Hamlet Study Guide Questions

Act One Scene One Question:

   1)       Think about someone asking the question “Who’s there?” In what ways can you interpret the meaning of “being there?”

Act One Scene One Summary: Trick or Treat

Horatio (an educated friend of Hamlet’s), is dragged out to the gates of the castle by two watchmen/ soldiers. They have been trying to convince Horatio that they have seen the ghost of the Old King (Hamlet Sr. who died two months ago). When the ghost appears Horatio, who is a logical and usually calm man, freaks out and is convinced the ghost is a bad sign- possibly foreshadowing something sinister. The prince of Norway, Fortinbras, wants to invade Denmark and take back land that was lost from the previous king, so Horatio guesses the ghost could be warning the nation of Denmark. Horatio decides that the best course of action is to tell prince Hamlet that his dead father’s ghost is roaming around.

Act One Scene Two Questions

   2)     Explain the difference between a monologue and a soliloquy:

   3)     Find two quotes that show Claudius’ fake and political personality in his opening monologue. Explain how each quote supports this assertion:

a.      

b.      

Hamlet’s first Soliloquy:

   4)     What do you notice about Hamlet’s speech in the video in terms of his body language, mood, and tone? How would you characterize him?

   5)     Read through the soliloquy and “ball-park” the text on the right hand margin. What three key topics does Hamlet cover in his first Soliloquy (133-164)?

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Rest of Scene 2 Summary:

After Hamlet gives his soliloquy, Horatio enters the room and tells him that he saw his dead father’s ghost. Not sure whether if this is the truth or not, Hamlet decides he will stand watch at the gates the next night to see if the ghost is real.

Act One Scene Three Questions:

   6)     Read Laertes’s long monologue. What are two reasons he tells Ophelia to be cautious in starting up a relationship with Hamlet?

   7)     Do you believe that Laertes is actually concerned for his sister, or is he just a controlling brother? Why?

   8)     After Laertes tells Ophelia to remember the advice he gave her about Hamlet, she replies to him in lines 92-93 “Tis in my memory locked/ And you yourself shall keep the key of it.” What does this quote say about her relationship with her brother? What does this quote say about Ophelia’s own opinion about herself?

A Brief Summary of Scene 5:

Hamlet is joined by Horatio and Marcellus and is immediately surprised when he sees the ghost of his dead father. In order to see if it is really his ghost, or just an evil demon, Hamlet decides to follow it into the woods to speak to it. Horatio tries to stop him and states the following:

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,

Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff

That beetles o’er his base into the sea

And there assume some other horrible form,

Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason

And draw you into madness?

Ignoring Horatio’s concerns, Hamlet follows the ghost and learns from it that it was Claudius who poisoned the dead king. The ghost then tells Hamlet to seek revenge by killing Claudius, but not before giving Hamlet two pieces of advice: Don’t blame your mother, and don’t lose your mind!!!

   9)     What does Hamlet make Horatio and Marcellus promise? What does he warn them about concerning his future behavior (lines 187-200)?

Act Two Scene One:

At the beginning of the scene Polonius speaks to a character named Reynaldo (someone we never see again) and tells him to spy on his son, Laertes, while in France. The purpose of this conversation is to show how Polonius is a rather sneaky father. Then Ophelia comes to her father and reports what happened when Hamlet came to her bedroom.

1. Describe Hamlet’s behavior as Ophelia reports it. How does Polonius respond?

Act Two Scene Two:

The King and Queen have summoned two of Hamlet’s college buds to the castle to spy on him and find out what’s going on with his weird behavior. Polonius then tells the King and Queen that he has figured out why Hamlet is acting so strange - he is madly in love with Ophelia. He decides to talk to him to see how he reacts.

2. Describe Hamlet’s behavior during his encounter with Polonius. And during his encounter with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

3. Paraphrase Hamlet’s “Metaphysical” monologue  (“I have of late…”). Focus on his view of mankind. What does this tell you about Hamlet’s current state of mind? Is this all just part of his antic disposition? Or is this how he really feels?

Rest of Act two Scene two Summary:

A traveling band of actors arrive to the castle which brings much joy to Hamlet (he is after all quite the Renaissance man). He asks the lead actor to deliver a speech retelling a tale of the Trojan War. The actor does and his words are so powerful and full of emotion that he brings himself to tears. This has an effect on Hamlet as he sees how much passion the actor has for life. Hamlet then asks the lead actor to put on a play for the castle that will show a death similar to his father’s. He also wants to add a few lines to the play. The actor agrees. Hamlet then delivers another soliloquy conveying his own disdain for himself since he lacks the passion to actually kill Claudius.

Act Three Scene One

   1.        Read the “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy. Look at both its style and substance. List all the ways how this soliloquy is different from Hamlet’s previous ones?

   2.  What does Hamlet say is the ultimate reason why humans decide to stay alive? What does he say keeps determined people from taking action in their lives? How is this true in Hamlet’s case?

   3.      Following her unfortunate conversation with Hamlet, Ophelia is left hurt and confused. After reading her short soliloquy, explain her current state of mind. Use a quote in your response.

Act Three Scene Two:

What follows the advice to the players conversation is the play within the play scene, which really doesn’t make sense unless you see it performed. Hamlet’s production is about to be put on and he is “that guy” in the theater who talks during the performance. It gets awkward. But when he additional lines he added get performed, Claudius freaks out and leaves; thus proving that he did in fact kill his brother. Hamlet is delighted that his plan worked and he prepares to kill Claudius.

Act Three Scene Three

1. In Claudius’ first monologue the reader saw a smart, calculating politician who seemed to be in love. In this Act’s Soliloquy, the reader witnesses a much different villain. Describe Claudius’s feelings in this speech. What concerns Claudius in his soliloquy? What kind of villain is he?

2. Why does Hamlet not kill Claudius when he has the chance? Do you think this is a rational reason for not killing the King?

Act Three Scene Four:

3. How does Hamlet act after he kills Polonius? Does he seem remorseful at all? What might this tell you about his mental state?

4. What might be significant that Hamlet is the only one who sees the ghost in this scene? What might this tell us about his mental state?

Act Four Scenes One and Two Summary:

Gertrude reports Polonius’s death to Claudius, who sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and recover the body. Hamlet refuses to tell them where he stashed the body, so they bring him to Claudius.

Act Four Scene Three

1. Explain the worm metaphor. What does Hamlet’s explanation of Polonius’ situation suggest about Hamlet’s state of mind?

Act Four Scene Four:

2. When Hamlet compares himself to Fortinbras’ men, what does he realize?

Act Four Scene Five:

3. How has Polonius’ death affected Ophelia?

4. How does Hamlet’s desire for revenge differ from Laertes’?

Act Four Scene Six:

We find out that during the trip to England, Hamlet managed to read the sealed letters and switch the names on them so that they will execute Rosencrantz and Guildenstern instead of him. Hamlet then hops on a pirate ship and makes his way back to the castle.

Act Four Scene Seven:

5. Describe the conditions surrounding Ophelia’s death. What do they suggest about her? Would you argue that she actually killed herself? Use a quote somewhere in your response.

Act Five Scene One

   6.       Why do you think Shakespeare adds in this Yorrick speech? What does it reveal about Hamlet?

Act Five Scene Two

   7.       After everyone is dead, and while Hamlet succumbs to the poison in his body, he recites his final line: “The rest is silence” (5.2.289-295). In what ways can we interpret these final four words?