Who is Reynaldo? Why does Polonius send him to France? | Polonius hires Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in France. Reynaldo is to plant rumors of Laertes’ conduct with other Danes in France to find indirectly if Laertes is maintaining his reputation. |
Describe Hamlet’s appearance and actions according to Ophelia in Act II, scene 1 | Hamlet enters Ophelia’s inner bedchamber (where he should NOT be) and his clothes are all disheveled and partially undone. He does not speak but stares seriously into her face |
Who are Guildenstern and Rosencrantz? Why are they “in the hire” of Claudius and Gertrude? | Hamlet’s college friends from Wittenberg who are hired to spy on Hamlet. |
Why will Fortinbras be approaching Denmark soon? | Prince Fortinbras decides to direct his army to attack Poland. He has to peacefully march through Denmark in order to get to Poland. |
What news is given to Claudius concerning Norway in Act II, scene 2? | – obeyed his uncle’s command to drop his plan to attack Denmark- accepts 60,000 gold crowns and decides to direct his army to attack Poland- asks Claudius to grant permission for the Norwegian army to peacefully march through Denmark. |
According to Polonius in Act II, scene 2, why is Hamlet acting the way he is? | Ophelia broke his heart. |
What is Polonius’ proof? What is Polonius’ plan to provide more proof? | Polonius took Hamlet’s love letters to Ophelia and read them to the king and queen. Additionally, he and Claudius will hide behind an arras and eavesdrop on Ophelia’s conversation with Hamlet. |
Who says the famous line “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”? What is meant by this line? | Polonius. There is some importance or significance beneath the mad rants of Hamlet. |
What information does Rosencrantz give Hamlet by the end of scene II? | Rosencrantz tells Hamlet a group of traveling players (actors) are coming to Elsinore to perform. |
What is the name of the play that Hamlet wants the visiting actors to perform? | The Murder of Gonzago |
Give an interpretation of Hamlet’s soliloquy (Act II, scene 2) | Hamlet has every reason to cry and grieve over the death of his father, yet cannot bring forth tears like an actor can at will. If he could “act” his grief on stage, the guilty audience members would go mad and the innocent would be appalled. He calls himself weak and womanly. He cursed Claudius as a “lecherous, treacherous villain.” He questions if the spirit of his father is a demon sent to damn his soul, and then decides he will trap Claudius through the play to find evidence of Claudius’ guilt. |
What is Hamlet’s purpose in putting on the play The Murder of Gonzago? | The actors will recreate the murder of King Hamlet in his garden and Hamlet and Horatio will observe Claudius’ reaction for signs of guilt. |
Hamlet Act II
August 4, 2019