Hamlet - Act 1" and 2

What is Elsinore?

Castle

Who are the 3 guards?

Marcellus, Bernardo, Francisco

Who says 'There is something rotten in Denmark?'

Marcellus

What does it symbolize to have a ghost rise from the grave?

Something bad is going to occur

What is 1 reason Claudius gives to Hamlet to stop grieving for his dead father?

He is his new father; it is not manly for a guy to cry

Accorording to Claudius, how did Old King Hamlet die?

Snake bite

According to the ghost, how did Old King Hamlet die?

Poison in his ear

Who is the ghost?

Hamlet's father

Why does Horatio try to stopHamlet from going off to speak to the ghost?

He thinks the ghost will try and kill Hamlet or make Hamlet go crazy

Why did Horatio come to Elsinore?

For Old King Hamlet's funeral & Claudius and Gertrude's wedding

What command does Polonius give to Ophelia?

Stay away from Hamlet

What is her response to this command?

She obeys her father

What kind of plan does Hamlet intend to use to find out the truth about his father's death and to take revenge?

Pretend to be crazy

When Laertes tells Ophelia to be wary of Hamlet's intentions toward her, what is her response?

She listens to him and at the same time tells him to take his own advice

To whom does Claudius send messengers?

King of Norway (Fortinbras' uncle)

Who is the brother of Ophelia?

Laertes

What do Claudius and his couriers do at their celebrations that upset Hamlet?

Drink until they're out of control

What does the ghost tell Hamlet to do about his mother?

Leave her alone, she is hurting enough

Who says, "To thine own self be true"? To whom does he say it?

Polonius to Laertes

Which 2 characters want to avenge their father's deaths?

Hamlet and Fortinbras

Who marries Claudius?

Gertrude

How soon after her husband dies, does she marry Claudius?

Within 2 months

Who says, "Frailty, thy name is woman"?

Hamlet

Who is the love interest of Hamlet?

Ophelia

In what country is castle of Prince Hamlet?

Denmark

Name Hamlet's mother

Gertrude

Name Ophelia's father

Polonius

Who is king when the play opens?

Claudius

What country is Fortinbras from?

Norway

Reynaldo

Polonius's servant who we only meet once

What does Polonius send Reynaldo to do?

go to France to spy on Laertes, make sure he's behaving

When Polonius sends Reynaldo to France, what does this show?

he doesn't trust his son

Describe the scene Ophelia describes to her father with Hamlet

Hamlet bursted into her room looking disheveled. He grabbed her wrists and shook her. Then he backed out of the room. Didn't say one word

Why did Hamlet go into Ophelia's room and scare her like that?

it was an act of antic disposition. (the first time we see his antic disposition)

What is Polonius' theory about why Hamlet is acting crazy

he is upset about the breakup

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Hamlet's childhood friends

Why did the King bring in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

to have them try to find out what's bothering Hamlet (basically spy on Hamlet)

Why do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to spy on Hamlet?

the queen says they'll be rewarded (not being good friends to Hamlet)

Who does Polonius tell his theory to?

the king and queen

What does the queen say she thinks is the reason for Hamlet being upset?

his father's death and their hasty marriage (This is correct! The one time she says something smart!)

Uncle of Young Fortinbras responds to king's letter by saying:

Young Fortinbras was planning to attack Denmark, but now he's not. Now he wants to attack Poland and he wants to march through Denmark to get there

How does King Claudius respond to Uncle Fortinbras's letter?

I'll think about it (not yes, not no)

Talking way too much and not getting to the point is one of ______'s qualities.

Polonius

What does Polonius show the king and queen to help prove his theory?

the love letter to Ophelia from Hamlet

What does the love letter show?

That Hamlet was truly in love with her. He didn't just want to sleep with her like everyone thought

What does the queen think about Polonius' theory?

she prays it's true because she doesn't want to be the reason for her son being crazy. She'd rather it be Ophelia

When the king asks Polonius "how can we test your theory?" what does Polonius say?

Hamlet hangs out here every day for hours. We'll set up Ophelia to go talk to Hamlet. We'll hide behind the curtain and listen and come to a conclusion

After Polonius is done talking with the king, Hamlet comes in and...

starts messing with Polonius by calling him a fishmonger and pretending like he doesn't recognize him.

Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern good liars?

no. Hamlet sees right through them

What makes Hamlet suspicious about seeing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

he hasn't seen them in years, now all of a sudden they show up and won't tell him why

Why does Hamlet say Denmark is a "prison"?

he can't leave because he told his mother he wouldn't

"nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so"

Hamlet- it's all about perception/how you see things that makes it good or bad

How many times does Hamlet ask why Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are there?

4 times

"My lord, we were sent for"

Guildenstern- telling Hamlet why they're there

Hamlet's speech telling them why he's upset

he lost his "murph" (happiness). He's depressed. Life is meaningless to him.

What is Hamlet's philosophy of humanity? (revealed in his speech to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern)

What separates us from animals is our ability to reason. We all have this ability. Even with abilities like this, he doesn't care. He is angry at human kind. Specifically Claudius, Ophelia, and Gertrude

players

poor traveling entertainers

What does Hamlet think when he hears the players are coming to Elsinore?

he's happy/excited. it'll lighten the mood

How does Hamlet treat the players? How does Polonius treat them?

Hamlet-very nicely

Polonius- like they're lower class

"Good my lord, will you see the players well treated?"

Hamlet- treat the players well. (Polonius responds that he'll treat them like the lower class they are)

When the players come, what major difference between Hamlet and Polonius is revealed?

their view of poor people

Play within the play

Murder of Gonzago

Hamlet's plan to see if the ghost was telling the truth

He will change the play Murder of Gonzago around to make it like the murder of his father. Then he'll watch Claudius' reaction

Soliloquy #2

-theme- his plan for revenge

-he says how passionate the actor's speech was

-I should be that passionate

-am I a coward?

-starting to see himself for what he is- a procrastinator

-what am I waiting for? I haven't done anything yet

-"Bloody villain!" = Claudius

-he says his plan

-through the play, I hope to catch my uncle