Hamlet
Content and Analysis Questions

Act I

The first act of the play is designed to get the audience interested, introduce the main characters, establish the major conflict and plot, and set the mood for the play. As you read through this act note the techniques Shakespeare uses to accomplish these goals subtly.
Answer the following questions. Make sure to provide detailed answers for each questions. These notes will help you find and recall information for assignments throughout the unit, and help you study for test and the final exam.
Scene i
1. a) Describe the mood of this scene?
b) How does Shakespeare create this mood?

2. Why did the soldiers bring Horatio with them that night?

3. Whose ghost appears walking the castle battlements?

4. What reasons does Horatio suggest for the appearance of the ghost?

Scene ii
1. In what ways does Claudius reveal himself to be a capable monarch in this scene?

2. Outline the conflict between Denmark and Norway (at this point) and Claudius’s plan to deal with it.

3. What is your impression of Claudius after reading this scene?

4. What qualities of Hamlet’s character are brought out in:
a) His conversation with Claudius and Gertrude?
b) His soliloquy?
c) His conversation with Horatio and the soldiers?

5. In three sentences, summarize Hamlet’s first soliloquy (I.ii.129-159)

Scene iii
1. What advice does Laertes give Ophelia?

2. What advice does Polonius give Laertes?

3. What advice does Polonius give Ophelia?

4. What sources of humour are found in this scene?

Scene iv
1. What flaws in Claudius’s character are discussed in this scene?

2. What reasons does Horatio give why Hamlet should not follow the ghost? Why does Hamlet say he has no reason to fear following the ghost?

Scene v
1. Summarize the information the ghost tells to Hamlet.

2. What does Hamlet vow to do after hearing the information?

3. What does Hamlet make Horatio and Marcellus swear after they have found him?

4. Why do you think Hamlet says he will “put an antic disposition on” (I.v.180) (act insane)? Will this help him to achieve his revenge?

Some questions to ponder as you read the rest of the play:

•  Is Hamlet pretending to be mad, or has he truly lost his sanity?

• Would it have been better for Denmark if Hamlet had taken his place as King instead of Claudius?

 

Act II

Two months have passed since Act I. Ophelia broke off her relationship with Hamlet as she was instructed. Hamlet has been acting crazy.

Scene i
1. What aspects of Polonius’s character are revealed
a) In his instructions to Reynaldo?
b) In his discussion with Ophelia?
 

2. Summarize Ophelia’s description of Hamlet’s physical appearance and his behaviour.

3. Suggest reasons why Hamlet may have sought out Ophelia.
 

Scene ii
1. a) Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Why have they come to Elsinore Castle?
b) How does Hamlet’s attitude towards them change during the scene? Why does it change? Pinpoint the exact moment (line) that it changes.

2. Describe the situation between Denmark and Fortinbras by the end of this scene.

3. Polonius claims he knows the cause of Hamlet’s madness. What does he say is the cause, and how does he suggest they prove it?

4. Describe Hamlet’s interaction with Polonius.

5. a) How does Hamlet react to the arrival of the players?
b) How does Polonius treat the players?
c) What play does Hamlet ask the players to perform tomorrow night? How will he alter it?
 

6. Look up and define the term “metadrama.” What sources of metadrama are present in this scene?
 

7. Hamlet’s second soliloquy occurs at II.ii.534-502
a) Why is Hamlet angry with himself?
b) What reasons does Hamlet give for not yet carrying out his revenge?
c) What is Hamlet’s plan to prove Claudius’s guilt?
 

8. Why do you think Hamlet is taking so long to confront Claudius?
 

Act III

24 hours has passed since Act II. The plans that were set in place (having Hamlet run into Ophelia; and Hamlet’s altered version of the play) and now ready to set in motion.
 

Scene i

1. How do Polonius and Claudius plan to learn what is wrong with Hamlet?
 

2. Hamlet’s third (and most famous) soliloquy occurs III.i.56-88.
a) What is Hamlet debating?
b) What does he say is the reason that most people do not take this option?
c) How does this connect to other aspects of Hamlet’s life (and life in general)?
 

3. Why does Ophelia say she is looking for Hamlet?
 

4. Pinpoint the moment (exact line) that Hamlet knows his relationship with Ophelia is over forever.
 

5. What are the two meanings of the word “nunnery”? Which do you think Hamlet means in this scene?
 

6. What is Claudius’s plan to deal with Hamlet at the end of this scene?
 

Scene ii
1. At the opening of this scene Hamlet instructs the players how to act while on stage.
a) What type of advice does he give them?
b) This is obviously “metadramamtic;” how is it also considered dramatic irony?
 

2. Describe how Hamlet speaks to Ophelia in this scene.
 

3. What significant act is depicted in the “dumb-show”?
 

4. What aspects of the play would Hamlet have written to be directed at Gertrude and Claudius?
 

5. a) Why does Hamlet think that Claudius ran away from the performance?
b) But…Claudius didn’t react to the “dumb-show.” What other possible explanations exist for Claudius’s behaviour?
 

6. What does Hamlet’s conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reveal?
 

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

2. What is revealed to the audience in Claudius’s soliloquy?
 

3. a) Why does Hamlet say he does not want to kill Claudius right now?
b) Do you believe this is the real reason?
c) What is ironic about this reason?
 

Scene iv
1. What is Polonius’s plan at the opening of this scene?
 

2. Why does Hamlet kill Polonius? What is ironic about this?
 

3. Why does the ghost say it has appeared to Hamlet?
 

4. What possible reasons are there that Gertrude cannot see the ghost?
 

5. What promises does Hamlet get Gertrude to make to him before he leaves?
 

Act IV
 

Act IV takes place immediately after Act III. In fact, since the setting is the same for Act III, scene iv, and Act IV, scene i, it is often performed as a single scene.
 

Scenes i-iii
1. What does Hamlet do with the body of Polonius?
 

2. How does Hamlet’s behaviour differ in these scenes from the rest of the play?
 

3. By the end of scene iii Claudius has revealed his full plan to deal with Hamlet. What is this plan?
 

A significant, but undetermined amount of time passes between scenes iii and iv, and between scenes iv and v. During this elapsed time events continue to occur. Hamlet travels to the Danish sea port and boards the ship to England. Polonius is buried with a quick and quiet funeral (not the large scale state funeral that would have been appropriate for the Lord Chamberlain). Word has gotten to Laertes (in France) about his father’s death, and he travels back to Denmark.
 

Scene iv
1. What does the captain in Fortinbras’s army say is the value of the land for which they are fighting? Is it worth the risk? Why do the soldiers follow Fortinbras into battle?
 

2. How does Hamlet compare himself with Fortinbras’s army?
 

3. What does Hamlet swear at the end of his fourth soliloquy (IV.iv. 32-66)?
 

Scene v
1. a) How does Ophelia react to the death of her father?
b) How does Laertes react to the death of his father?
c) How are these reactions similar to Hamlet’s reaction to his father’s death?
d) How are these reactions different from Hamlet’s reaction to his father’s death?
 

2. What conclusions can be drawn from this scene about Claudius’s effectiveness as a leader? What evidence is there to support these conclusions?
 

Scene vi
1. In his letter to Horatio, Hamlet describes his sea battle against pirates. Are the events that Hamlet describes characteristic for him, or uncharacteristic? Support your answer with reference to specific prior actions Hamlet has taken.
 

2. What problems will be caused by Hamlet’s unexpected return?
 

Scene vii
1. How does Laertes plan to get revenge? Who suggests this course of action?
 

2. a) What reasons does Claudius give Laertes to explain why he did not have Hamlet arrested and brought to pubic trial?
b) What other reasons might there be which he doesn’t mention to Laertes?
 

3. What happened to Ophelia? How does this further provide a contrast between the children of Polonius and Hamlet?
 

Act V

One or two days has passed between Act IV and Act V.
 

Scene i
1. Why do you think Shakespeare would have opened Act V with a humours part of the scene?
 

2. What is unusual about Ophelia’s funeral? Why were these changes to the normal funeral rites needed?
 

3. Why does Hamlet attack Laertes?
 

4. Why does Claudius separate Hamlet and Laertes, rather than letting them fight?
 

Scene ii
1. What will happen to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when they reach England? Is this fate justified? Why or why not?
 

2. How do the each of the following people die? For each one explain how his/her sins directly contribute to his/her death.
a) Laertes
b) Claudius
c) Hamlet
d) Gertrude
 

3. Who does Hamlet name as the next king of Denmark? Why does he have the authority to do so?
 

4. What dramatic purpose (or purposes) is served by the arrival of Fortinbras as the play ends?