Hamlet Presem
English 30-1 Hamlet Preseminar Work
Alexa Forigo - Blackhall
Act I Briefly summarize the key events in this act. In Act 1, we open with a dialogue between three men- Marcellus, Bernardo and Horatio. They are visited by a ghost, who is later verified by Horatio to in fact be the recently deceased King Hamlet. Next, we are introduced to Claudius, the new king since the death of King Hamlet, marrying into an incestuous relationship of King Hamlet’s past wife, Gertrude. He decides to keep Hamlet, our protagonist, in Denmark, not allowing him to leave the country due to his grief. In the next scene, we are introduced to Ophelia, Polonius and Laertes, the latter being shipped off to France and the father, Polonius, giving advice. The two also give advice to the daughter, Ophelia, as it is revealed that she has a relationship with Hamlet, the two warn her that this is an unwise decision. The final scene begins on the Castle platform, where King Hamlet reveals himself to his son Hamlet and Horatio. Hamlet follows his father and learns that his death was by murder, at the hands of Claudius. Hamlet is instructed to avenge his father, and he vows to do so.
Act I, Scene I
1. How does Shakespeare secure our attention and hold it? Consider the relevance of Bernardo’s opening question, “Who’s there?” (I.i.1), in particular, as it sets the tone. The mystery instilled almost immediately through the play acts to draw the reader in within the first few pages of the beginning act. By allowing the ghost to open the play, it already asks questions that viewers and readers will want answered. How did the king pass? Why is his ghost present? What does it mean? Even Hamlet is only mentioned once, and it asks us to wonder just who Hamlet is as well.
2. The impending war with Norway not only serves as a subplot in the play, but also establishes many parallels between characters and themes. What are the reasons for the impending war? There is an impending war in Denmark as King Fortinbras
Alexa Forigo - Blackhall
Act I Briefly summarize the key events in this act. In Act 1, we open with a dialogue between three men- Marcellus, Bernardo and Horatio. They are visited by a ghost, who is later verified by Horatio to in fact be the recently deceased King Hamlet. Next, we are introduced to Claudius, the new king since the death of King Hamlet, marrying into an incestuous relationship of King Hamlet’s past wife, Gertrude. He decides to keep Hamlet, our protagonist, in Denmark, not allowing him to leave the country due to his grief. In the next scene, we are introduced to Ophelia, Polonius and Laertes, the latter being shipped off to France and the father, Polonius, giving advice. The two also give advice to the daughter, Ophelia, as it is revealed that she has a relationship with Hamlet, the two warn her that this is an unwise decision. The final scene begins on the Castle platform, where King Hamlet reveals himself to his son Hamlet and Horatio. Hamlet follows his father and learns that his death was by murder, at the hands of Claudius. Hamlet is instructed to avenge his father, and he vows to do so.
Act I, Scene I
1. How does Shakespeare secure our attention and hold it? Consider the relevance of Bernardo’s opening question, “Who’s there?” (I.i.1), in particular, as it sets the tone. The mystery instilled almost immediately through the play acts to draw the reader in within the first few pages of the beginning act. By allowing the ghost to open the play, it already asks questions that viewers and readers will want answered. How did the king pass? Why is his ghost present? What does it mean? Even Hamlet is only mentioned once, and it asks us to wonder just who Hamlet is as well.
2. The impending war with Norway not only serves as a subplot in the play, but also establishes many parallels between characters and themes. What are the reasons for the impending war? There is an impending war in Denmark as King Fortinbras