Act 2.2

The Passionate Players

100

How does Polonius describe the player’s performance in lines 545–546?

Polonius says the actor had "tears in his eyes." This means he was emotional and done did act good.

200

How does Hamlet think the player would act if the actor had Hamlet's emotions?

Hamlet thinks the actor would "drown the stage with tears."

300

What central idea do Hamlet’s descriptions of himself and the actor develop?

Action vs. Inaction; Emo; Courage; Wussiness; Etc.

Sad Ham

100

What two requests does Hamlet make of the player in lines 563–569?

Hamlet asks the player to perform the play "The Murder of Gonzago" the next night and add some new lines to the play.

200

How does Hamlet describe himself in line 577?

He is a "peasant slave." He is a weakling under someone else's control.

300

Why does Hamlet ask “What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba?”

Hamlet is ashamed how he can't act on his emotion revolving around his father's death, but the actor is able to act with such strong emotion even though he is just pretending.

400

A) What images does Hamlet use in lines 598–602 to show that he is a coward? B) How does Hamlet say in lines 603–604 that he should respond to the treatment described in lines 599–602? Why does Hamlet say he should respond this way?

A) Hamlet describes how someone might bully him. He says someone might slap him in the face, pull his beard hairs and then blow them in his face, and pull his nose. B) Sit and take it because he is a “pigeon-livered” pansy who lacks "gall" or courage.