Hamlet

• Who joins Bernardo, the watchman, on his watch of the castle?

Marcellus and Horatio.

• What do Marcellus and Bernardo want to show Horatio?

A ghost.

• What proves to Horatio that the ghost is that of King Hamlet?

His Armor.

• How does Horatio explain the appearance of King Hamlet?

He says it is a warning sign

• Who is Fortinbras?

Prince of Norway

Who is now married to King Hamlet's wife?

Claudius

What does King Claudius say he is mourning over?

the death of his brother

What does Prince Hamlet contemplate doing because he is so upset?

killing himself

What does Fortinbras want from Claudius?

lands that belonged to norway

What does Claudius and Gertrude want Prince Hamlet to do?

stay close to them

• What does Laertes warn Ophelia about?

falling in love with Hamlet

• What is Laertes' main objection to Ophelia's feelings?

hamlet has obligations with his country

• What does Polonius say about Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet?

he forbids her from seeing him anymore

• What does Hamlet overhear while waiting for the ghost to appear?

the revelry of the king

• Why do Horatio and Marcellus follow after Hamlet and the ghost?

to protect Hamlet

• How did Hamlet's father die?

he was poisoned

• Who does the ghost of Hamlet's father say killed him?

claudius

• What does the ghost of King Hamlet say about Gertrude, his wife?

he tells Hamlet to leave her alone

• What does Hamlet tell Horatio and Marcellus about his plan?

that he may pretend to be crazy

• What does Hamlet do to upset Ophelia?

he acts frantic and chaotic

• Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

Hamlet's friends

• Whom does Fortinbras swear he will not attack?

The Danes

• How does Polonius plan to prove Hamlet's love for Ophelia?

spy on him personally

• What play does Hamlet want the players to perform?

The Murder of Gonzago

• How will Claudius react to the play, according to Hamlet?

He will appear guilty

• Why does Claudius want to be left alone?

so that he and polonius can watch hamlet and ophelia interact

• What do Polonius and Claudius hear him talking about with Ophelia?

deciding if he should commit suicide

• What does Ophelia give Hamlet?

the gifts he gave her

• Why does Hamlet call women dishonest?

because they wear make-up and deceive men

• What does Claudius say he will do about Hamlet?

send him to england

• What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do during the Play?

watch claudius's reactions

• How does Hamlet tease Ophelia?

he makes inappropriate sexual jokes

• What does Hamlet do during the performance?

he explains everyone's behavior

• What is Claudius's reaction to the play?

he yells and leaves

• Who sends for Hamlet after the play?

gertrude

• What does Claudius want Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to do with Hamlet?

take him to england

• Who plans to spy on Gertrude and Hamlet?

polonius

• What does Claudius feel guilty for?

killing his brother

• Why does Hamlet refrain from killing Claudius when he has the opportunity to?

claudius is praying

• When does Hamlet plan to kill Claudius?

when claudius behaves badly

• Why does Polonius want to eavesdrop on Hamlet?

find otu why hamlet is angry and upset

• What does Hamlet accuse his mother of?

betraying his father

• Why does Hamlet kill Polonius?

because he mistakes polonius for claudius

• Why does Gertrude think Hamlet is mad?

because he appears to be talking to himself

• What message does the ghost bring to Hamlet?

to remember that he has not yet gotten revenge

• Whom does Gertrude rush to see after Polonius is killed?

claudius

• What does Gertrude compare herself to?

a violent ocean

• What is Claudius's main concern?

keeping his power

• What does Hamlet accuse Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of?

being spies for claudius

• What does Hamlet allow Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to do?

accompany him back to claudius

• Who reveals the location of Polonius's body?

hamlet

• What orders does Claudius send to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

that hamlet be killed

• What is Fortinbras doing when he comes across Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern?

he is on his way to attack poland

• Why is Hamlet surprised by the nature of the conflict between Poland and Norway?

becuase the conflict seems so insignificant

• What does Hamlet resolve to do after meeting Fortinbras?

achieve his revenge

• How does Ophelia handle the news of Polonius's death?

she goes crazy

• What does Horatio urge Gertrude to do?

console ophelia

• How do the peasants feel about Laertes upon his return?

they feel that he ought to be king

• What advice does Claudius give to Laertes?

that he should seek revenge on whoever is responsible for Polonius's death

• What does Hamlet's letter to Horatio say?

That he is returning to Denmark with news

• Why doesn't Claudius punish Hamlet?

Because too many people adore Hamlet

• Why is Laertes happy about Hamlet's return to Denmark?

Because he plans to kill him

• When does Laertes plan to kill Hamlet?

At a fencing match

• What does Laertes and Claudius plan to do if Hamlet wins the duel?

Poison him with a cup of wine

• How does Ophelia die?

She drowns in a river

• Why are the gravediggers arguing about Ophelia?

Because they hear she has killed herself

• What does the gravedigger say to Hamlet when he asks whose grave he is digging?

He says that it's his own grave

• What does Hamlet notice about the funeral procession?

The procession seems irregular and suggests a suicide

• What does Hamlet say to Laertes upon realizing that it is Ophelia's funeral?

That he loved Ophelia in ways that no one could understand

• What finally appeases Laertes at Ophelia's funeral?

Claudius reminds Laertes that they have a plan to kill Hamlet

• What does Hamlet tell Horatio about death?

That it is inevitable

• How does Gertrude die?

She accidentally drinks wine that Claudius poisoned

• How does Hamlet find out about Claudius's plan?

Laertes makes a dying declaration

• What does the dying Hamlet tell Horatio to do?

Live and pass along his story

• Who rules Denmark at the end of the play?

Fortinbras

Prince of Denmark, title character, protagonist.

Hamlet

King of Denmakr, Hamlet's uncle, antagonist. Villain of the play.

driven by his sexual appetites and his lust for poer but occasionally shows signs of guilt and human feeling

Claudius

Queen of Denmark, Hamlet's mother. Loves Hamlet but is a shallow, weak woman.

Gertrude

The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius's court, a pompous, conniving old man. the father of Laertes and Ophelia.

Polonius

Hamlet's close friend, who studied with the prince at the university in Wittenberg. loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play. After Hamlet's death, remains alive to tell Hamlet's story.

Horatio

Polonius's daughter, a beautiful young woman with whom Hamlet has been in love. Even in her lapse into madness and death, she remains maidenly, singing songs about flowers and finally drowning

Ophelia

Polonius's son and Ophelia's brother, a young man who spends much of the play in France. Passionate and quick to action, Laertes is clearly a foil for the reflective Hamlet.

Laertes

The young Prince of Norway, whose father the king was killed by Hamlet's father. Now wishes to attack Denmark to avenge his father's honor, making him another foil for Prince Hamlet.

Fortinbras

The specter of Hamlet's recently deceased father. Hamlet speculates that the ghost might be a devil sent to deceive him and tempt him into murder, and the question of what the ghost is or where it comes from is never definitively resolved.

The Ghost

Two slightly bumbling courtiers, former friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg, who are summoned by Claudius and Gertrude to discover the cause of Hamlet's strange behavior.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern