| what mood, or atmosphere doe Shakespeare establish in Scene 1? Which details help create this mood? | the opening scene creates a dark, suspenseful, and foreboding mood. Details include the late night, the cold, and the guards’ fear and confusion |
| in scene 2, Claudius urges Hamlet to stay at court instead of returning to Wittenburg. About what might be concerned? | Ostensibly he expresses concern that the person “most immediate to out throne” cannot overcome his unhealthy :unprevealing woe.” however, Claudius might also want to keep close watch on Hamlet to forestall any plot against him. |
| How do Hamlet’s comments regarding Claudius in scene 2 contrast with the impression Claudius conveys of himself through his speeches? what does this contrast suggest regarding life at the Danish court> | Claudius portrays himself as an able statesman, a competent ruler, and a fond husband. However, Hamlet says he is “no more like my father/than I to Hercules” (lines 152-153). the contrast suggest that the onward appearance may mask inner corruption. |
| Reread lines 129-159 of scene 2. what does this soliloquy suggest regarding Hamlet’s state of mind at this point in the play? | Hamlet seems extremely depressed. His world appears “weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable,” and suicidal thoughts of “self slaughter” have crossed his mind |
| Many of Shakespeare’s characters use puns in their speech. A pun is a play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings. Although puns are often associated with humor, they can also be an effective way to convey serious meanings. For example, in his conservation with Ophelia in scene 3, Laertes’s says that Hamlet “himself is subject to his birth” (line 18). Explain how Laertes’s statement is enriched by his drawing on two separate meanings of the word subject | Laertes’s statement means that Hamlet is subject to, or must obey, the responsibilities and obligations of his rank. Laertes is warning Ophelia that even if Hamlet loves her now, he may not be able to marry her of his princely duties demand otherwise. The word “subject” can also mean “one who owes loyalty to a king or prince.” This suggests a paradox: Hamlet is both prince and subject since he cannot make his own decisions as “unvalued persons” can. |
| In scene v, the ghost speaks harshly about Gertrude. why does he insist that Hamlet not take any action against her? | Hamlet is in the throes of depression over his mother’s treachery but lacks an outlet for his feelings. by consigning Gertrude to her own punishment, the Ghost eliminates the stigma of matricide and enable Hamlet to wipe away all doubt and softness, permitting him to avenge his father’s murder. |
| In lines 75-177 of Scene 5, Hamlet tells Horatio and Marcellus that he might soo have to pretend to act strangely. What does this comment suggest regarding how he will try to carry out his revenge? | Hamlet tell Horatio that he plans to act mad to catch Claudius out. The dramatic irony will enable the audience to see behind Hamlet’s apparent madness to the intent beneath it, while Claudius and others may simply think he has lost his mind. |
| What do lines 193-195 in Scene v reveal regarding Hamlet’s attitude toward the responsibility given to him by the Ghost? Why does he feel this way? | Hamlet would have rather not been given the task, saying “O cursed spite,/That ever I was born to set it right!” |
Hamlet Act 1
September 13, 2019