.AMLET, Prince of Denmark
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
Before reading the play, please answer the following questions. They will guide you toward
major themes found in the play.
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It is better to escape evil rather than combat it.
Depression is a useful emotion.
It is necessary to occasionally think of death.
The desire for revenge should be ignored.
Fighting corruption is useless since we all die anyway.
THEMES & SYMBOLS
SUICIDE
BETRAYAL
EARS/HEARING
DISEASE
SPYING
REVENGE
SUPERNATURAL
IN/SANITY
DEATH
ACT SUMMARY/ANALYSIS
For each act, write a summary using the following format:
 List five (5) events
 Three (3) quotes that reveal setting
 Three (3) quotes that reveal character
 Three (3) literary devices (metaphor, simile, alliteration, irony, etc. )
Geometric Character Analysis
Provide a visual representation of the characters using the following as a guide.
 What problems does the character face?
 What personal traits cause the character's problems?
 What are the character's attitudes?
 Which traits help the character deal with his/her problems?
 Which traits keep the character from solving his/her problems?
 What steps does the character go through to solve his/her problems?
 What motivates the character? Does this motivation justify his/her actions? How?
 How does the character change?
 Does the character learn anything?
 Five (5) quotes that reveal character. These can be from the character him/herself or from
other characters. Provide these quotes and explain how each reveal character.
1. The play opens in what season?
2. What is the name of the castle where the play takes
place?
3. The guards of the watch are nervous because Denmark
is preparing for war and because the guards have seen
a_____
4. Who have the guards asked to keep watch with them this night?
5. Who is threatening to invade Denmark?
6. When the ghost first appears, to whom does it speak?
7. When does the ghost leave?
8. After seeing the ghost, Horatio resolves to find someone and tell him of this walking spirit.
Who is it that Horatio intends to tell?
9. At the beginning of Act I, scene ii we learn that the current King of Denmark is__
10. Claudius sends two messengers, Voltemand and Cornelius, to deliver papers to the ruler of
what country?
11. Laertes asks permission to return to school in the country of_______
12. Hamlet asks permission to return to school in what city?
13. Laertes instructs Ophelia to stay away from_____
14. Before Laertes leaves for France, he receives advice from his father,
15. Polonius instructs Ophelia to stay away from______
16.
Polonius gives money to REYNALDO (SPY)
17. Polonius wants Reynaldo to spy on LAERTES
18. Who has upset Ophelia? HAMLET
19. From where did Hamlet know Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? CHILDHOOD/SCHOOL
20. Who returns with news of the war with Norway? VOLTEMAND
21. Polonius suggests that Hamlet's madness stems from his love for OPHELIA
22. In proof of this theory, Polonius reads letters from HAMLET TO OPHELIA.
23. Hamlet soon realizes that both Rosencrantz and GUILDENSTERN are false friends
24. Hamlet says he thinks that "Denmark is a PRISON”
25. What traveling group arrives at the castle? ACTORS
26. Which two characters control Ophelia, using her as "bait" to observe Hamlet?
POLONIUS, CLAUDIUS
27. What does Ophelia wish to return to Hamlet? REMEMBRANCES
28. Which character adds in extra lines for the Players to perform?
29. Which character rises from the audience, calling off the play?
30. Who tells Hamlet that his mother wishes to speak with him?
31. Who decides to send Hamlet to England?
32. In order to spy on Hamlet, who hides behind the arras in Gertrude's bedroom?
33. Although Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius in this scene, he does not do so.
34. If Claudius is killed while at prayer, his soul would go to _____.
35. When Hamlet hears a noise behind the curtains in his mother's room, he thinks ___ is hiding
there.
36. Hamlet stabs through the curtains, then lifts up the arras and discovers that he has killed
37. In this scene, Hamlet speaks harshly to his
38. Who does Hamlet compare to a "mildew'd ear."?
39. The ghost enters the room. Who can see it?
40. At the end of the scene Hamlet says he will not trust his two schoolfellows. Who are they?
(____ and ___)
41. Which two characters are to accompany Hamlet to England? (___ and ___)
42. Who has sent letters to the English requesting that Hamlet be put to death?
43. Who does Hamlet see marching across Denmark?
44. To which country are Fortinbras' troops marching?
45. At this point in the play it is apparent that Ophelia has gone
46. Who arrives home from France?
47. Laertes demands justice for the death of
48. When Ophelia returns, she gives ____ to Laertes and the others in the room.
49. Horatio receives a ___ from the sailor.
50. Horatio now learns that Hamlet is back in
51. Claudius reveals a plot to kill ____ to Laertes.
52. Laertes will anoint his sword with
53. Which character tells of Ophelia's death?
54. How did Ophelia die?
55. For whom is the grave-digger digging the grave?
56. The grave-digger turns up a skull which Hamlet holds. Whose skull is this?
57. What was Yorick's profession?
58. When Hamlet realizes who is going to be buried, he jumps out of his hiding place to declare
his love for
59. Who fights with Hamlet in Ophelia's grave?
60. Hamlet reveals to Horatio the story of his return to Denmark. Hamlet explains that his ship
was boarded by
61. Hamlet reveals that he exchanged the letters being carried by ________ and _______.
62. Which character comes to inform Hamlet of the fencing match?
63. Before the fencing match begins, Hamlet apologizes to
64. What is "an union"?
65. Where does Claudius place it?
66. As the match begins, who gets the first hit?
67. Who drinks of the poisoned cup?
68. Who is wounded first with the poisoned sword?
69. Who reveals that Claudius is the villain?
70. Who becomes king of Denmark at the end of the play?
Hamlet's mother is:
Hamlet's father is:
Old Hamlet was killed by:
Ophelia's brother is:
Claudius' wife is:
Laertes' father is:
Hamlet's stepfather is:
Hamlet's girlfriend is:
Old Hamlet's wife was:
Ophelia's father is:
Claudius' stepson is:
Laertes’ sister is:
CHARACTERISTICS OF SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY
*based on A.C. Bradley’s Shakespearean Tragedy (1905)
1. Story centres on one person of high degree, significant in his society.
2. Hero is an exceptional being.
3. Character shows a marked one-sidedness or flaw (hamartia).
4. Internal stuggle or conflict apparent between reason and passion.
5. Abnormal condition of mind on the part of the hero (insanity or madness).
6. Calamity befalls the hero (antithesis).
7. Actions lead to an apparently irreversible catastrophe (a sense of inevitability is
felt).
8. Hero contributes to the catastrophe.
9. Suffering of the hero is exceptional (internal and external).
10.
Isolation (hero cut off by those around him).
11.
Recognition scene (anagnorisis).
12.
Noble death for the hero.
13.
Sympathy felt by the audience for character (pathos).
14. Sense of waste and loss, especially potential.