Characters
Hamlet's Best Friend
Horatio
What is the purpose of Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern's visit?
King Claudius and Queen Gertrude invited them to spy on Hamlet.
Explain two ways that Hamlet insults Polonius when he comes into the library while Hamlet is reading.
He insults Polonius by calling him a fish monger and making fun of old people such as himself.
Polonius believes that the source of Hamlet's "madness" is his love for Ophelia. The audience, however, knows the true reason for Hamlet's changed behavior.
dramatic irony
What physical piece of evidence does Polonius have of Hamlet's madness and the cause of it?
the love letter that Hamlet wrote to Ophelia
Who are Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern?
Hamlet's childhood friends
What does Polonius claim is the cause for Hamlet's changed behavior?
In love with Ophelia; Ophelia's rejection
Hamlet: “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the...
conscience of the king.
"pale as his shirt"
simile
How does Hamlet treat the entertainers/actors when they arrive for the play?
very welcoming and courteous
This character compares Denmark to prison.
Hamlet
Ophelia comes to her father, Polonius, quite upset in Scene 1 of Act 2. What is the reason?
Hamlet visited her, looking disheveled and "crazy"
Hamlet gets angry with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because they hesitate to tell him.....
why they are in Elsinore
"No hat upon his head"
alliteration
How does Hamlet plan to confirm Claudius' guilt?
by having the play reenact what Claudius did to his late father, Old King Hamlet
This character is the antagonist in the play
King Claudius
What arrangement does Hamlet make with Player 1?
He wants to have several of his own lines put into the play.
"Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!"
Hamlet
"My news shall be the fruit to that great feast."
metaphor
According to Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy, what prevents people from committing suicide?
because they believe that if they do, this will result in an eternity in hell.
In Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” speech, Hamlet considers doing what?
killing himself
How is Polonius going to test his theory about Hamlet's madness?
arrange for Ophelia to meet with Hamlet, while he will hide behind the tapestry to eavesdrop
What does Gertrude believe the cause of Hamlet's disturbed state of mind?
due to the death of his father and her hasty marriage to the Queen
Where does Hamlet take place in Denmark (the setting)? What is the name of the home the royal family resides in?
Elsinore Castle
Identify 2 ways that Hamlet is mean to Ophelia during their meeting that is spied on by Polonius and Claudius.
He acts erratically and like he does not care.
He repulses Ophelia by telling her to go to a nunnery.