| Who is Reynaldo? | Polonius’ servant |
| Where is Polonius sending Reynaldo? Why? | France to spy on Laertes to make sure he is behaving himself |
| Describe the relationship between Polonius and Laertes? | Polonius doesn’t trust Laertes |
| Why is Ophelia “affrighted”? | Hamlet burst into her room, looking disgruntled |
| What was Hamlet doing when he burst into Ophelia’s room? | he was putting on an antic disposition |
| Why does Polonius think Hamlet has gone mad? | Ophelia broke up with him |
| What did Hamlet do when he burst into Ophelia’s room? | he got physical but did not hurt her, and he did not speak to her |
| “This is the very ecstasy of love” | Polonius |
| Why do Polonius and Ophelia go to the King? | to tell Claudius about Hamlet’s odd behavior |
| Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? | Hamlet’s childhood friends |
| Why did the King send for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? | they need to figure out what’s wrong with Hamlet by spying on him |
| What is in it for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern if they do the duty the King has assigned to them? | they will get paid |
| “Your visitation shall receive such thanks as fits a king’s remembrance” | Queen Gertrude |
| Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern loyal to Hamlet? | no |
| Why does the Queen think Hamlet is distempered? | his father’s death and her overhasty marriage |
| Who are Voltemand and Cornelius? | the King’s messengers |
| What does the Uncle of Norway say Young Fortinbras was trying to do? | plan an attack on Claudius |
| What does the Uncle of Norway want from Claudius? | permission to march through Denmark to get to Poland |
| What makes Claudius unsure of allowing Norway to march through Denmark? | he is doesn’t know if he can trust Young Fortinbras |
| What have you noticed about the way Polonius talks? | he says a lot of nothing |
| “More matter with less art” | Queen |
| What does Polonius read to the King and Queen? | a love letter from Hamlet to Ophelia |
| What does Hamlet say to Ophelia in the love letter? | Hamlet tells her to never doubt that he loves her |
| Why does the Queen maybe agree with Polonius’ conclusion? | she is looking to cast blame anywhere she can so Hamlet’s strange behavior is not her fault |
| How does Polonius suggest that him and the King test his theory? | Polonius send Ophelia to talk to Hamlet where the King and Polonius will hide behind a curtain to spy on them |
| What does Polonius put his job on the line for? | Hamlet’s love for Ophelia |
| What does Hamlet call Polonius? | fishmonger – sells fish |
| What does Polonius think as Hamlet is talking to him? | that Hamlet is far gone and completely nuts |
| “Though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t.” | Polonius – Hamlet is trying to distract him; Polonius thinks that there is a reason for his madness and some of what he says might be true |
| How does Hamlet react when he sees Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? | he is surprised but happy to see them |
| “What have you, good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune that she sends you to prison hither?” | Hamlet asks his friends why they are in Denmark |
| Why does Hamlet refer to Denmark as a prison? | Hamlet isn’t allowed to leave Denmark and go back to school |
| “Why, then, ’tis none to you, for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. To me, it is a prison.” | Hamlet says that it’s a matter of opinion or perspective |
| Why does Rosencrantz say they are in Denmark? | to visit Hamlet |
| Why does Hamlet suspect Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in Denmark? | He suspects they were sent for |
| Who tells Hamlet that the king sent for them? | Guildenstern |
| What does Hamlet tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when he finds out why they are in Denmark? | Hamlet tells them that he has lost all happiness and that his money and wealth mean nothing to him. Reason is what sets humans apart from animals, but it doesn’t mean anything because humans still make bad decisions |
| What are the players? | a group of traveling actors |
| How does Hamlet treat the players? | Hamlet is kind to the people of the lower class. He is not a snob, and he doesn’t care about money |
| “Will you see the players well bestowed?” | Hamlet to Polonius, telling him to take care of them |
| How does Polonius say he is going to treat the players? What does Hamlet say about this? | Polonius says he will treat the players according to their social status; Hamlet tells him to treat them the way he would want to be treated |
| What is the play within the play? | Murder of Gonzago |
| What does Hamlet plan to do at the play? | Hamlet will give the players a script which will be a reenactment of his father’s death. Then he will watch for Claudius’ reaction |
| What does Hamlet recognize in Soliloquy #2? | Hamlet recognizes his tragic flaw; he is unable to do the one thing he should be passionate about which is to avenge his father’s death by killing Claudius |
| “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King” | Hamlet; he will know whether or not the Ghost was telling the truth about Claudius after the play |
Hamlet Act 2
August 18, 2019