Hamlet Act 2

What does Polonius tell his servant Reynaldo to give Laertes?

money and letters

What does Polonius ask Reynaldo to do in Paris?

Ask the people of Paris about Laertes behavior. First find out who the Danish people are, how much money they have, who their friends are, and how much they spend. Through these vague questions and talking vaguely about him knowing Laertes will he find out about him by drawing others in and indrectly finding out what they want to know

Who said this:

"You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo,

Before you visit him, to make inquire

Of his behavior."

polonius

who said this:

"Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,

Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,

And how, and who, what means, and where they keep

What company at what expense; and finding

By this encompassment and drift of question

That they do know my son, come you more nearer

Than your particular demands will touch it.

Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him,

As thus: "I know his father and his friends,

And, in part, him." Do you mark this, Reynaldo?"

"And in part him, but," you may say, "not well

But, if 't be he I mean, he's very wild.

Addicted so and so. —" And there put on him

What forgeries you please. Marry, none so rank

As may dishonor him. Take heed of that.

But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips

As are companions noted and most known

To youth and liberty."

Polonius

What kind of stories did Polonius want Reynaldo making up about Laertes?

Stories of him drinking, dueling, swearing, fighting, prostitution

How does Reynaldo respond when Polonius makes this request? How does Polonius react?

He says it would bring dishonor to Polonius. Polonius says to mention these faults lightly like theyre nothing more than the minor faults that sprout in someone new to freedom

who said this:

"'Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.

You must not put another scandal on him

That he is open to incontinency.

That's not my meaning. But breathe his faults soquaintly

That they may seem the taints of liberty,

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,

A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,

Of general assault."

Marry, sir, here's my drift:

(And I believe it is a fetch of wit)

You, laying these slight sullies on my son

As 'twere a thing a little soiled i' th' working

Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound,

Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes

The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured

He closes with you in this consequence:

"Good sir" or so, or "Friend," or "Gentleman,"

According to the phrase or the addition

Of man and country.

Polonius

What does Ophelia enter panicked about?

She said she was sewing in her room when Hamlet came in with his shirt unbuttoned, no hat on, dirty stockings hanging around his ankes, he was super pale with his knees knocking together, he looked awful like he escaped from hell

Who said this:

"My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;

No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled,

Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle;

Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other;

And with a look so piteous in purport

As if he had been loosèd out of hell

To speak of horrors—he comes before me."

Ophelia

What did Hamlet do to Ophelia?

Grabbed her by the wrist and held her tightly, stared at her, stood there, shook her army and glanced up and down three times, sighed sadly like he would colapse and die, let her go then walked away without looking at her

What does Polonius think about Ophelias actions?

He thinks Hamlet is madly in love which is why hes acting so violent and desperate.

What did Ophelia say to hamlet?

She sent back his letters and refused to let him see her. Polonius think that drove him crazy and that hes toying with her

Who said this:

"That hath made him mad.

I am sorry that with better heed and judgment

I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle

And meant to wreck thee. But beshrew my jealousy!

By heaven, it is as proper to our age

To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions

As it is common for the younger sort

To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king.

This must be known, which, being kept close, might move

More grief to hide than hate to utter love.

Come."

Polonius

What does Claudius say to Hamlets 2 friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when scene 2 starts?

Hamlet has been acting completely different lately. We don't know why. Since you two grew up with him, spend time with him and figure out what's wrong.

What are Rosencrantz and Guildensterns job?

Hang out with Hamlet, gain his trust, find out why he's acting weird, report back to Claudius. So spy on him

Who said this:

"Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

.Moreover that we much did long to see you,

The need we have to use you did provoke

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard

Of Hamlet's "transformation"—so call it

Since nor th' exterior nor the inward man

Resembles that it was. What it should be,

More than his father's death, that thus hath put him

So much from th' understanding of himself,

I cannot dream of. I entreat you both

That, being of so young days brought up with him

And since so neighbored to his youth and 'havior,

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court

Some little time so by your companies

To draw him on to pleasures and to gather,

So much as from occasion you may glean,

Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus

That, opened, lies within our remedy."

Claudius

When Hamlets friend exits, who enters and what does he say?

Polonius enters and says the ambassadors from Norway are back, AND I think I've figured out why Hamlet is crazy

Who are the ambassadors?

Voltemand and Cornelius

What did Fortinbras say when the King of Norway confronted him?

He says he wont attack Denmark but wants to fight Poland, so Norway asks Denmark if their army can travel through Denmark on its way to poland

Who said this:

"This business is well ended.

My liege and madam, to expostulate

What majesty should be, what duty is,

Why day is day, night night, and time is time,

Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,

I will be brief: your noble son is mad.

Mad call I it, for, to define true madness,

What is 't but to be nothing else but mad?

But let that go."

polonius

What does Polonius tell Gertrude and the King about Hamlet?

He says Hamlet is crazy because hes in love with Ophelia and his logic is that Hamlet loved ophelia, ophelia rejected Hamlet, Hamlet became heartbroken, Hamlet went insane

Who says this:

"Madam, I swear I use no art at all.

That he is mad, 'tis true. Tis true, 'tis pity,

And pity 'tis 'tis true—a foolish figure,

But farewell it, for I will use no art.

Mad let us grant him then. And now remains

That we find out the cause of this effect,

Or rather say, the cause of this defect,

For this effect defective comes by cause.

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend.

I have a daughter—have while she is mine—

Who in her duty and obedience, mark,

Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise.

[reads a letter] "To the celestial and my soul's idol,

the most beautified Ophelia" —That's an ill phrase, a

vile phrase. "Beautified" is a vile phrase. But you

shall hear. Thus: [reads the letter] "In her excellent

white bosom, these," etc.—"

Polonius

What does Hamlets letter to Ophelia say?

Don't believe that the stars are fire.

Don't believe that the sun moves.

Don't believe truth itself.

But never doubt that I love you.

What is Claudius's opinion of Polonius?

he thinks hes loyal and honorable

What is Polonius's theory on Hamlets insanity?

Hes insane because Ophelia rejected him

What plan does Polonius develop to test his theory on the reason behind Hamlet's madness?

They plan to put Ophelia somewhere where Hamlet will encounter her wile Claudius and Polonius hide and watch them

What does Hamlet think Polonius is?

a fish seller, hes intentionally saying bizarre things to make Polonius think hes insane

Who said this:

"For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a

good kissing carrion— Have you a daughter?

Because if the sun breeds maggots on a dead dog, kissing the corpse with its rays—do you have a daughter?

Don't let her walk out in the sun. Pregnancy is a blessing, but if your daughter gets pregnant--think about it, friend."

Hamlet

What does Hamlet say the book claims old men have?

gray beards, wrinkled faces, watery eyes, weak legs. So basically describing polonius calling him an ugly, weak old man while pretending its something in a book

What would Hamlet give up most?

his life

What does Hamlet refer to Denmark as?

a prison

What does Hamlet suspise when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive?

That the King and Queen sent them to spy on him

What does Hamlet say when explaining his depression?

He says he doesnt enjoy activites anymore, the earth seems pointless, the sky doesnt impress him. He says humans are godlike but none of that means anything to him right now and humans are ultimately just dust. Hes so depreseed that humans should seem amazing but he cant appreciate all of it

who said this:

"I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation prevent

your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen

moult no feather. I have of late—but wherefore I know

not—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises,

and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that

this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile

promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air—look

you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical

roof fretted with golden fire—why, it appears no other

thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of

vapors. What a piece of work is a man! How noble in

reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and moving how

express and admirable! In action how like an angel, in

apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world.

The paragon of animals. And yet, to me, what is this

quintessence of dust? Man delights not me. No, nor woman

neither, though by your smiling you seem to

Hamlet

Why does Rosencrantz laugh?

he is thinking about the actors who're coming

Whos coming to Elsinore and why?

A group of traveling actors are coming to Elsinore because they are adult actors and are having a hard time finding a job in the city because child acting companies have become extremely popular since child actors are prefered

How does Hamlet compare the lady actors growing height?

shes grown taller by the height of a pair of platoform shoes

Which speech does Hamlet ask the actors to perform?

The Pyrrhus speech, which is a story of the Trojan war.

What does Hamlet say when describing the story?

In the speech Hamlet remembers from a play about the Trojan War, the Greek warrior Pyrrhus enters the burning city of Troy covered in blood and searches for Priam, the old King of Troy. Pyrrhus finds Priam and raises his sword to kill him, but he suddenly pauses and freezes for a moment before the sounds and destruction of Troy snap him back into action. Pyrrhus then brutally kills Priam while Priam's wife, Queen Hecuba, watches. Hecuba is completely devastated and cries and screams over her husband's death, and her grief is described as so powerful that even the gods would have cried if they saw it.

What's significant about this speech?

Critics commented that the play lacked spicy jokes and fancy language but it was well done and beautiful

Why does Polonius interrupt?

He says the speech is boring and hamlet jokes saying hell trim it along with his beard

Who takes over the speech?

The first play, an actor. The First Player becomes so emotionally involved while acting out Hecuba's grief that his face changes and he actually begins to cry, which later makes Hamlet angry with himself because the actor can feel that much emotion over a fictional story while Hamlet's own father was actually murdered and Hamlet still hasn't taken revenge.

What play does Hamlet request the first player to perform tomorrow and what specific ask does he have abt it?

The Murder of Gonzago, he wants him to add an extra 12-16 lines

What is Hamlets soliloquy about?

He says hes pathetic because hes comparing himself to the actor. He said the actor just cried over Hecuba but Hecuba isnt even real and he questions why the actor cares abt her? He compares it to his life and how his own father was murdered and he has a reason to be angry and cry but hes done nothing. Hamlet insults himself and calls him cruel and heartless and basically saying hes not doing shit abt the whole situation

What's Hamlets idea for the play?

Hamlet remembers hearing that guilty people watching plays can become so emotionally affected that they accidentally reveal their guilt. hamlets says hell have these actors perform a murder similar to his father's murder. Hamlet will watch Claudius and if he freaks out hell have evidence the ghost was telling the truth

Why doesnt Hamlet trust the ghost?

He thinks maybe the devil disguised itself as my father and is trying to trick me into murdering an innocent Claudius.

Hamlets final plan

STEP 1: Have the actors perform The Murder of Gonzago.

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STEP 2: Hamlet will add his own lines to make the murder resemble his father's murder.

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STEP 3: Claudius will watch the play.

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STEP 4: Hamlet will watch CLAUDIUS'S FACE/REACTION instead of just watching the play.

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If Claudius reacts guiltily...

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Hamlet will know Claudius murdered his father.

Who said this:

"More matter, with less art."

Gertrude, shes saying get to the point

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."

Polonius, he realized altho hamlet is crazy, there is logic behind what he says

"What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, / That he should weep for her?"

Hamlet

"The play's the thing / Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."

Hamlet