Who are Francisco and Bernardo, and why are they freaked out at the beginning of Act 1?
Francisco and Bernardo are palace guards - they have seen the ghost, and have brought Horatio to witness it.
100
Who are Hamlet’s two childhood friends, invited to the palace by Gertrude and Claudius? What are they asked to do?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern....they are asked to spy on
Hamlet and ascertain whether or not he is actually mad.
100
What is the main theme of the "To be, or not to be" speech?
Life and death.
100
About what is Gertrude talking when she says:
“Mad as the sea and wind when both contend
Which is the mightier.”
Hamlet
100
. What are the two clowns doing while they talk? Who is the "she" of 5.1.1? Why, according to the second clown, is she really being given a Christian burial?
They are discussing whether or not Ophelia deserves a Christian burial.
They claim that she is being given a Christian burial b'c she is a gentelwoman.
200
Laertes and Hamlet each have a request for Claudius? What are they, and how does Claudius respond.
Laertes wants to go back to France, and Hamlet wants to return to Whittenberg. Claudius grants Laertes' request, but does not allow Hamlet to leave.
200
Why does Hamlet scare Ophelia when he comes to see her in Act2, scene 1?
Hamlet looks like a madman - "his doublet all unbraced, no hat upon his head." He stares at Ophelia, and then runs out.
200
Where does Hamlet tell Ophelia to go, and why?
To a nunnery.
She returns his love letters to him (essentially breaking up with him). He can't take it.
200
What is Ophelia's state in Act 4?
She loses her mind
200
What do Hamlet and Laertes fight about in Act 5, scene 1?
Who loved Ophelia more
300
Why is Hamlet so upset in Act 1?
His father is death, and within "a little month", his mother has remarried, and married his uncle.
300
How does Hamlet intend to determine whether or not Claudius killed Old Hamlet?
The play - "The Murder of Gonzago". Similar plot, and watch how the king reacts.
300
Who says the following line, and what is special about it?
“The harlot’s cheek beautied with plast’ring art
Is not more ugly than the thing that helps it
Than is my deed to my most painted word.
O heavy burden!”
(III, i, 59-62)
Claudius.
300
How does Ophelia die, and what is Laertes' reaction?
She drowns.
HE says that he will not weep for her, for she has had enough water. However, it adds to his anger as he plots iwth Claudius.
300
What do Laertes and Hamlet do in Act 5, scene 1 that forshadows the end?
They jump in a grave
400
What is Ophelia's reaction when Laertes warns her to be careful in regards to Hamlet?
she tells him to heed his own advice, and be careful in France.
400
Who says the following, and what does it mean?
“I am mad north-north-west. When the
wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.”
(II, ii 402-403)
Hamlet- I'm mad when it suits my purpose, and other than that I'm sane.
400
When Hamlet comes across Claudius praying, why doesn't he simply kill him? Why is this ironic?
Hamlet doesn't kill Claudius b/c he doesn't want Claudius to go to heaven.
It is ironic b/c Claudius isn't actually praying.
400
Claudius tells Laertes that there are two reasons he has not simply killed Hamlet. What are they?
Hamlet is popular with the people, and beloved by Gertrude.
400
Why do Laertes and Hamlet forgive one another at the end of Act 5?
They each have similar griefs, and therefore understand what the other was doing.
500
How does Claudius kill old Hamlet?
Claudius sneeks into the garden where Old Hamlet is sleeping and pours poison into his ear.
500
What is Polonius’ plan for proving that Hamlet’s odd behavior is the result of
love madness?
He intends to set Ophelia upon Hamlet, hide behind something, and see how HAmlet reacts.
500
What does Hamlet tell Gertrude in Act 3, scene 4? What evidence do we have to tell us that she believes him?
Claudius killed Old Hamlet.
She may think Hamlet's mad, but she still doesn't tell Clauidus....showing us that she thinks it's possibly true.
500
What is the plan that Laertes and Claudius come up with to kill Hamlet?
Fencing match - sharp points, poisoned tip, poisoned cup
500
What is the body count at the end of Act 5, and who are they?
Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet, Laertes - 4
the whole play - Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet, Laertes, Old Hamlet, Ophelia, Polonius - 7