For each question, underline the passage in your text where you found the answer, then write the answer to the question along with the page number in your notes. (This isn’t just busywork—it will help you to substantiate your answers and find the passages quickly when we need them for class discussion.) Give evidence for every response you make.

Scene One:

1. What characters are introduced in this scene? Briefly describe each and explain role.
2. What is Horatio’s attitude toward the story of the ghost before he sees it?
3. What shows Horatio’s superiority, when compared with Marcellus and Bernardo?
4. What in this scene shows Horatio’s courage, or lack thereof?
5. What are two or three most poetic or picturesque lines in this scene? What do they mean?

Scene Two:

1. What characters are introduced in this scene? Briefly describe each and explain role.
2. Describe the king’s opening speech, both what he says and how he says it.
3. What is the king’s attitude toward Laertes? Why does he have this attitude?
4. What is Hamlet’s attitude toward his mother? (See speech starting line 81.)
5. What are Hamlet’s feelings toward the situation? (See soliloquy starting line 133.)

Scene Three:

1. What character is introduced in this scene? Briefly describe and explain role.
2. Describe the dynamics between the three family members in this scene.
3. Is Polonius sincere in his advice to Laertes?
4. What reason does Polonius give Ophelia for avoiding Hamlet?
5. What is Ophelia’s defense of Hamlet? Why does she submit to Polonius’ orders?

Scene Four:

1. What behavior does Hamlet denounce in this scene?
2. How does Hamlet react when he sees the ghost?
3. Who gives commentary/foreshadowing on the situation? What is this commentary?

Scene Five:

1. Describe the language of the ghost throughout this scene.
2. What does the ghost allow Hamlet to do in their interactions?
3. Why does Hamlet accept the commands of the ghost? What are these commands?
4. What does Hamlet say about himself in the last three lines of this scene?

Remember to give line numbers of evidence to support your answers and quote passages directly where possible.

Scene 1

1. What are Polonius’ instructions to Reynaldo? How is Reynaldo to carry out these orders?

2. What does this scene tell you about Polonius’ character?

3. What experience does Ophelia relate to Polonius? How does Polonius interpret Hamlet’s behavior?

4. What does Polonius do after hearing Ophelia’s story?

Scene 2

1. What does Claudius ask Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to do?

2. When Polonius enters, what two pieces of news does he tell Claudius he has? Which does he choose to tell first? Why do you think he makes this choice?

3. What reason does the queen give for Hamlet’s "madness"?

4. What account does Voltemand give of the encounter with Norway? What was the result of Claudius’ decision to send two ambassadors to Norway?

5. At this point, how is Fortinbras a foil (a character who contrasts the behavior/personality of another character) for Hamlet?

6. What is the effect of Polonius saying: "Brevity is the soul of wit"?

7. What can you infer about Gertrude’s feelings toward Polonius?

8. What reason does Polonius give for Hamlet’s madness?

9. What behaviors do Gertrude and Polonius cite in describing the madness?

10. What scheme does Polonius propose to find out more about Hamlet’s sanity?

11. How does Hamlet use his apparent madness when he encounters Polonius in this scene?

12. What does Hamlet find out from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about their assignment? What does this tell you about their characters?

13. What is the significance of comparing Polonius to Jephthah?

14. What arrangement does Hamlet make with the lead player?

15. What plan is Hamlet hatching at the end of this scene?

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Scene 1

1. What does Claudius think about Hamlet’s madness?

2. Were Rosencrantz and Guildenstern successful in spying on Hamlet for Claudius? Why or why not?

3. What is Claudius’ new plan for determining Hamlet’s madness in this scene?

4. Summarize Hamlet’s "to be or not to be" soliloquy.

5. What’s a bare bodkin?

6. How does Hamlet treat Ophelia in this scene?

7. What’s Ophelia’s opinion of Hamlet’s sanity?

8. At the end of this scene, what’s Polonius’ new spying scheme?

Scene 2

1. Why is this the central scene of the play?

2. What is Hamlet’s advice to the actors?

3. What’s Hamlet’s mood in talking with Horatio at the beginning of this scene? What does he tell Horatio?

4. Describe Hamlet’s, Gertrude’s and Claudius’ reactions to the "play within a play," The Mousetrap.

5. What stops the action of The Mousetrap?

6. Describe the evolution of Hamlet’s moods throughout this scene.

Scene 3

1. What is the king’s current solution to the problems with Hamlet?

2. Describe Claudius’ first soliloquy, both language and content.

3. Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius at this point?

Scene 4

1. According to Polonius, how should Gertrude talk to Hamlet?

2. What happens instead, resulting in Polonius’ death?

3. How does Hamlet feel about killing Polonius?

4. What does Hamlet accuse Gertrude of? How does she respond?

5. What did the ghost appear to remind Hamlet of?

6. What’s Gertrude’s reaction to Hamlet’s seeing the ghost?

7. Describe Hamlet’s mood in this scene.