Act I
Which part of the plot is revealed in Act I?
The Exposition
In scene i, why does Polonius send his servant Reynaldo to Paris?
To spy on Laertes (or to take him some letters and money)
Where does Hamlet tell Ophelia to go?
to a nunnery (or a convent)
What is the purpose of the scene between the two clowns?
To slow down the action to build suspense before Hamlet learns about Ophelia.
Which of the following most accurately explains the setting of the play?
Denmark, late 1500s
What is the most obvious element of Polonius's character?
He is nosey -- he likes to know everything that's going on in everyone's life.
How does Hamlet behave toward Ophelia?
Why didn't Claudius arrest Hamlet after Hamlet murdered Polonius?
Gertrude loves Hamlet too much, and so do the people.
What does Laertes do at Ophelia's funeral?
He jumps into Ophelia's grave.
Who are the first to see the ghost?
Bernardo and Marcellus (also accept Francisco)
He comes to Ophelia's room looking a mess and stares at her without say a word.
Where does Claudius decide to send Hamlet?
To England
What does Claudius plan to have happen when Hamlet arrives in England?
The King of England will have Hamlet executed.
What did Hamlet do with the letters Claudius wrote to the King of England?
He rewrote them to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern put to death.
What is Horatio's relationship to Hamlet?
He is Hamlet's college friend
What do both Laertes and Polonius tell Ophelia about Hamlet?
Not to get too serious because he probably won't be able to marry her. (or to stay away from him)
What does Claudius reveal when he says,
"O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven;
It has the primal eldest curse upon't."
He is guilty of murdering his brother.
What is another element of suspense in Act IV?
Fortinbras is moving his troops across Danish land.
Before Hamlet and Laertes begin their fencing match, what does Hamlet say to Laertes?
That he's sorry.
Whom does the ghost look like?
Hamlet's father, King Hamlet
Who comes to the castle, at the invitation of the King and Queen, to keep an eye on Hamlet?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
What are the features of the "play within the play" that correspond with the truth of King Hamlet's murder?
The king was poisoned with poison put in his ear. The king was sleeping outside. The queen married the murderer.
What is Ophelia's mental state?
She has gone mad.
In the fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes, who gets the first hit?
Hamlet