Hamlet act 2

Why does polonius send reynaldo to paris? To give money and messages laertes; check up on him
Why is ophelia frightend by hamlet? Hamlet came to her looking and acting mad
How does polonium explain hamlets behavior? Is he right He says hamlet is love sick. No, hamlet is trying to appear mad
Who are Rosencratz and Guildenstern? Why do they come to Elsinore? Schoolmates of hamlet. The queen and king invited them
What Rozosencratz and Guildenstern agree to do? Are they betraying hamlet? They try to learn why hamlet is acting strangely. Hamlet thinks they are, but they are trying to help him.
What is the bedridden king of Norways response to Claudius’s request? He has reigned in Fortinbras, who will battle the poles instead of the Danes and asked to pass through their land
Who wrote the love letter polonius reads to Claudius and Gertrude? Why does he read it? Hamlet. He reads it to prove hamlet is love sick
What is polonius’s plan for proving that hamlets odd behavior is the result of love madness? To let hamlet talk to Ophelia while Polonius and the King secretly watch.
How does hamlet feel about seeing his old friends and what do they tell him? He is suspicious of their motives. They admit they are supposed to observe him and report back to the king and queen
What does hamlet request the traveling players to perform and why? The murder of Gonzago with some added lines to see if the king will reveal his guilt when he sees the details of king hamlets death
Couplet In a poem, a pair of lines that are the same length and usually rhyme and form a complete thought.
Elegy A poem that laments the death of a person, or one that is simply sad and thoughtful.
Enjambment The continuation of a complete idea (sentence or clause) from one line or couplet of a poem to the next line or couplet without a pause
Epic A long, serious poem that tells the story of a heroic figure
Epigram A very short, witty poem.
Figure of speech A verbal expression in which words or sounds are arranged in a particular way to achieve a particular effect.
Foot Two or more syllables that together make up the smallest unit of rhythm.
Free verse Poetry composed of either rhymed or unrhymed lines that have no set meter
Haiku A Japanese poem composed of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables.
Hyperbole A figure of speech in which deliberate exaggeration is used for emphasis.
“More matter with less art” Queen says this impatiently when wanting to know more about Hamlet being love sick. She wants polonium to tell more and be less rhetoric.
“Though this be madness, yet there is method isn’t” Polonium says this meaning there is method in hamlets madness
“What piece of work is man, how mobile in reason how infinite in faculties…in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god…” Hamlet says this meaning how brilliant humans are. They are intelligent and admirable.
“The play’s the thing/ Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King”