Characters
This character is the new king of Denmark at the beginning of the play.
Claudius
What is Claudius' coronation speech?
Claudius delivers this speech to address his new subjects and his marriage to Gertrude.
How many times has the apparition appeared before the play starts?
Twice
How does Claudius hope to avert war with young Fortinbras?
Claudius hopes to avert war with young Fortinbras by sending ambassadors to Norway to negotiate with Fortinbras' uncle, the King of Norway. The ambassadors are instructed to politely request that Fortinbras cease his military preparations against Denmark.
The appearance of this supernatural figure sets the tone for Act 1.
The Ghost of King Hamlet
What is Hamlet's inner turmoil?
Hs father's death and his mother's hasty remarriage
What time is it?
The time is midnight when the sentinels change places.
What request does Laertes make of the King?
Laertes requests permission from the King to return to France.
This character warns Horatio, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
Marcellus
What is Polonius' advice to Laertes
keep his thoughts to himself, restrain himself from acting on rash desires, and treat people with familiarity but not with vulgarity.
In what form and dress does the apparition appear? What do we learn about the former King of Denmark from Horatio?
The apparition appears in the form of the late King Hamlet, wearing the armor he wore when he battled against Norway. From Horatio, we learn that the former King of Denmark was a valiant warrior who led his troops to victory against Norway, particularly against the young Fortinbras.
When Claudius speaks to Hamlet he repeats the theme of the commonness of death. Because death is common, how should Hamlet react, according to Claudius?
According to Claudius, because death is common, Hamlet should accept it as a natural part of life and move on without dwelling on it excessively or grieving excessively for his father.
Who says "Be wary of Hamlet's intentions"
Laertes
This character has a strained relationship with Gertrude in Act 1.
Hamlet
What conclusion do the men come to for why the ghost appears?
The men conclude that the ghost appears as a warning or sign of impending danger to Denmark, possibly related to the recent military preparations of Norway under the leadership of young Fortinbras.
Why does Claudius think that young Fortinbras has chosen to wage war on Denmark now?
Claudius believes that young Fortinbras has chosen to wage war on Denmark now because he perceives Denmark as weak and vulnerable following the recent death of King Hamlet and the hasty marriage of Claudius to Queen Gertrude, which may have distracted Denmark from its defenses.
This character delivers the opening line of "Who's there?"
Francisco
What custom does Hamlet hate?
Trumpets, gunfire and drinking.
When Horatio speaks to the ghost, he says, “What art thou that usurp’st this time of night…?” What does “usurp” mean?
In Horatio's line, "usurp" means to seize or take over unlawfully or without right.
When Claudius says, “How is it that the clouds still hang on you?”, what is the pun and wit in Hamlet’s response, “Not so, my lord. I am too much in the sun”?
In Hamlet's response, "Not so, my lord. I am too much in the sun," the pun lies in the double meaning of "sun." On one level, Hamlet suggests that he is feeling overwhelmed by the brightness or exposure of being in the sun too much. On another level, he implies that his melancholy mood is not due to being in the shadow (clouds) but rather due to being exposed or overwhelmed by the "son" (Claudius) who has taken the throne, suggesting Claudius is the source of his distress.