophelia (also a contrived meeting). |
Of what does Hamlet accuse his friends? | Being sent for by the King. Lying to him about their purposes. |
Why does Pyrrhus kill Priam? | Pyrrhus wants to avenge his father Achilles’ death. Achilles was killed by Priam.(Hamlet is like Pyrrhus) |
In his third soliloquy, why does Hamlet refer to himself as “a rogue and peasant slave”? | He fails to work up enough passion to take action against Claudius . . . Unlike the actor who is able to summon passion at will without just reason. |
What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern fail to report to the King and Queen about their visit with Hamlet? | That Hamlet knows the King and Queen sent for them. |
When Hamlet asks Ophelia, “Are you honest?” what two possible meanings are being suggested? | honest means both truthful as well as chaste |
Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a “nunnery” five times in his conversation with her. What two meanings does the word nunnery have in this context? | A nunnery is a convent. Used mockingly, it is also a brothel |
After listening to the exchange between Hamlet and Ophelia, what does Claudius conclude about Hamlet’s madness? | He disagrees with Polonius’ conclusions regarding the cause of Hamlet’s madness. He also starts to believe that Hamlet might not be mad at all. |
What action does Claudius plan to take regarding Hamlet? | Send him to England |
Who does Claudius ask to escort Hamlet to England? | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern |
Claudius says his crime has “the primal eldest curse upon it.” Explain the allusion. | Reference is to the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Cain murdered his brother Abel and was cursed for it. |
Why does Claudius believe he cannot be forgiven for the murder he committed? | He is still in possession of all he gained because of the murder. (crown, ambition, queen) |
Hamlet finally has an opportunity to kill Claudius. What is Claudius doing? | praying |
Why does Hamlet refrain from killing Claudius at this time? | He wants to send Claudius to hell. |
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; / Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” What do these words reveal about Claudius? | unsuccessful in his efforts to pray and ask for forgiveness; feels as though God can’t hear him |
What happens to Polonius as a result of his spying on Hamlet? | Dies (Hamlet kills him) |
Hamlet tells Polonius, “I took thee for thy better.” Who did Hamlet believe was behind the arras spying on him? | Claudius |
Hamlet shows his mother two pictures/images. One is of his father and the other is of his uncle. To what does Hamlet compare his father’s image? | a god; Hyperion (sun god) |
During Hamlet’s angry discussion with his mother, who enters the room? | the ghost of King Hamlet |
What does Hamlet ask his mother NOT to do? | go to bed with Claudius; continue her involvement with Claudius; tell others that Hamlet is simply feigning madness |
What does Gertrude fail to report to Claudius about what happened when Hamlet killed Polonius? | Hamlet thought it was Claudius |
When questioned by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about the location of Polonius’ body, to what does Hamlet compare Rosencrantz? | a sponge |
Why does Claudius say that he cannot “put the strong law on [Hamlet]”? | The people will be upset, they judge the punishment and not the person |
When questioned by Claudius about the location of Polonius’ body, Hamlet offers three Different answers. Where does he say the body is? | At supper, in heaven, at the lobby |
In his short soliloquy at the end of scene 3, what does Claudius reveal he is asking England to do with Hamlet? | kill him |
In his short soliloquy at the end of scene 3, to what does Claudius compare Hamlet? Be specific. | fever in his blood |
According to Fortinbras’ Captain, how much is the Polish land worth that Norway is going to war over? | 5 ducats |
At the beginning of his 7th soliloquy, why does Hamlet compare himself to “a beast”? | Dull revenge; sleep and eat |
Hamlet says, “Rightly to be great / Is not to stir without great argument, / But greatly to find quarrel in a straw / When ______ at stake.” | honor |
At the beginning of scene 5, Horatio, Gertrude, and a gentleman of the court discuss Ophelia. What has happened to her? | Gone mad |
Ophelia sings a song about St. Valentine’s Day. About whom does she seem to sing? | Hamlet |
According to Claudius, what is the cause of Ophelia’s ailment? | Death of Polonius |
What do “the rabble” want Laertes to be? | king |
Ophelia hands out flowers and herbs. What is rosemary for? Pansies? | Rosemary=remembrancePansies=thoughts |
Ophelia gives herself only one of the flowers/herbs. Which one is it? | Rue |
Besides the manner of Polonius’ death (how he died), what else is Laertes incensed about regarding his father? | Lack of burial ceremony |
On his way to England, who takes Hamlet prisoner? | pirates |
When Laertes asks why Claudius has not proceeded against Hamlet’s criminal acts, what TWO reasons does he give? | The Queen & the people love Hamlet |
From whom does Claudius receive a disturbing letter? | Hamlet |
What TWO things will the King and Laertes do to the rapier Laertes will use in the fencing match against Hamlet? | Sharpen it and poison it |
According to Gertrude, what has happened to Ophelia? | drowned herself |
What specific action is Laertes willing to take “to show indeed [he is his] father’s son?Hint: “No place indeed should murder sanctuarize.” | murder Hamlet in a church |
“Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter?” | grave maker |
Whose grave is being prepared as Hamlet and Horatio walk through the graveyard? | Ophelia’s |
According to the gravedigger, why will the corpse of a tanner decay more slowly than other corpses? | His skin keeps out water longer |
In whose skull does Hamlet take a special interest? | Yorick – the court jester |
What does Hamlet reveal about his feelings for Ophelia? | He loved her |
When Hamlet announces himself to the group in the graveyard, what title does he give himself? | Hamlet the Dane |
How does Hamlet send Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths? | Writes a letter as the king; forges it |
What does Hamlet say is his reason for wanting to kill Claudius? | Trying to kill him, ***** his mother, and killed his father, a canker on the nation |
Before they begin to fence, what does Hamlet ask of Laertes? | forgiveness |
What does Laertes mean when he tells Osric, “Why as a woodcock to mine own springe”? | caught in his own trap (dying) |
As he is dying, what does Hamlet ask Horatio to do? | tell his story |
“These indeed ‘seem’/ For they are actions that a man might play;/but I havethat within passes show” | Hamlet |
“My words fly up and my thoughts remain below” | Claudius |
“There is something rotten in the state of Denmark” | Marcellus |
“And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,/that sucked the honey of hismusicked vows” | Ophelia |
“For me with sorrow I embrace my fortune.” | Fortinbras |
“Such an act…calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose from the fair forehead of an innocent love, and sets a blister there and makes marriage vows false…” | Hamlet |
“Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing them, end them” | Hamlet |
My honored lord, you know right well you did, and with them words of sweet breath composed as made the things more rich. Their perfume lost, take these again…” | Ophelia |
“My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, and, a man double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin and both neglect” | Claudius |
“The harlot’s cheek beautified with plastering art is not more ugly to the thing that helps it than is my deed to my most painted word” | Claudius |
“Speak no more! Thou turnst my eyes into my very soul, and there I see such black and grained spots as I will not leave their tinct” | Gertrude |
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks” | Gertrude |
“My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet. Behind the arras I’ll convey myself to hear the process” | Polonius |
“But yet I do believe the origin and commencement of his grief sprung from neglected love” | Polonius |
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be” | Polonius |
Hamlet
August 28, 2019