Act 1
what characters first see the ghost?
Francisco, Bernardo, Marcellus and Horatio
why are rosencrantz and guildenstern asked to come see hamlet?
the queen and king think they might be able to find out why hamlets recent madness.
How does Hamlet treat Ophelia?
Hamlet is cruel to Ophelia and tells her that he never loved her.
What bothers Claudius when Gertrude tells him that Hamlet murdered Polonius?
Claudius is bothered by the idea that it could have easily been him who was killed
Why is it controversial for Ophelia to be given some form of Christian burial?
It is suspected that Ophelia committed suicide, which would traditionally make her ineligible for a Christian burial.
Laertes warns Ophelia not to give in to the advances of Prince Hamlet. what are the reasons?
False promises, not true to her. might not marry her. and doesn't want her reputation ruined.
what does Polonius ask Reynaldo to do?
Polonius asks Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in France.
What does Claudius decide to do about Hamlet?
Claudius decides that Hamlet is too dangerous and unpredictable to have at court, so he decides to send him on a trip to England.
Why can’t Claudius simply punish or banish Hamlet openly?
Hamlet is very popular with the people of Denmark, which makes it difficult for Claudius to openly act against him.
Why does Hamlet comment on Alexander the Great when he is looking at all the skulls in the ground?
Looking at the skulls, Hamlet realizes that all men are equal in death and speculates that the dust of Alexander the Great might now be used in the clay that stops up beer barrels.
Hamlet agrees to stay in Elsinore and not to return to Wittenburg. why?
His mother wants him to stay because he is still mourning and is depressed. it will make his mother happy.
How has Claudius resolved the situation with young Fortinbras?
Claudius sent a letter to the king of Norway, who was unaware of young Fortinbras’s plans and quickly reined him in.
After watching Ophelia and Hamlet interact, what does Polonius decide to do next?
Polonius decides that he should hide and listen in on a conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude.
What are Claudius’s secret orders to England?
Claudius secretly sends word to England that Hamlet should be executed immediately upon arrival.
How does Hamlet react when he realizes that the funeral he is watching is Ophelia’s?
Hamlet is shaken when he realizes that Ophelia is dead, and he interrupts the service to quarrel with Laertes over who loved Ophelia more.
What's Hamlet's state of mind when we first see the ghost?
he is excited to see his ghost dad
What does Ophelia report to Polonius about Hamlet?
Ophelia tells Polonius that Hamlet suddenly came into her room, grabbed her, and stared at her strangely without saying a word.
How does Claudius react to the murder scene in the play?
At the murder scene, Claudius abruptly stands up and leaves the room.
Why is Hamlet inspired by Fortinbras?
Hamlet admires Fortinbras’s determination to take action and achieve his goal—no matter the cost.
What excuse does Hamlet give Laertes for killing Polonius?
Hamlet tells Laertes that it was his madness that killed Polonius, not him.
In their conversation immediately following the departure of Laertes, Polonius tells Ophelia that she must not spend any more time with Hamlet. Why not?
she's needs to protect her reputation/honor or no one will want to marry her.
How does Hamlet intend to use the play to expose Claudius?
Hamlet plans to have the players reenact a scene that resembles his father’s murder, intending to watch Claudius’s reaction closely to see if he’s guilty.
What does Hamlet tell Gertrude to do?
Hamlet urges his mother to repent for her sins and reject his uncle’s advances.
How has Polonius’s death affected Ophelia?
Ophelia has gone mad in the wake of Polonius’s death.
What does Hamlet do once Claudius’s treachery has been exposed?
Hamlet kills Claudius, running him through with the poisoned sword and then forcing him to drink the remaining poisoned wine.