Hamlet Act 2

What did Hamlet do to Ophelia to frighten her? He grabbed her wrist, stared at her, and then nodded at her as if to say she is just like his mother. He then leaves without looking away from her
What does it mean when Ophelia says “No, my good lord, but as you did command I did repel his letters and denied his access to me.”? Ophelia did as she was told and rejected Hamlet’s letters and didn’t let him visit her
What does Polonius think is the reason for Hamlet going crazy? Ophelia rejecting him
Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Hamlet’s childhood friends
Why are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Denmark? to find out what is bothering Hamlet
How does Hamlet feel about what Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are doing? He is not happy about it
What does Queen Gertrude think is the reason for Hamlet going crazy? King Hamlet’s death and her hasty marriage to Claudius
What does Queen Gertrude mean by “I doubt it is no other but the main, his father’s death and our o’er hasty marriage.”? She thinks that Hamlet has gone crazy because of his father’s death and her hasty marriage to Claudius
What does Polonius mean by “Brevity is the soul of wit.”? Why is this ironic? The fewer words the better, because Polonius talks a lot
Why would Hamlet think of Denmark as a prison? because he can’t leave until he has killed Claudius
What does “The play’s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.” mean? The play is where Hamlet will find out if Claudius really did kill King Hamlet
What is Hamlet’s plan at the end of Act 2? to add a scene similar to his father’s death to the play and see if Claudius reacts
Why is Hamlet so hard on himself? because he feels guilty for not killing Claudius yet