HAMLET STUDY GUIDE (New 2015)
ACT I:
1. What is the play’s mood at the outset?
2. Why does Marcellus tell Horatio to speak to the ghost?
3. What current events are discussed as the men await the ghost?
4. What possible reasons for the ghost’s appearance are discussed?
5. What unnatural happenings does Horatio equate with the ghost’s appearance?
6. What is the atmosphere of the court routine that begins Scene 2?
7. What attitude dominates Hamlet’s personality in Scene 2?
8. How does Hamlet’s soliloquy betray his melancholy?
9. What historical event might Shakespeare be using as reference?
10. What is Hamlet’s personality like when he is with Horatio?
11. What is the effect of Horatio’s news of the ghost?
12. What is the effect of Laertes’ talk with Ophelia in Scene 3?
13. What is the significance of Polonius’ advice to Laertes?
14. In scene 4, what facts emerge from Hamlet’s conversation with Horatio?
15. How does Hamlet approach the ghost?
16. In scene 5, why is the ghost’s reminder about his descent into Hell significant?
17. What is the unknowing irony in Hamlet’s reply to the ghost?
18. Hamlet seems genuinely horrified at the ghost’s revelation. Has he had no hint of
evil?
19. What does Hamlet realize after talking with the ghost?
Act I Notes:
Horatio is skeptical of the ghost at the beginning. Being a Stoic, he is unmoved
by joy or pain, he submits without complaint, and he is objective. Shakespeare uses the
supernatural in scene one for two reasons. One, it amazes the poor and uneducated of
the audience. Two, it suggests that reality is both good and evil, though mysteriously
balanced out.
In Scene 2, Hamlet and Claudius are introduced. Claudius is a good political man,
capable of dealing with the state’s problems; he diplomatically avoids war, and preaches
to Hamlet the acceptance of life and its evils. Hamlet is brilliant, sensitive, and erratically
moody—one reusing the imperfections of life. One despairingly suicidal due to the
death of his father and the infidelity of his mother. He is resolved to speak with the
ghost, though its message may torment him greatly. At the time, hamlet is a student at
the University of Wittenberg, a great school of Protestant theology---their thought on
ghosts were that they were not spirits of the deceased, but rather angels or devils who
assumed the appearance of the deceased to tempt the surviving relative into spiritual
damnation. Hamlet assumes the ghost will be his father’s identity.
In scene 3, we meet Polonius, a foolish and senile man of authority. He thinks he
is important, but he really is a joke. Ophelia is also introduced and we see her as
obedient and innocent, loved by Hamlet. In this scene, Polonius’ decision is important
that it restricts Hamlet from seeing Ophelia. Thus their love for each other cannot
develop much. Eventually, Polonius will break Ophelia’s heart, drive her insane, and he
will become disillusioned about women in general before he dies.
In scenes 4 and 5, suspense is created leading to the ghost’s sensational
message. We see three different attitudes about the ghosts.
When the ghost speaks to Hamlet, he doesn’t tell him anything that he doesn’t
already know; he just speaks in a way that Hamlet will understand and value. The ghost
places greater emphasis on the mother’s infidelity than on the father’s death. So, we
can see that Hamlet may “be hearing what he wants to hear” or Hamlet may be
pursuing some great and moral truth. Thus the question remaining throughout the play
will center around hamlet’s sanity—is he mad, or is he just psychologically unstable.
Hamlet is now motivated to avenge. He is not one to accept evils in the world, and the
ghost has given Hamlet some directions and purpose as far as reforming some of the
evils which exist before him.
Act II:
20.
What change of mood occurs with scene 1?
21.
What does Ophelia bring Polonius?
22.
What is the significance of the meeting between the royal couple and
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
23.
Why is Fortinbras mentioned again?
24.
What is Hamlet’s reception of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
25.
Why is Hamlet excited about the players?
26.
What is the importance of the reference to Jephthah?
27.
What is the importance of Hamlet’s speech to the players?
28.
What emotion dominates the soliloquy? (the one following when Hamlet is
alone)
Act II Notes:
In the first scene, the incident with Ophelia seems to be a direct effect of
the encounter with the ghost. Being in despair over the revelation of his mother’s
adultery, Hamlet comes to his beloved’s room in search of some proof that she is
not like his mother. But he doesn’t seem to find what he is looking for. He is
disillusioned with Ophelia, and he has some justification. Ophelia is simply
following her father’s orders, and has rejected Hamlet’s advances; she looks
innocent, but looks are deceiving. As Hamlet looks into her eyes, he may perceive
some potential for lust which no one should suspect, but which will later be
revealed in Ophelia’s insanity and her resulting vulgar speech. So Ophelia fails
Hamlet, and she really does nothing to calm Hamlet’s anguish; so any love that
may have sparked in Hamlet is gone. We see Polonius as we thought him to be—
foolish, authoritarian, intriguing. As a result of the first scene, 3 questions arise:
1) the ghost’s true identity 2) Hamlet’s madness, or emotional disturbance 3)
Hamlet’s continuing distress over his mother’s infidelity—it has affected his
ability to love Ophelia
In scene 2, Hamlet, unsettled by the ghost, seems to be in the grip of some
evil power. Even Claudius has noticed a change in Hamlet, noting that he believes
the cause of the change is more than just the result of his father’s death. We, too,
find out a few things about Gertrude. She understands her son’s character well,
but is unaware of her husband’s murder; she is loved by Claudius. Going on, we
see Hamlet as having an increasing disdain for Polonius.
In Hamlet’s 2nd soliloquy, his guilt feelings arise again, especially when
he is alone; we see Hamlet planning his revenge against Claudius, trying to
rationalize the conflicts that the higher code and the religious code present.
Scene 2 exhibits Hamlet’s madness in words and in behavior. Polonius
sees it as a result of disappointed love; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern see it from
frustration; Gertrude sees it as resulting from Hamlet’s shock at his father’s death
and his mother’s hasty remarriage; Hamlet is at a loss to explain it. The scene
reflects what is called a cross-plot of characters: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,
Hamlet thinks, are spies, and have begun their espionage when they encounter
Hamlet.
Later in the scene, Hamlet is to meet Ophelia, and Polonius will hide
behind a tapestry and listen to what is going on. Finally, Hamlet is to test the
ghost’s message and Claudius’ guilt by staging the play.
Act III:
29.
What feeling permeates the first part of scene 1, Act 3?
30.
What meaning is given to Claudius aside as they plan Ophelia’s actions?
31.
What major philosophical points dominate Hamlet’s soliloquy in scene 1?
32.
Why is Hamlet so brutal to Ophelia?
33.
Is Ophelia, as far as the text reveals, guilty of any of the “womanly” sins of
which Hamlet accuses her?
34.
What is the purpose of Ophelia’s remembrance of the former Hamlet?
35.
How do Claudius and Polonius view the meetings?
36.
What incidents occur in the scene with the players?
37.
How does Hamlet behave before the play begins?
38.
What is the purpose of the scene with Horatio?
39.
What is Hamlet hoping to accomplish in the speech of the Player Queen to Player
King?
40.
How does the performance temporarily shift circumstances?
41.
What stress is laid on Hamlet’s confrontation with Gertrude?
42.
What extended simile does Hamlet employ with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
43.
What is the irony of Hamlet’s concluding remarks in scene 2?
44.
What action does Claudius take against Hamlet after the play?
45.
What is the effect of Claudius’ soliloquy?
46.
What is the irony of Hamlet’s decision while Claudius is at prayer?
47.
What facts emerge from Hamlet’s talk with his mother in scene 4?
48.
What is the importance of Polonius’ death?
Act III Notes:
In the first scene, Claudius investigates Hamlet’s behavior with Rosencrantz,
Guildenstern, and Ophelia, and though he discovers nothing definite, he sees Hamlet’s
behavior as a threat, and so Claudius sends Hamlet to England, thus revealing his
practical nature and desire for self-preservation. He desires most; however, to remain the
same and he hopes things remain the same as they were at the play’s beginning so he
won’t have to commit further evil to preserve himself.
We see Hamlet still incapable of action. He plans to attend (the play), but now he
is back to his mood of suicidal melancholy and his unsuccessful attempts to explain his
behavior and nature. The scene with Ophelia shows the worst side of him--- how he
savagely attacks anyone who injures him, despite their innocence. But, in the scene, we
see Hamlet, too, expressing part of his “philosophy of life.”
In this scene, we discover Hamlet’s love for and good understanding for the
theater, reflected in the way he advises his players and in the way he writes the play.
In this Act, Hamlet makes a big decision; he chooses Horatio as his friend and
confidant, while rejecting all others. He treats Ophelia as an indecent woman, and is
noticeably fed up with Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. Too, he changes moods.
In this Act, he is completely serious at the beginning with the players; then he is
hysterical with Horatio throughout the play’s performance. Again, at the end, he is dead
serious as he leaves for his mother’s chamber. (Scene 2). In the 3rd scene, the
“mousetrap” affects Claudius in two ways: 1) he gets Hamlet off to England; 2) he
searches out his own soul (in prayer), and concludes that he’ll have to persist in crime.
In the prayer scene, several points of interest are revealed. Claudius is praying,
contemplating his future. Hamlet is deep in thoughts of vengeance, hoping that Claudius
will attain eternal damnation. Hamlet could have killed Claudius at prayer (who is
praying over his sense of guilt), but did not because he thought Claudius was purging
himself for heaven. We see Hamlet as desirous of eternal damnation for the king
Claudius, thus showing that Hamlet’s revenge goes beyond earthly justice.
In scene 4, Hamlet ruthlessly murders Polonius, thereby making it necessary to
send Hamlet off to England (this will make the revenge much more difficult). As a result
of the murder, there is a change in Hamlet’s nature. The murder, the result of two months
of mounting tension, marks the end of Hamlet’s downward spiritual progress, and it
begins an upward trend. The ghost’s first appearance caused a state of spiritual alienation
from God for Hamlet; this reached its extreme form in Hamlet’s strange reasons for not
killing Claudius, and his equally impulsive reasons for disposing of Polonius. In addition,
Hamlet begins a process of reconciliation.
It is possible that the nature of the ghost changed, thus paralleling a change in
Hamlet. Hamlet now is animated by a new sense of identification with divine justice.
Act IV:
49.
What explanation does Gertrude offer for Polonius’ murder?
50.
In what mood does Hamlet speak with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
51.
What is Claudius’ attitude in scene 3?
52.
How does Fortinbras compare with Hamlet (as a man of action in a time of
crisis)?
53.
What new insight does Ophelia’s grief evoke?
54.
How is Ophelia’s madness portrayed?
55.
What does Laertes’ anger show?
56. What is the function of scene 6 with Horatio?
57. What final plans are arranged in Scene 7?
Act IV Notes:
In scene 1, we see Claudius shocked at Polonius’ death, realizing it could have
been himself, and also realizing Hamlet is pursuing him. He acts to get Hamlet sent away
to England, and thus neutralize the bitter criticism that may be leveled at him. In scene 2,
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern view Hamlet’s action as a further sign of his insanity. The
scene likewise reflects Hamlet’s insights into human identity.
In scene 3, Claudius realizes that if he kills Hamlet, he (C.) will no longer have
his conscience bother him, and this endanger himself. Claudius is extremely bothered by
Hamlet’s behavior, and after 4 months of such torment, Claudius is at the breaking point;
now Claudius no longer seeks good intentions for Hamlet, but rather seeks his death.
Thus he orders Hamlet to be killed; he couldn’t do it because of his conscience.
In scene 4, Hamlet’s soliloquy reflects his deeply-valued honor code despite his
bizarre behavior. He says in the soliloquy that what makes a man superior is his
willingness to dare. So Hamlet renews the revenge commitment. He is in a self-searching
and introspective mood.
In scene 5, the effects of Hamlet’s killing Polonius are furthered—Ophelia goes
mad, and Laertes vows revenge. Our respect for Hamlet is quite low at this point because
he has murdered Polonius and treated his body in a less than dignified manner. Too, as a
result, Ophelia and Laertes act as they do.
In scene 6, we find out that Hamlet has escaped the ship on which he was sent to
England, and therefore he also escapes the death Claudius had ordered for him. In the
final scene, scene 7, the character of Hamlet and that of Ophelia & Laertes is shown as a
contrast. Ophelia dies (was it accidental or suicidal). Hamlet becomes aware of Claudius’
plan to murder him; Claudius and Laertes plan Hamlet’s death, and the plan reflects little
thinking on both their parts.
Act V:
58. What is the effect of the “clowns” conversation?
59. How is Hamlet changed?
60. What new philosophy motivates Hamlet?
61. How is a final solution achieved?
Act V Notes:
The clown’s joking about death gives a sense of comic relief before the multiple
death scenes.
In the scene, Hamlet reflects a variety of moods: he is melancholic and witty as he
thinks about death, yet he almost breaks down at Ophelia’s grave and at Laertes’ grief.
Here Hamlet is sensitive to others; yet he can be very insensitive to others if he feels he
has been wronged by them. His instability leads to rash cruelty, but Hamlet is more aware
of this now than he has been before.
I the duel scene with Laertes, Hamlet is confronted with Laertes: Laertes can
either explain honestly to Hamlet that they both love Ophelia, or he can attempt to avenge
his father’s death. It is the latter feeling that blinds Laertes. We also find out that Hamlet
truly did love Ophelia, yet cut off the relationship when it interfered with his main goal of
avenging his father’s death. Ophelia, like Hamlet, suffered, though the effects were
disastrous for Ophelia.
Essay test questions to prepare for:
1. Why is Hamlet so unhappy at the play's beginning?
2. What conflicting emotions does the ghost arouse in Hamlet?
3. Why does Hamlet say "the readiness is all?"
4. List 3 characteristics of Claudius and give examples from the play to illustrate.
5. Discuss Hamlet's relationship with Ophelia and its effect on her.
6. How does Hamlet's soliloquy in the third act, "To be or not to be", reveal his inner
torment?
7. What are the two functions of the clowns in the graveyard scene?
8. What was Hamlet like before he discovered evil?
9. Gertrude knew method/murderer of King Hamlet.
10. Sources of Hamlet's tragedy?
11. Which character(s) represent a fail to Hamlet (protagonist)?
12. Hamlet's tragic flaw? (only one)
13. Did Hamlet love Ophelia? (cliff- 93)