Hamlet Act I-V – Flashcards
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How does Shakespeare begin the play with an immediate sense of suspense?
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The guards are speaking of a figure they've seen in the night.
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What probably important exposition is revealed in this scene?
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The ghost is the late king, Hamlet.
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Why has Horatio been asked to join the soldiers in the night watch? What has he decided to do?
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Horatio was a scholar, and they wanted him to get the ghost to speak. He wants to tell Hamlet.
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How does the reader/audience know this ghost is not a hallucination?
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They can all see the ghost.
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What important exposition is revealed at the beginning of this scene?
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The return of Old Hamlet and the conflict with Norway.
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What evidence of wrongdoing or corruption is evident in Claudius' opening speech?
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He admits to the quick marriage and says while he's a mourning brother, he is also extremely excited for his new marriage.
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Compare Claudius' treatment of Laertes with his treatment of Hamlet.
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With Laertes he is friendly and kind, while with Hamlet he is often condescending.
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Why did Hamlet not become King when his father died?
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Denmark is an elective monarchy.
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How is Hamlet physically and emotionally conspicuous in the public portion of this scene?
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He is asked why he is so gloomy and he responds extremely cynical and states his grief.
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What is the significance of Claudius' denying Hamlet permission to return to Wittenburg?
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To watch over Hamlet since he killed his father.
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What aspect of Hamlet's concept of death/desire for death is revealed in Hamlet's first soliloquy?
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He wishes to be dead because he believes the world is like an unweeded garden that he doesn't want to be in.
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What aspect of Hamlet's problem seems to bother him the most?
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Hamlet's mother remarried to his uncle.
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What important metaphor is introduced in Hamlet's soliloquy that will be developed later in the play?
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Denmark is an unweeded garden.
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Contrast Claudius' and Laertes' reasons for being in Denmark.
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Claudius was becoming king and Laertes was there for his coronation.
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Explain the reasons that Laertes and Polonius give Ophelia to convince her not to trust Hamlet's love.
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They say he may not have true intentions, and if he did, he's a royal so he may not have a choice.
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What is comical about Polonius?
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He tells Laertes that he should be leaving quickly, but rants on and on, stalling him.
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Other than the fact of the ghost itself, why is this Ghost thought to be an evil omen?
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He tells Hamlet a secret about how he died. He made him completely obsessed with seeking revenge.
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Marcellus states, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." What does he mean?
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He's referring to Hamlet following the ghost and saying how there's something wrong with the situation.
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In what region of the universe does the Ghost reside?
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Purgatory.
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What possible theme is introduced by the Ghost's afterlife?
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The theme of death and purgatory.
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What does the Ghost warn Hamlet about his mother? Why?
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He says not to blame her and leave her to heaven when he gets vengeance.
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What does Hamlet mean when he says, "The time is out of joint"?
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It wasn't his father's time to die.
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What is ironic about Polonius' attempt to learn about Laertes' life in Paris?
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He will ruin his son's reputation in the process.
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Why would Polonius immediately jump to the conclusion that Hamlet is mad for Ophelia's love?
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He believed his love was unrequited because of how rash he was.
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Consider how the episode of Hamlet in Ophelia's closet promises to contribute to the overall calamity of the tragic plot.
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She has sided with those against Hamlet, and both Hamlet and Polonius are exploiting her.
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Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern willing spies for CLaudius and Gertrude?
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They are good friends with Hamlet. They care about him, and they want Claudius and Gertrude to like them.
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What effect is created by the scenes between Hamlet and Polonius being in prose?
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It changes how the character is portrayed.
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What are some of the slang expressions and puns Hamlet uses in his first exchange with Polonius? Why are they significant?
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Polonius asks Hamlet what he's reading and Hamlet pretends to be confused.
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What is Hamlet's initial reaction to the appearance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
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He says something that suggests that he doesn't car about them and is already on to them.
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Why are Rosencrantz and Guildernstern hesitant to admit that they are in Elsinore because the king and queen sent for them?
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They don't want him to realize they are spies.
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How does Hamlet's famous "What a piece of work is a man!" passage depart from typical Renaissance humanism?
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He doesn't depict man as if it is the top of the hierarchy of creation.
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Why does Shakespeare introduce a troupe of traveling players into the action of the play?
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The players will be the vehicle by which Shakespeare can evaluate various characters' reactions t events and characters in the play.
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What does Hamlet's expression of concern about the child actors used in the city contribute to the development of his character?
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I don't see how it affects the plot, but it shows how Shakespeare shows his own opinions through Hamlet.
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What is unusual about the players' monologue about the Fall of Troy?
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It is told from the Trojan's view. Thus, the roles of good and bad are reversed.
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What does Claudius admit to himself (and the audience) about his crime?
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He admits that he killed the previous king. He says it's the biggest crime. He wants to pray for forgiveness, but doesn't want to deal with the consequences.
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List the personal grievances Hamlet expresses in his "To be or not to be" solilquy and explains what specific events in Hamlet's life they refer to.
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He debates whether or not he wants to live through this pain. Death would be the easiest way out
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What metaphor does Hamlet use in his "To be or not to be" speech to express his developing understanding of death? How does he further develop this metaphor?
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He compares death to a deep sleep. He says it's crazy to try and live through all the pain instead of taking a long sleep.
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What information does Ophelia provide about Hamlet's character before the beginning of the play?
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She tells him he came to her dressed sloppily and he grabbed her by the wrist.
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Explain the ambiguity of the nunnery scene.
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Hamlet goes crazy. He makes personal insults at Ophelia. He accuses her of being with other men.
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What is the main thrust of Hamlet's diatribe against Ophelia?
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He accuses her of being dishonest.
