Hamlet 1-2 Review

Who says this quote: "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."?

Marcellus (to Horatio)

Who says this quote: "The serpent that did sting thy father's life / Now wears his crown."?

Ghost of King Hamlet (to Hamlet)

Who says this quote: "... I, with wings as swift / As meditation or the thoughts of love, / May sweep to my revenge."?

Hamlet (to the Ghost)

Who says this quote: "My lord, we were sent for."?

Guildenstern (to Hamlet)

Who says this quote: "This above all: to thine own self be true, / and it must follow, as the night to the day, / Thou canst not be false to any man."?

Polonius (to Laertes)

Who says this quote: "When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul / Lends the tongue vows."?

Polonius (to Ophelia)

Who says this quote: "More honour'd in the breach than the observance."?

Hamlet (to Horatio)

Who says this quote: "A little more than kin, and less than kind."?

Hamlet (Aside / to Claudius)

Who says this quote: "Frailty, thy name is woman!"?

Hamlet (Soliloquy)

Who says this quote: "Brevity is the soul of wit."?

Polonius (to Gertrude and Claudius)

Who says this quote: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't."?

Polonius (Aside)

Who says this quote: "The play's the thing / Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King."?

Hamlet (Soliloquy)

In Hamlet's 3rd soliloquy ("O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!"), what three self-insults does he use?

"A rogue and peasant slave", "A dull and muddy-mettled rascal", "An ass"

Why is Hamlet berating himself in the "rogue and peasant slave" soliloquy?

He is furious that a visiting actor can show genuine tears and passion over a fictional story (Hecuba), while Hamlet has real cause for passion but remains inactive.

Who is Hamlet?

Prince of Denmark and student at Wittenberg. Grieving the sudden death of his father and deeply disgusted by his mother's hasty marriage to his uncle. Intelligent, highly contemplative, and prone to severe melancholy, he decides to feign madness ("put an antic disposition on") to investigate the Ghost's claims. He struggles with hesitation, internal conflict, and overthinking throughout Acts 1 and 2.

Who is Claudius?

King of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle, and former brother to King Hamlet. A scheming, ambitious, and politically clever ruler who murdered King Hamlet by pouring poison into his ear while he slept in his orchard, then seized the throne and married the widow Queen Gertrude. He maintains a smooth, authoritative facade in court while secretly trying to manage Hamlet’s strange behavior.

Who is Gertrude?

Queen of Denmark and Hamlet’s mother. She remarried Claudius less than two months after the late king’s death. Though affectionate toward Hamlet and concerned about his altered mental state, her decision to marry Claudius so quickly creates deep moral revulsion in Hamlet, leading him to view her actions as a betrayal of his father's memory.

Who is the Ghost (King Hamlet)?

The supernatural spirit of the deceased King of Denmark. Appears on the castle battlements at Elsinore wearing the same armor he wore in life. He reveals to Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius, describes his torment in purgatory, and commands Hamlet to avenge his murder while explicitly ordering him to spare Queen Gertrude ("leave her to heaven").

Who is Polonius?

Lord Chamberlain of the royal court and father to Laertes and Ophelia. Overly verbose, long-winded, arrogant, and fond of giving unsolicited advice. He constantly spies on others and uses his daughter as bait to test his theory that Hamlet’s madness is caused by unrequited love for Ophelia.

Who is Horatio?

Hamlet’s loyal, trusted friend and fellow scholar from the University of Wittenberg. Rational, level-headed, and skeptical of supernatural events until he witnesses the Ghost himself. He serves as Hamlet's calm emotional anchor, confidant, and sounding board throughout the play.

Who is Ophelia?

The daughter of Polonius, sister to Laertes, and Hamlet’s romantic interest. Innocent and obedient, she is torn between her feelings for Hamlet and her father’s strict commands to reject Hamlet's love letters and gifts. She acts as a passive tool for Polonius and Claudius as they attempt to spy on Hamlet.

Who is Laertes?

The son of Polonius and brother to Ophelia. Passionate, protective, and traditional, he receives permission from Claudius to return to his studies in France after attending the coronation. Before departing, he sternly warns Ophelia against trusting Hamlet’s intentions or taking his romantic promises seriously.

Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

Childhood friends and university schoolmates of Hamlet. They are summoned to Elsinore by King Claudius and Queen Gertrude to act as undercover spies, tasked with discovering the root cause of Hamlet's madness. Hamlet quickly sees through their friendly act and realizes they are loyal to the King, breaking his trust in them.

Who is Fortinbras?

The young Prince of Norway whose father (King Fortinbras) was killed in single combat by King Hamlet. Driven by honor and ambition, he gathers an army to reclaim lands lost by his father. He serves as a direct foil to Hamlet: where Hamlet hesitates and overthinks, Fortinbras acts decisively and aggressively.