| When did William Shakespeare live? | 1564-1616 |
| Where did Shakespeare live? | Stratford on Avon, England |
| When did Shakespeare write Hamlet? | 1600 |
| What are 4 works of literature that assisted Shakespeare in writing Hamlet? | -Historiae Danicae-Histories Tragiques-Ur-Hamlet-Anolothi |
| Who wrote Histories Tragiques? | Francois de Belleforrests |
| Who wrote Ur-Hamlet? | Thomas Kyd |
| What work of literature has its origins in Norse legends? | Anolothi |
| What work of literature is the History of the Danes? | Historiae Danicae |
| What are possible interpretations of Hamlet? | -Hamlet, the victim of external difficulties; Claudius is too powerful-Hamlet, the Sentimental dreamer; too much thinking, not enough action-Hamlet, the victim of excessive melancholy-“Melancholy Dane”- clinically depressed/mentally unstable-Hamlet, the victim of an Oedipus complex- Freudian interpretation; he has an unhealthy love/attachment to his mother-Hamlet, motivated by ambition- he will do anything to be king-Hamlet, misled by the ghost- not an honest ghost; revenge |
| What are major themes found in Hamlet? | -Justice/revenge-Destiny/purpose of life-Madness vs sanity-Appearance vs reality-Role of women-Rights and duties of kingship-Poison and Corruption(decay and disease) |
| What is Shakespeare’s 5 Act Structure? | Act I: ExpositionAct II: Rising ActionAct III: Climax and dramatic reverseAct IV: Falling ActionAct V: Catastrophe |
| What happens in the exposition(act I)? | Sets up major problems of the play |
| What happened in the catastrophe(act V)? | Death |
| What is the dramatic reverse of the play? | When Hamlet kills Polonius |
| What are the elements of a Shakespearean Tragedy? | -Revenge motive-Internal/external conflicts-Comic relief -Tragic hero/flaw/mistake-Supernatural element-Chance happenings |
| What are the components of a perfect revenge? | -Victim must be mentally and physically tortured -Victim must be damned after death-Person who takes revenge must damn his/her own soul |
| What has happened before the play begins? | -Claudius has murdered King Hamlet-Claudius married Queen Gertrude-Claudius held fake election swung by Polonius |
| What was the story of how the king was killed? | He was bitten by a snake while sleeping in the garden |
| How was the king really killed? | Claudius used ear poison on king while he was sleeping |
| Who is able to speak Latin? | Horatio |
| Which role did Shakespeare like to play? | The Ghost |
| Who are Hamlet’s two main foils? | Fortinbras and Laertes |
| Who acts as the “voice of reason”? | Horatio |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”A little more than kin and less than kind” | Hamlet about ClaudiusClaudius is now Hamlet’s father and uncle, which is unnatural |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”O, that this too solid flesh would melt” | Hamlet monologueHamlet wishes to give into his despair and die |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?Act I, “seeming” | Hamlet and Gertrude conversationHamlet says that Claudius’ and Gertrude’s marriage not only seems unnatural, it is unnatural |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Frailty, thy name is woman” | Hamlet about GertrudeWomen are weak and too emotional |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”To thine own self be true. Neither a borrower nor a lender be” | Polonius to LaertesPolonius wants Laertes to be true to himself while he is off on his own and to not buy or lend money |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” | Marcellus to HoratioReferring to ghost(ghost has just beckoned Hamlet to follow him)Something corrupt/immoral is going on |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”The serpent that did sting thy father now wears his crown” | Ghost to HamletTelling Hamlet that Claudius killed him, not a snake |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio Than are dreamt of in your philosophy” | Hamlet to HoratioHamlet says that things exist that Horatio does not know of so he should accept them |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”And thus do we…by indirections find directions out” | Polonius to ReynaldoReynaldo should find out what Laertes is up to indirectly |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Brevity is the soul of wit” | Polonious to king and queenBeing brief is eloquent |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”The play’s the thing” | Hamlet soliloquy Hamlet will watch Claudius during the play and see if he can detect any guilt |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Though thus madness, yet there’s method in it” | Polonius asideSaying there is a method to Hamlet’s madness |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so” | Hamlet to Rosencrantz and GuildensternSaying life is what you make of it |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”What a piece of work is man, How noble in reason how infinite in faculty” | Hamlet to R&GMen are difficult and annoying |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I” | Hamlet soliloquyHamlet saying he should have taken revenge on Claudius earlier |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”To be or not to be” | Hamlet soliloquyTo live or to die |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”To the noble mind, rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind” | Ophelia to HamletHamlet’s letters have lost meaning for Ophelia |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Get thee to a nunnery” | Hamlet to OpheliaNunnery=convent or brothel; Hamlet saying Ophelia should never have children/Ophelia is a slut(sold herself out) |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Madness in great ones must not unwatched go” | Claudius to PoloniusThey must watch Hamlet; crazy and powerful is a bad mix |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Give me that man That’s not passion’s slave” | Hamlet to HoratioHamles values a man who is not a slave to his emotions, such as Horatio |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”The lady doth protest too much methinks” | Queen to HamletReferring to the queen from the play; Gertrude saying that the “queen” is protesting so much one way that she will really act another |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Why look you now how unworthy a thing you make of Me! You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery” | Hamlet to R&GHamlet saying that he cannot be easily manipulated |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”I will speak daggers to her but use none” | Hamlet soliloquyHe will be verbally harsh with his mother, but he will not hurt her physically(he promised the ghost) |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”My words fly up, my thoughts remain below” | Claudius soliloquy He is not sincere with his prayers |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Oh what a rash and bloody deed is this?” | Queen to HamletHamlet has just killed Polonius |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”I must be cruel only to be kind” | Hamlet to QueenHis cruel words were only to help her see her wrongdoing |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Let it work; For ’tis the sport to have the engineer hoise with his own petar and ‘t shall go hard” | Hamlet to QueenHamlet is ready for any challenge that R&G throw at him |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”He’s loved of the distracted multitude who like not in their judgment, but their eyes” | Claudius about HamletClaudius cannot kill Hamlet because Hamlet is loved by the masses |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”From this time forth my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth” | Hamlet soliloquyFrom now on his soul focus will be on killing Claudius |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”No place indeed should murder sanctuarize Revenge should have no bounds” | Claudius to LaertesRevenge should have no bounds, not even in a church |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Alas poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio” | Hamlet to HoratioReferring to the court jester that used to entertain him |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Sweets to the sweet” | Queen about OpheliaLovely flowers for the lovely girl(connects Ophelia to flowers) |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”There’s a divinity that shapes our ends…Rough-hew then how we will” | Hamlet to HoratioFate shapes our lives no matter how hard we try to change it |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”The readiness is all” | Hamlet to HoratioHe is prepared for his death |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Report me and my cause aright to the unsatisfied” | Hamlet to HoratioHoratio must stay alive and tell others what happened |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to rest” | Horatio to HamletHoratio says his goodbyes |
| Who said it, who about/to, and what does it mean?”For he was likely, had he been put on, to have proved most royal” | Fortinbras to HoratioHamlet would have made a great king if he ever got the chance to prove himself |
| Hamlet was a student at the university in ___________, Germany | Wittenberg |
| What is a foil? | Character that is set up to contrast the main character |
| What are reasons the ghost would return? | -Do good deed left undone-Warn country of danger-Hidden treasure left undiscovered-Tell of their death |
| When does the ghost appear(time of day)? | Midnight |
| What is an example of an oxymoron in Hamlet? | (Act 1, scene 2)”Merth in funeral and dirge in marriage”Merth=joydirge=sadness People of Denmark have conflicting emotions about Claudius being King |
| Who does Claudius send as diplomats to speak with Old Norway? | Cornelius and Voltimand |
| Claudius says that Hamlet is next in line for the throne. Why is this ironic? | Hamlet should have been king after his father died |
| Why does Claudius want Hamlet to stay in Denmark instead of returning to Wittenberg? | Friends close and enemies closer |
| Hamlet says that Claudius is to his father as Hamlet is to _______ | Hercules |
| Why does Hamlet say that women are morally weak? | Gertrude remarried right away |
| Who is obedient? | Ophelia |
| What advice does Laertes give to Ophelia? | Ophelia shouldn’t be with HamletHamlet, as a royal, has to marry a royalOphelia shouldn’t lose her virginity to Hamlet |
| What does Ophelia say to Laertes before he goes to France? | Don’t be a hypocrite |
| What character is all talk(windbag)? | Polonius |
| What hypocritical advice does Polonius give to Laertes? | -Be in the middle(golden mean), don’t under or overdo anything-Be yourself |
| Why does Polonius tell Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet? | He is afraid her actions will reflect negatively on him |
| What color does Polonius use as a symbol for being naive? | Green |
| (Act I, scene 4&5)What is going on inside/outside the castle and what theme does this relate to? | Inside: wedding.coronation partyOutside: cold, damp, eerie, darkTheme: appearance/reality, which is the real Denmark? |
| What do Marcellus and Horatio fear the ghost will do to Hamlet? | -Lead Hamlet into madness-Lead Hamlet to his death |
| What 3 requests does the ghost make of Hamlet? | -Revenge against Claudius-Don’t hurt Gertrude-Take care of himself |
| What 2 requests does Hamlet make of Marcellus and Horatio? | -Don’t tell anyone about the ghost-Don’t tell anyone that Hamlet is only pretending to be crazy |
| Why does Hamlet pretend to be crazy? | -No one will question him/his motives-People won’t take him seriously-He doesn’t look like a threat |
| Does Hamlet trust the ghost right away? | No |
| Who does Polonius send to France to spy on Laertes? | Reynaldo |
| What four entrapments are set up in Act II? | -Polonius uses Reynaldo to spy on Laertes-King and Queen have brought R&G to Denmark to spy on Hamlet/see why he is acting crazy-Polonius and Claudius will use Ophelia to see is Hamlet is “crazy in love”-Hamlet will recreate murder in a play to trap Claudius into a confession/look for reaction |
| Why does Hamlet call Polonius a fishmonger? | They sell fish, Polonius is selling his daughter |
| What play is going to be performed in order to trap Claudius? | Murder of Gonzago(plus additional lines written by Hamlet) |
| What play does the acting company first perform? | Revenge for a Father’s death |
| What is “Revenge for a Father’s Death” about? | Troy vs GreeceTrojan Horse(appearance vs reality) |
| How does Hamlet compare himself to the actor? | -Actor can cry when he didn’t really lose anyone-Hamlet cannot cry when he lost his own father |
| What is the reason Hamlet arranges for the performance in front of the court(regarding the ghost)? | -Testing the honesty of the ghost-Ghost is really a devil? |
| Meaning of “To be or not to be” speech | -To live or to die-Is it nobler to suffer through life or to take a stand against life’s injustices and end your life? -Dying is like sleep-Dying ends heartache and pain that all people go through-However, what is in store after life? -If you stay alive, you will not have to go into the unknown-No one knows what happens after life-Men are too cowardly to end their lives for fear of the unknown |
| What does Hamlet decide at the end of his “to be or not to be” speech? | To stay alive, but he thinks he is a coward for doing so |
| Where does Claudius want to send Hamlet? | England |
| What two people does Claudius use to spy on Hamlet? | Gertrude and Ophelia |
| What is prose? | Regular speech, not poetry |
| When does Hamlet use prose? | To actors(actors considered lower class, not as education)When he is crazy |
| How does Hamlet tell the actors to act and what is this an example of? | Act naturally-oxymoron |
| What theme does “play within a play” go with? | Appearance vs reality |
| What themes does “Julius Caesar” go with? | -Revenge-Role and duties of kings-Appearance vs reality |
| What character played Julius Caesar? | Polonius |
| According to the play, what kind of wife would remarry? | The one who killed her husband |
| According to the play, how does a wife “rekill” her husband? | When she gets into bed with her new husband |
| What does Hamlet later call the play that is being performed for the court? | The Mouse Trap |
| Who says this and what does it mean?”Give me some light. Away” | KingHe was to get away from the showLight=no more guilt |
| What analogy does Hamlet make between a recorder and R&G? | Like a piper plays a recorder to get music, R&G are playing Hamlet to get info |
| What does the cloud look like according to Hamlet, and how is this making fun of Polonius? | Camel(hunch-backed), weasel(Polonius is a weasel), whale(overweight) |
| What story does Claudius allude to in the chapel? | Cain and Abel |
| What would happen to Claudius is he were to truly repent(turn himself in)? | He would be killed and lose the kingship and Gertrude |
| What is the climax of the play? | In the chapel where Hamlet could have killed Claudius but doesn’t |
| Why does Hamlet chose not to kill Claudius in the chapel? | Hamlet thinks that Claudius has repentedIf Claudius repented, his soul wouldn’t be damned(not a perfect revenge) |
| Who is most affected by Polonius’ death? | Laertes and Ophelia |
| Why couldn’t Gertrude see the Ghost? | -Ghost isn’t really there-She isn’t in his favor |
| What does the Ghost remind Hamlet to do while in Gertrude’s bedroom? | -Revenge against Claudius-Don’t hurt Gertrude |
| What two requests does Hamlet make of Gertrude? | -Not to sleep with Claudius anymore(she now knows he is a murderer)-Don’t tell Claudius that Hamlet is only pretending to be mad |
| How does Hamlet get R&G killed? | He rewrites letter to England |
| What will Hamlet do with the body of Polonius? | Hide it |
| What makes Ophelia go crazy? | Polonius deadGuilt- she thinks she made Hamlet crazy |
| Who is Claudius concerned about after the death of Polonius? | Himself |
| What analogy does Hamlet make between R&G and a sponge? | They soak of information and the king squeezes it out of them |
| Where does Hamlet say the dead Polonius is? | At dinner(worms feeding on him) |
| ______ is the great equalizer | Death |
| Why does Shakespeare joke about death? | Desensitize audience for all the death to come |
| When Claudius speaks to England, what is this an example of? | Apostrophe/metonymy |
| What does Claudius ask England to do? | Kill Hamlet |
| Describe how Fortinbras is a foil to Hamlet? | Fortinbras: has noble, courageous, and loyal followers; fighting for insignificant piece of landHamlet: Far more reason to act but waits |
| What does Laertes gather an army of? | Peasants |
| Describe how Laertes is a foil to Hamlet | Laertes takes action right away after hearing about father’s death |
| How are flowers and Ophelia alike? | Beautiful, bring people pleasure, need a lot of care, short lived/fragile |
| What flowers does Ophelia give to Laertes and what do they mean? | Rosemary(remembrance) and Pansies(thoughts) |
| What flowers does Ophelia give to Claudius and what do they mean? | Fennel(easily flattered/persuaded) and Columbines(adultery) |
| What flowers does Ophelia give to Gertrude and what do they mean? | Rue(sorrow) and Daisy(false love) |
| What flowers does Ophelia give herself and what do they mean? | Rue(sorrow) |
| What flower does Ophelia give to no one and what does it mean? | Violet(faithfulness) |
| What is an example of chance happenings? | Hamlet passes by pirate ship on way to England, pirates can bring him back to Denmark |
| What reasons does Claudius give to Laertes for why he didn’t execute Hamlet? | -Public loves Hamlet-Gertrude loves Hamlet |
| What does Claudius trick Laertes into planning? | A fencing match between Laertes and HamletLaertes will poison the tip of his sword |
| What is Claudius’ back up plan for killing Hamlet? | Poisoning the wine |
| How does Ophelia die? | Drowns-too much water(like a flower)Was while she was searching for flowersShe doesn’t save herselfLets the water take her away-symbolic of how people used herNo one there to protect her |
| Why is Claudius concerned when he hears that Ophelia is dead? | He is mad at Gertrude for riling Laertes up |
| What are the three purposes of The Gravedigger Scene? | -Comic relief-Viewpoint of commoners-Desensitize audience for death |
| Why was the priest at Ophelia’s funeral upset? | He thought he should not be performing the ceremony because she committed suicide |
| What stereotype is Osric? | Court fop |
| What is a court fop? | Trendy, tries to seem important, gossipy |
| What news does Osric bring to Hamlet and Horatio? | King has arranged fencing match with him and Laertes, king betting on Hamlet |
| Why does Hamlet agree to the fencing match? | If he doesn’t, he will go to trial |
| Why does Laertes suddenly feel not right about poisoning Hamlet? | Hamlet apologizes to Laertes before the match |
| What does Laertes ask of Hamlet before he dies? | He asks Hamlet to forgive him |
| How was Gertrude killed and why is this significant? | Died because of poison wineDied like Hamlet’s father(poisoned by Claudius), blind to Claudius’ sins |
| How was Claudius killed and why is this significant? | Hamlet stabbed him and made him drink poison wineHamlet got his revenge, Claudius had arranged poison for Hamlet |
| How was Laertes killed and why is this significant? | Poison swordHe stabbed Hamlet with poison sword, stabbed with poison sword(his idea) |
| How was Hamlet killed and why is this significant? | Poison swordLaertes got his revenge, he killed Laertes/Laertes killed him |
| What is an example of a supernatural element? | Ghost of Hamlet’s father comes to tell Hamlet to get revenge against Claudius |
| What is a malapropism? | Purposeful misuse of word for comic effect |
| What are examples of malapropisms? | Ergo=>argalSe defendando=>se offendendo |
| How is tragic hero/flaw/mistake present in this play? | Hamlet and his inability to actDoesn’t kill Claudius in church, kills Polonius insteadWas prince, at the end is dead |
| What is a tragic hero? | Person who falls from exalted position because of a tragic flaw which leads to a tragic mistake |
| What are examples of comic relief? | -Gravedigger scene: malapropisms- argal instead of ergo -Osric: court fop stereotype-uses words he doesn’t know, takes hat on and off-Polonius: Hamlet makes fun of him-cloud shapes |
| What are examples of internal and external conflicts? | Internal: Hamlet vs himself-whether or not to take action, could have killed Claudius in chapel but didn’tExternal: Claudius vs Hamlet- Hamlet trying to get revenge against Claudius for killing his father, Claudius trying to get rid of Hamlet, Hamlet kills Claudius |
| What happened to Ukrainian president Victor Yushchenko? | Was almost killed by ear poison |
| Why is Hamlet so popular now in Russia? | Way of self-reflectionHamlet is Christ-like victim and weak-willed philosopher |
| According to Samuel Johnson, Hamlet is just and __________ in this revenge, rather than an _____ | Instrument, agent |
Hamlet Test
September 5, 2019