Characters
Who is the protagonist of the play?
Hamlet
What do the guards see at the start of the play?
A ghost resembling King Hamlet.
Who says, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,” and what does it mean?
Marcellus; It means there is corruption or something wrong in the royal court.
Where does the play take place?
Elsinore Castle in Denmark.
Who tells Hamlet about the ghost?
Horatio
Why is Hamlet upset with his mother?
She remarried Claudius so quickly after King Hamlet’s death.
Who says, “I don’t even want to think about it. Oh women! You are so weak!” and what does it mean?
Hamlet; He’s criticizing his mother for remarrying so quickly after his father’s death.
Who first sees the ghost?
Marcellus and Bernardo.
Who is Polonius’s daughter?
Ophelia
What does the ghost ask Hamlet to do?
Seek revenge against Claudius.
What does the ghost mean when he says, "the real snake that stung your father is now wearing his crown"?
The ghost is telling Hamlet that Claudius murdered him and took the throne.
What kind of mood is established in the opening scene?
A dark, eerie, and tense mood.
What is the name of Hamlet’s uncle who becomes king?
Claudius
Why does Laertes warn Ophelia about Hamlet?
He says Hamlet can’t marry her because he’s a prince, and his choices are limited by his royal duty.
What does Hamlet mean when he says, “I’ll put on an act to confuse them all”?
He plans to pretend to be crazy to hide his true intentions.
Why does Polonius believe Hamlet is acting strange?
He thinks Hamlet is madly in love with Ophelia.
Who are Marcellus and Bernardo?
Guards who see the ghost
What does Claudius tell Hamlet about grief?
Claudius tells Hamlet to stop mourning and act like a man because death is normal.
Who says, “Remember that he belongs to the royal family, and his intentions don’t matter that much—he’s a slave to his family obligations,” and who is it about?
What does Claudius mean when he says, “Your mourning is inappropriate and shows weakness”?
He’s telling Hamlet to stop grieving because he sees it as unmanly and immature.