Q&A SummaryStory

1st Plot Point Hamlet learned from his father’s ghost that he was killed by Claudius. 2nd Plot Point Hamlet starts acting crazy, while trying to figure out what to do. 3rd Plot Point Claudius sets spies (Rosencrantz/Guildenstern) on Hamlet, because…

Portentous full of unspecifiable significance, exciting wonder and awe invulnerable immune to attack, impregnable, impossible to damade, injure, or wound malicious deadly, destructive filial The relationship of a child or offspring to a parent prodigal Rashly or wastefully extravagent vow…

There’s matter in these sighs, these profound heaves speaker: Claudiusspeaking to: Gertrude, Rosencrantz, and Guildensterncontext: in media res; recognizes that there is meaning but unsure of what it is; worried about the people and what they think of him Mad…

Whom does Gertrude rush to see after Polonius is killed? Claudius What does Gertrude compare herself to? The violent ocean What is Claudius’s main concern? Keeping his power What does Hamlet accuse Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of? Being spies for Claudius…

Exposition 1.Ghost appears to Hamlet2. Polonius forbids Ophelia to see Hamlet Inciting Incident Ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his father’s death Rising Action 1. Polonius concludes that Hamlet is insane due to Ophelia’s rejection2. Ophelia distances herself from Hamlet3. Hamlet…

Hamlet’s romance with Ophelia is ended by his mother. False Gertrude is astonished to see the ghost. False Yorick had been court jester. True Claudius never admits his guilt to the audience. False Claudius killed the king by pouring poison…

in context 1st performed July 1602; mirrors real story of Danish prince; transforms revenge story into play whose problems resonate with fundamental concerns of Renaissance; demonstrates how difficult it is to know people and to understand motivations, feelings, mental states…

“O that this too too solid flesh would melt” Suicide “Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d his canon ‘gainst self-slaughter” Suicide “stale, flat and unprofitable” Suicide “to be or not to be” Suicide “contagion to this world” Suicide “Shards,…

“what forgeries you may please. marry, none so rank as may dishonor him” POLONIUS TO REYNALDO-manipulating reynaldo to spy on Laertes out of protection of his own self image -doesn’t want him to say anything that will hurt his reputation…

Polonius sends Reynaldo to Paris. Polonius wants to learn about what his son is doing in Paris because he wants to spy on his son. What does Polonius send Reynaldo? Why? Polonius thinks that Hamlet is mad because he’s crazy…