Act I
In this first soliloquy, Hamlet exclaims, "Frailty, thy name is woman!" To whom is he referring here?
Queen Gertrude
How was King Hamlet murdered?
His brother poured poison in his ear
What moment during The Murder of Gonzago (or, as Hamlet refers to its title during the play, The Mousetrap) triggers the King’s quick exit from the audience?
The poisoner pours poison in the King's ear
In his soliloquy, Claudius says he does not see how God could believe his apology since he
Still has the crown
Still has his ambition
Still has the Queen as his wife
Portentous means
full of overwhelming significance
Hamlet finishes this soliloquy by saying, "Within a month, ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears had left the flushing in her galled eyes, she married." What is he saying about his mother here?
Her tears were fake.
In Act I, Scene 5, what two commands does the Ghost give to Hamlet?
Dethrone King Claudius and be gentle with Queen Gertrude
Why does Hamlet get mad at Guildenstern (and Rosencrantz) when Guildenstern claims he cannot play the recorder?
They think they can play him but can't play a recorder.
In this soliloquy, Claudius says that, in this corrupt world, offense often __________ past justice.
Shoves
Invulnerable means
immune to attack
In Scene 3, what command does Polonius give Ophelia?
Not to see Hamlet any more
In Act II, during Hamlet's second soliloquy, he discusses
The Player
King Claudius
Himself
Why does Hamlet not kill the King when he sees him ‘praying’?
He assumes King Claudius will go straight to Heaven.
In this soliloquy, Claudius says that people will be called to God without any barrier between them, and says we will be called to the
"teeth and forehead of our faults"
Prodigal means
wastefully extravagant
In Scene 4, why do Hamlet’s friends try to prevent him from following the Ghost?
They are afraid it will drive him to madness
They are afraid it will lead him off a cliff
They are afraid it will harm him or kill him
In his Act II soliloquy, when Hamlet asks, "Who calls me villain, breaks my pate across, plucks off my beard and blows it in my face, tweaks me by the nose, gives me the lie i' th' throat as deep as to the lungs", what is the answer to his question?
No One
In King Claudius' soliloquy, he says his offense is horrible that God can smell it in Heaven. Claudius uses the word ____________ in describing the 'smell' of his sin.
Rank
Describe the circumstance in which Polonius is killed.
Polonius is hiding and Hamlet thinks he is the King, so he kills him.
Ambiguous means
open to more than one interpretation
Why is the ghost in Purgatory (not Heaven or Hell)?
He died before he was able to confess his sins and get them forgiven
According to this soliloquy, Hamlet wants to confirm Claudius' guilt at the play before proceeding further because:
He is afraid the Devil has appeared as his own father to trick him.
In King Claudius' soliloquy, he says he is inclined to pray but, since his "stronger guilt [defeats his] strong intent", and he doesn't know what to do, he
Does nothing
When Hamlet is talking to his mother in her bedroom, the Ghost returns to scold Hamlet. Why does the Ghost reprimand Hamlet at this particular moment in time?
The Ghost told Hamlet to maintain his own sanity and leave his mother alone, but Hamlet is not doing that.
Discretion means
ability or power to decide responsibly