Royal Drama
The death of this king sets the entire revenge plot of the play in motion.
Who is King Hamlet?
This counselor is fond of long speeches and famously tells his son to be true to himself.
Who is Polonius?
Hamlet hopes this staged performance will reveal the king’s guilty conscience.
"The Mousetrap" /The Play within the play
Hamlet’s famous soliloquy begins with this question about existence.
What is “To be, or not to be”?
Hamlet struggles throughout the play with carrying out this act against his uncle.
What is revenge?
This new king claims a snake killed his brother, though the ghost tells a different story.
Who is Claudius?
After losing both her father and Hamlet’s love, this character descends into madness.
Who is Ophelia?
While confronting his mother, Hamlet mistakenly kills this man hiding behind a curtain.
Who is Polonius?
Polonius advises his son with the line ending “…to thine own ___ be true.”
What is self?
Characters like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern demonstrate this theme by secretly working for the king.
What is betrayal (or spying)
Her quick remarriage causes Hamlet to criticize her morality.
Who is Gertrude?
This university friend remains loyal to Hamlet and survives the tragedy.
Who is Horatio?
Hamlet spares Claudius during this moment because the king appears to be doing this.
What is praying?
Marcellus suggests corruption in Denmark with this line about something being “rotten.”
What is “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”?
Hamlet’s constant reflection on skulls, ghosts, and graves highlights this theme.
What is death (or mortality)?
At the end of the play, this foreign prince arrives to claim the Danish throne.
Who is Fortinbras?
After returning from France, this young man becomes determined to avenge his father’s death.
Who is Laertes?
This fencing match becomes deadly when poison is secretly introduced.
What is the duel between Hamlet and Laertes?
Gertrude comments on exaggerated emotion with this line about the lady protesting too much.
What is “The lady doth protest too much”?
Hamlet’s hesitation shows his internal struggle with this trait.
What is indecision?
This royal residence is where most of the play’s spying and plotting occurs.
What is Elsinore Castle?
Hamlet recalls this court jester while holding his skull in the graveyard.
Who is Yorick?
Gertrude unknowingly drinks from this during the final scene.
What is the poisoned cup (wine)?
Hamlet’s final words before dying.
What is “The rest is silence”?
The corruption of the Danish court symbolizes this larger societal problem
What is moral decay (or corruption)?