Explain “Frailty, thy name is woman.” | Hamlet says this about his mother in his first soliloquy. He is angry and feels that women are morally and emotionally weak. |
What does the ghost of King Hamlet tell Hamlet during their conversation? | He is in purgatory and must find justice for his murder. Claudius had poured poison in his ear as he slept. |
What does Polonius and Laertes warn Ophelia about? | She doesn’t need to get to close to Hamlet |
In the opening scene, who have the guards invited along to keep watch? | Horatio |
Who is threatening to invade Denmark? Why? | Fortinbras – to get land forfeited at father’s death |
Why does the ghost disappear? | Daytime has arrived |
Who does Horatio want to tell about the ghost sighting? | Hamlet |
Who is the current King of Denmark? | Claudius |
Who does Gertrude marry soon after King Hamlet’s death? | Claudius |
Who is Hamlet’s best friend? | Horatio |
Who asks permission to return to France? | Laertes |
Who swears to speak to the ghost, even if Hell should “gape open”? | Hamlet |
Who is the Lord of the court – Claudius’s advisor and also closest friend? | Polonius |
Who tells Hamlet not to be so sad about his father’s death? | Claudius and Gertrude |
What might the ghost wearing armor symbolize? | He has returned to battle injustice that occurred in his death |
Where does Polonius send Reynaldo? | to spy on Laertes |
Why does Polonius think that Hamlet is mad? | Ophelia’s rejection |
Why have Rosencrantz and Guilderstern come to the castle? | to spy on Hamlet and try to find out why he has been acting strangely |
What arrangement does Hamlet make with the players? | the actors will reenact scenes that closely resemble how the ghost reported his murder to have occurred |
What does Hamlet say in the last soliloquy in Act II? | He calls himself a coward for not acting upon the news of this father’s murder |
Why is Hamlet so upset with himself at the end of Act II | he can not put into action a plan for justice like the heroic characters on stage can |
Hamlet Act I and II
July 18, 2019