English IV Honors: Hamlet Study Guide (STILL IN PROGRESS)

This is all of the questions from the study guide

Act 1, Scene 1: What is the setting in this scene?

Outside of the Elsinore Castle (in Denmark)

Act 1, Scene 1: Whom does the ghost appear to be and how is it dressed?

King Hamlet Sr. wearing armor

Act 1, Scene 1: Why is Denmark preparing for war?

Fortinbras Jr. wants to take back the land that originally belonged to Norway (it was lost in battle between King Fortinbras Sr. and King Hamlet Sr.)

Act 1, Scene 1: What does Horatio suggest he and the guards should do about the ghost they have seen? Why?

They think that the ghost might speak to Hamlet Jr., since the ghost looks like King Hamlet Sr.

Act 1, Scene 2: Who are Claudius and Gertrude, and as the scene opens, what is Claudius talking about?

Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle, and Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother (they got married after King Hamlet died). Claudius is talking about even though they are mourning the past King, they now need to look toward the future.

Act 1, Scene 2: Who is Fortinbras, and what does King Claudius command Cornelius and Voltemand do?

Fortinbras is the King of Norway. Cornelius and Voltemand (ambassadors) are sent to negotiate peace with Fortinbras.

Act 1, Scene 2: What do Hamlet’s first words in the play mean? ‘A little more than kin, and less than kind’

Hamlet is not happy that his mother married his uncle.

Act 1, Scene 2: Explain the pun Hamlet uses in answer to the king’s question. “I am too much in the sun”

Hamlet is too much in the spotlight, and he is now the son of his uncle

Act 1, Scene 2: What is Gertrude asking Hamlet to do (lines 68-73)? What does Hamlet say in response to his mother (lines 76-86)?

Gertrude asks Hamlet to take off his mourning clothes, and to get over his father’s death. Hamlet says that he is not pretending to mourn his father, and that his sorrow is real.

Act 1, Scene 2: What does the King think of Hamlet’s continued mourning of his father’s death?

King Claudius says that father’s die all of the time, and that Hamlet’s mourning goes against God, is unnatural, and unmanly.

Act 1, Scene 2: What does Hamlet seem to be most upset about: his father’s death or his mother’s remarriage? Explain.

Although, Hamlet is sad about his father’s death he feels more betrayed by his mother’s remarriage.

Act 1, Scene 3: What is Laertes’ advice to Ophelia?

He encouraged to Ophelia to break up with Hamlet. Laertes believes that Hamlet is just flirting with Ophelia for fun, and Laertes also believes that Hamlet will leave Ophelia for a royal arranged marriage.

Act 1, Scene 3: Summarize the scene between Ophelia and Polonius. What does he tell her?

Polonius tells Ophelia to break up with Hamlet, for similar reason that Laertes tells Ophelia to break up with her.