| how does Shakespeare begin the play with an immediate sense of suspense? | the guards are seeking of a figure they’ve seen in the night (ghost) |
| what is probable important exposition is revealed in this scene? | the ghost is the late king hamlet |
| why has Horatio been asked to join the soldiers in the night watch? what has he decided to do? | Horatio was a scholar and they wanted him to get the ghost to talk. and he wants to tell hamlet. |
| how does the reader/ audience know this ghost is not a hallucination? | all 4 men could see the ghost |
| what important exposition is revealed at the beginning of this scene? | the return of old hamlet and the conflict with Norway |
| what evidence of wrong doing or corruption is evident in Claudius’ opening speech? | he admits to quick marriage and says while he’s mourning his brother he is also extremely excited for his new marriage. |
| compare Claudius’ treatment of Laertes with his treatment of hamlet. | with Laertes he is friendly and kind, with hamlet he is often condescending |
| why did hamlet not become king when his father died? | Denmark is an elective monarchy (his mother was very quick in marrying her dead husbands brother and he became the new king) |
| How is Hamlet physically and emotionally conspicuous in the public portion of this scene? | he is asked why he is gloomy and he responds extremely cynical and expresses his grief |
| what is the significance of Claudius denying hamlet permission to return to Wittenberg? | to watch over hamlet bc he killed his father |
| What aspect of Hamlet’s problem seems to bother him the most? | hamlets mother was very quick to marry his uncle. |
| what important metaphor is introduced in hamlets soliloquy that will be developed later in the play? | Denmark is and unweeded garden |
| What aspect of Hamlet’s concept of death/desire for death is revealed in Hamlet’s first soliloquy? | he believes that the world is like a garden that not weeded that he doesn’t belong in. |
| Contrast Claudius’ and Laertes’ reasons for being in Denmark. | Claudius was becoming king and Laertes was there for his coronation |
| explain the reasons that Laertes and polonius give ophelia to convince her not to trust hamlets love. | they say he may not have true intentions that he is too young and will change his mind and his love will only last a short amount of time. |
| What is comical about Polonius? | Polonius is a hypocrite, he wants his son to be true to himself but he does not want his family name to be tarnished. |
| other than the fact of the ghost itself, why is the ghost thought to be evil? | he is dressed in full armor and he tells hamlet the secret to how he actually died and that he is the one who needs to seek revenge |
| Marcellus states, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” What does he mean? | there is something wrong with the situation of hamlet following the ghost |
| in what region of the universe does the ghost reside | purgatory |
| what possible theme is introduced by the ghosts afterlife? | death and purgatory |
| what does the ghost warn hamlet about his mother? why? | he says not to blame her and leave her to heaven when he gets vengeance |
| what does hamlet mean when he says,” the time is out of joint”? | it wasn’t his fathers time to die. or we are out of time. |
Hamlet act 1 study guide
August 2, 2019