Act 1
What have the palace guards seen?
What is the ghost of King Hamlet.
Why does Polonius send Reynaldo to Paris?
What is to spy on Laertes.
How does Hamlet treat Ophelia?
Hamlet is cruel to her and tells her he never loved her.
What does Hamlet think of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
He calls them sponges, saying they soak up the King's words, commands and gifts.
What are the gravediggers debating over?
Ophelia and suicide, and whether she should have a christian burial.
In what country does the play take place?
What is Denmark?
What play does Hamlet ask the players to perform?
What is the Murder of Gonzago
What does Claudius decide to do about Hamlet.
He decides that Hamlet is to dangerous to have at court so he decides to send him on a trip to England.
What has happened to Ophelia?
She has gone crazy.
Why does Hamlet think he can win the match against Laertes?
Because Laertes has been in France, and he (Hamlet) has been practicing every day.
Denmark is preparing for the possible war with who?
What is Fortinbras of Norway.
Hamlet refers to Polonius as what when asked if he knows him?
What is a fishmonger
How does Claudius react to the murder scene in the play?
He abruptly stands up and leaves the room.
Why does Laertes force his way in? What does he want?
He wants to avenge his father's death.
What is Hamlet's attitude toward Laertes at the beginning of the match?
He asks for forgiveness. He seems resigned to whatever happens.
At the beginning of his first soliloquy what does hamlet consider doing?
What is committing suicide.
What does Queen Gertrude believe to be the cause of Hamlets distemper?
What is his fathers death and her hasty marriage to Claudius.
Why can't Claudius pray?
Because he feels guilty and is still benefiting from his sins.
The Queen tells Laertes that Ophelia is dead. How did she die?
She has drowned
As Hamlet dies, what does Horatio agree to do?
Tell his story.
What did the people think had caused the kings death?
That a poisonous snake bit him in his sleep.
Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and why have they been summoned?
What is they are Hamlets friends from school, and have been summoned by Claudius to discover the cause of Hamlets recent madness.
What does Hamlet do when he hears someone behind the tapestry in his mother’s room?
Hamlet thrusts his sword into the tapestry, killing the concealed Polonius.
What plan do the King and Laertes discuss to kill Hamlet?
They plan to set up a duel between Laertes and Hamlet. Either Laertes will honorably kill Hamlet, or, if he survives, the King will poison him.
Why do you think Fortinbras orders that Hamlet be given a soldier's burial?
Fortinbras believes Hamlet would have been the king and a good one.