Hamlet
1. What specifically is the setting in Act 1 and why is it important to the tone?
2. Who has just died?
3. What does Claudius tell Hamlet?
4. Who is now the king?
5. Why is Laertes leaving?
6. What does Hamlet think of his mother’s marriage?
7. What advice does Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother) give Hamlet?
8. Describe Hamlet’s state of mind in the opening scenes.
9. How are Laertes and Ophelia related?
10. What does Laertes want Ophelia to do?
11. What advice does Polonius give to Laertes before he departs? To Ophelia?
12. What has Horatio seen?
13. Who is the ghost? What does the ghost tell Hamlet to do?
14. What does Polonius tell Gertrude and Claudius about Hamlet? What is his reasoning?
15. How does Hamlet act in the library?
16. How does Ophelia feel about Hamlet now? How does Hamlet act toward her?
17. What plan do Claudius and Polonius have to fix Hamlet’s behavior?
18. In his famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy, what is the great question on Hamlet’s mind?
19. Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
20. Why does Hamlet think Claudius sent for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
21. Explain this quotation from Hamlet: the air and sky are “a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors.”
22. “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of a king.” What is Hamlet’s meaning?
23. What does Hamlet mean when he describes himself: “Like a whore, [I] unpack my heart with words.” ?
24. “Get thee to a nunnery.” Why does Hamlet say this to Ophelia?
25. What is the name of the play that is put on for Claudius and Gertrude? How do they respond to the action
onstage?
26. How does Hamlet miss an opportunity for revenge on Claudius in this section? What holds him back?
27. Why does Hamlet fight with his mother?
28. Who is hiding behind the tapestry in Gertrude’s room? Who did Hamlet think was there?
29. Where does Hamlet tell Claudius that Polonius is?
30. What is Claudius’ plan to get rid of Hamlet? Does Hamlet know about this plan?
31. What has happened to Ophelia by this time?
32. How does Hamlet outwit Claudius’ plan for him? What happens to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
33. What does Ophelia hold as she mumbles about flowers?
34. What is Ophelia’s fate?
35. Whose skull does Hamlet reflect on?
36. Why does Laertes get upset with Hamlet at Ophelia’s funeral? How does Hamlet respond?
37. What do Laertes and Claudius plan for Hamlet?
38. In the final duel scene:
What does Hamlet ask Laertes for? Does he accept?
Why will Hamlet not drink the cup Claudius offers him?
Who does drink from the cup? What happens to this person?
What is on Laertes’ sword? How does this harm Hamlet?
How is Laertes’ killed? What does he ask for before he dies?
How is Claudius killed?
What happens to Hamlet?