Themes
Act 1 Scene 5 shows the Ghost speaking to Hamlet for the first time. This major theme begins its development.
What is revenge?
Ophelia's death
What is drowning?
This is a physical reminder and symbol of the nondiscriminatory nature and inevitability of death.
What is Yorick's Skull
Two of Hamlet's former friends who are sent by Gertrude and Claudius to find the cause of Hamlet's strange behaviour.
Who is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
"That incestuous, that adulterate beast" is this literary device spoken by whom?
What is a metaphor, by the Ghost?
Act 1 Scene 3 (Ophelia being instructed to stay away from Hamlet), and Act 3 Scene 1 (Hamlet talking to Ophelia as C + P hide) show this theme.
What is Appearance vs. reality?
Hamlet is afraid of this. He goes back and forth.
What is the afterlife?
Ophelia implies that these represent that there is no more faithfulness after her father died
What is the dead violets?
Bernardo relieves him of his watch duties
Who is Francisco?
"A little more than kin, and less than kind!" is this literary device spoken by whom?
What is a pun, by Hamlet
This theme is something that is still an issue today. Ophelia and Gertrude are subject to this and is an issue in the time period written.
What is women seen as inferior to men?
Hamlet develops his plan to appear mad because of this
What is Claudius kills Hamlet Sr.?
A daisy, referenced by Ophelia before her death, symbolizes this.
What is Innocence?
The death of this person may or may not have been an accident.
Who is Ophelia (and Gertrude)
"Give thy thoughts no tongue nor any unproportioned thoughts his act" is this literary device, spoken by whom?
metaphor/personification, by Polonius.
"Fie on't, ah, fie, 'tis an unweeded garden/That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature/Possess it merely" develops what theme?
What is corruption?
Hamlet kills them after discovering the plot for his own assassination.
Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
In this scene, Hamlet realizes that life is only temporary and that eventually we will all die, no matter who we are or how we lived.
What is the gravedigger scene?
This character knows not the meaning of brevity.
Who is Polonius?
A place or state of suffering inhabited by souls who are atoning for their sins before going to heaven
What is purgatory?
"And am I then revenged,/To take him in the purging of his soul,/When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?" Is an example of what theme?
What is Action vs. inaction?
The king was bitten by a poisonous snake.
What is Lie told by Claudius about Hamlet Sr.'s death?
This character highlights the untrustworthy and phoney nature of the court.
What is Osric?
This character manages to keep his life at the end of the play because of his loyal and honourable nature.
Who is and Horatio?
This is the full title of the play.
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark