Hamlet Study Guide

Hamlet Study Guide
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  1. What did the guards see this night (and the night before)?

  2. Preparing for war. Can you follow the plot line regarding Fortinbras, a prince of Norway, the Polacks, and Hamlet Sr., King of Denmark?

  3. Who will tell Hamlet about the ghost?

  4. Who is Gertrude to Claudius?

  5. What do you perceive is Hamlet’s mood at this point of play?

  6. How long has Hamlet Sr. been dead?

  7. Frailty thy name is _________________________________.

  8. What is Hamlet’s plan?

  9. What is Laertes’ advice to Ophelia regarding Hamlet?

  10. What is Ophelia’s advise to Laertes?

  11. What is Polonius’ advice to Laertes?

  12. What is Polonius’ advice to Ophelia?

  13. Hamlet and the ghost:   How did Hamlet Sr. die, according to the ghost?

  14. Describe Hamlet’s mood after ghost departs.

  15. What is it that Polonius wants Bernardo to do in Paris? (Side note: Director’s spin: the woman in Polonius’ room taints his character.   Do you agree?)

  16. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern   - are school buddies of Hamlet’s from Wittenberg. Why are they in Denmark?

  17. What does Polonius think is wrong with Hamlet? What does Gertrude think is wrong with Hamlet?

  18. Famous soliloquy:   Starts around line “There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so. . . “   meaning?

  19. Who arrives at court?

  20. What has Hamlet asked the players to do?

  21. Can you give some words Hamlet speaks that reveal his self-doubts?

  22. “The plays the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king” † Meaning?

  23. What is the next famous soliloquy about? ‘To be or not to be” (III.i)

  24. Hamlet and Ophelia † director spin † what do I mean?

  25. What is Polonius’ plan for Hamlet and Gertrude?

  26. The nature of acting, art, literature. The mirror and the lamp. Does art only reflect what there is in life.... [continues]

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