Act I
What do Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo see at the start of the play.
The ghost of the dead king, Hamlet's father.
What does Polonius send Reynaldo to do for him?
Spy on Laertes to see what he is doing in Paris.
What did Hamlet mean by his famous words, "To be or not to be."
He means is it better to live and suffer or die, even though we don't know what happens after death.
Hamlet does not kill Claudius when he has the chance. Why?
He was praying and he didn't want him to go to heaven.
What happens to Ophelia?
She drowns.
Tell the setting of the play.
Denmark, Elsinore Castle
Why does Hamlet watch King Claudius during the play?
To see if he looks guilty when he sees his actions of murdering the king.
Where did Hamlet tell Ophelia to go, and why?
"Get the to a nunnery!" He told her this because women are bad.
When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are going to do exactly what the king wants and follow his orders, what metaphor does Hamlet use to describe them?
He calls them sponges because they "soak up the kings orders."
What does Claudius plan for Hamlet when he returns?
He will kill him but make it look like an accident.
What does Fortinbras, the young King from Norway, want?
To win the land back that was lost to Denmark.
What does Claudius want Rozencrantz and Guildenstern to do?
Take Hamlet to England.
Who did Hamlet kill behind the curtain when he was talking to Gertrude, the Queen?
Polonius
Why is Claudius worried about punishing Hamlet too severely for killing Polonius?
Hamlet "is too loved by the people."
Why do the gravediggers not think Ophelia should have a Christian burial?
She killed herself.
What is Polonius' advice to his son Laertes before he goes to Paris?
Listen to what others say, but don't talk a lot.
What does Polonius think is the reason for Hamlet's strange behavior.
In his mother's chamber, who does Hamlet see that his mother does not?
The ghost of his father.
At this point in the story, why does Fortinbras ask to be able to march through Denmark.
To get to Poland to attack for a small patch of land.
Name 2 ways Claudius and Laertes plan to cheat Hamlet.
Laertes sword will be sharp, "not blunted."
Poison the tip of Laertes sword.
Poison Hamlet's drink.
What does Laertes warn his sister Ophelia about?
He warns her about Hamlet playing with her like a toy.
Hamlet uses a metaphor to describe Denmark. To what does he compare his home?
"Denmark's a prison."
He compares Denmark to a prison.
Hamlet uses a metaphor to show that he does not trust his friends, Rozencrantz and Guildenstern? To what does he compare them?
Snakes with fangs
At the end of Act IV, what does Hamlet resolve? or How does he decide to act?
"From this time forth, my thoughts be bloody or they be worthless!"
He will be violent and seek revenge.
Name everyone in the play who is dead by the end.
There are 8 people!