Plot
Characters
Close Reading
General Trivia
100
According to Act II Scene 2, what is Polonius's explanation for Hamlet's madness after reading the letter?
Polonius admits he told Ophelia to reject Hamlet, which led to Hamlet's madness
100
Explain why Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are invited to Elsinore:
Claudius wants
them to spy on
Hamlet.
100
What major dilemma does Hamlet ponder in his "To be, or not to be" soliloquy?
Whether it is better to live and suffer life's pain or to end one's life
100
What gets bigger when more is taken away?
A hole
200
What is Hamlet's plan at the end of Act II Scene 2 to test Claudius?
To watch Claudius's reaction to a play re-enacting his father's murder
200
Infer why Guildenstern and Rosencrantz spying on Hamlet puts them in an awkward position:
They are Hamlet’s oldest Friends.
200
According to Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" speech, what makes people bear their weary lives rather than end them?
The dread or fear of what comes after death
200
True or False: The origional Globe Theater is still standing in London today.
False. The origional burned down in 1613 after a cannon malfunctioned. Then, in 1644, all theaters in London were closed and torn down. The one standing today was rebuilt in 1997, less than a mile away from the original.
300
Paraphrase the letter Polonius reads in Act 2, Scene 2
The letter from Hamlet to
Ophelia confesses his intense
love for her. Polonius admits
that he told Ophelia to reject
Hamlet and that it is leading to
Hamlet’s madness. This reveals
that Polonius is willing to
sacrifice his daughter’s
happiness and cause her pain
in order to scheme with the
King and Queen.
300
Who is hiding and witnessing the fight between Hamlet and Ophelia in Act III Scene 1? *Hint- It's two characters
Polonius and Claudius
300
When annotating Claudius's soliloquy in scene 3, why does he feel he cannot be pardoned for his brother's murder?
He is still possessed of the effects of his murder: his crown, his ambition, and his queen
300
This is now a popular way of buying used clothes, but its origins can be traced all the way back to Shakespeare's theater.
Thrift stores
400
What action does Hamlet take in Act III Scene 4 when he hears someone behind the curtain in Gertrude's room?
He stabs and kills Polonius thinking he is Claudius
400
Paraphrase Hamlet's Arguments towards his mother in Act 3, Scene 4
You moved on to fast with Claudius. Your marriage vows meant nothing. Let me tell you a story about two brothers...you have picked the rotten one. The villain. Don’t be with him anymore.
400
In the first five lines of Claudius' speech in Act 3, Scene 3, what words display him being sorry and not sorry for his brother's murder
offence is rank
A brother’s murder!
My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent...
400
Why were Shakespeare's plays performed during the day?
Because candles were too expensive
500
Why does Hamlet refrain from killing Claudius while he is on his knees in Act III Scene 3?
He believes Claudius is praying and would go straight to heaven if killed
500
Infer why Shakespeare decided to not have Gertrude see the ghost of King Hamlet at the end of scene 4. What could it mean?
It could mean the ghost doesn’t want to be seen, it shows her guilt, or he is protecting her. It also helps drive the plot that Hamlet is mad.
500
Hamlet does not take action to murder Claudius in scene 3 because he believes he will go to heaven if killed while praying. Quote the lines that tell you this.
“Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;
And now I'll do't. And so he goes to heaven;
And so am I revenged. That would be scann'd:
A villain kills my father; and for that,
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.”
500
Who was not allowed to perform in a Shakespeare play
Women were banned from theater
600
Analyze the love interest and exchange between
Hamlet and Ophelia. Which parts would you
consider a relationship red flag?
Red Flags:
- Frightens
Ophelia when
he visits her
Unannounced.
-Intentions for
relationship are
unclear.
-Unpredictable
actions.
600
Characterize King Claudius with adjectives that describe him (need at least 3)
Ambitious
Deceptive
Corrupt
Paranoid
600
Paraphrase the bolded portion of Hamlet’s
soliloquy from Act 2 in modern language.
I am not like the actor. Am I a coward for not
acting? I have been told that I need to
avenge my father's death, but all I do is stand
here talking about my feelings.
600
"I exist in the depths of solitude, pondering my true goal".
700
Analyze the love interest and exchange between
Hamlet and Ophelia. Which parts would you
consider a relationship green flag?
- Hamlet appears
to have loved
Ophelia for a
long time.
- Gives her lots
of gifts.
- Has shown
Ophelia lots of
affection in the
past.
700
Shakespeare provides us a play within a play. Explain the effect the play has on Claudius and Hamlet.
Makes Claudius paranoid and guilty.
Makes Hamlet confident that his uncle did indeed murder his father.
700
Paraphrase Hamlet's words that make life such a Calamity.
The abuse from superiors, the insults of arrogant men, the pangs of unrequited love, the inefficiency of the legal system, the rudeness of people in office, and the mistreatment good people have to take from bad people
700
"In black ink my love may still shine bright"
