Hamlet 1
What do the watchmen and Horatio see?
The ghost of King Hamlet, Hamlet's father
Why can't Hamlet kill Claudius while he is praying?
Hamlet believes Claudius would go to heaven
The place Hamlet suggests Ophelia go to? Why
"Get thee to a nunnery!" He is trying to protect her from being used by her father; protecting her innocence
How do Laertes and Claudius plan to kill Hamlet?
A poisoned sword; a poisoned drink
Does Horatio believe that Hamlet is crazy?
No, he knows the truth about Hamlet .
Why does Hamlet argue he should be in Ophelia's grave with her instead of Laertes?
He loved her more (like a lover, not a brother)
What information does the ghost reveal to Hamlet?
The murder of the King
Who sees the ghost in Gertrude's room?
Hamlet
What Hamlet sends Ophelia
Letters
Why doesn't the priest say anything at Ophelia's funeral?
He believes she killed herself and doesn't deserve a Christian burial
Why is the queen poisoned?
The king cannot stop her in time, and he doesn't want to reveal the scheme. She drinks of the poisoned cup that was meant for HAMLET
What is the SECOND name for the play Hamlet has planned?
The Mousetrap
Why is Hamlet upset with his mother
She married Claudius right after King Hamlet died
What does Ophelia's singing reveal about her feelings?
Grief over her father's death; betrayal by Hamlet; used by the men in her life
Who is the one person Hamlet confided in?
Horatio
Why can Hamlet understand how Laertes feels about him?
Hamlet killed Polonius, and Hamlet's father had been killed
Stopped him from drinking the poison cup and committing suicide so that he could tell Hamlet's innocence/story
Why does Laertes feel guilty in the end?
He realizes he schemed with a murderous king to help kill Hamlet
What does Hamlet initially plan on doing after hearing from the ghost?
Pretend he's mad
Why does Hamlet kill Polonius when he's hiding behind the curtain?
He hopes that it is Claudius
What two things did Fortinbras give up?
Avenging his father and regaining the lands he lost when he died
Why would this play be considered a tragedy?
Everything goes horribly wrong, mainly because of the tragic flaw (procrastination) of Hamlet.
And like a Shakespearean tragedy- many people die at the end of the play.
Why might Hamlet be a bit envious of Fortinbras?
Fortinbras is a man of action where Hamlet is a man who procrastinated (waited) for his plan to go together.
What does Hamlet call Rosencrantz? Why?
(Daily Double: What are you risking?)
He calls Rosencrantz a sponge because he sucks up to the king (rewards/benefits), but when he serves his purpose, he will be wrung dry (discarded).
How does Hamlet change the letter he finds on the way to England?
He rewrites the letters to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern murdered and reseals it with the royal crest (his ring).
Where does Claudius want to send Hamlet?
England
What excuses does Claudius give for not punishing Hamlet?
1. That he does not want to hurt Gertrude because he loves her
2. The people love Hamet
This happened to Alexander the Great, according to Hamlet? (be specific)
He turned into dust like everyone else
What request does Claudius deny Hamlet in Act 1?
(Daily Double: What are you risking?)
To return to university
Whose skull does Hamlet hold in his hand in the graveyard and what is his relationship to Hamlet?
Yorick
He was the court jester for Hamlet when he was a child. Hamlet had fond memories of Yorick.