Hamlet Content Questions – Act 1
Remember: These questions are to help guide your reading. You are not expected to answer every question, but you
should be able to discuss the answers to all of the questions.
Act 1, Scene 1
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Where is the play set?
What is the atmosphere of this scene and what helps to create this atmosphere?
What are some of the possible reasons suggested for the ghost’s appearance in this scene?
What do we learn about the old king in this scene?
What do we learn about the military state of Denmark?
Why is the old king’s ghost forced to leave at the end of Scene 1?
Why would Horatio decide to tell Hamlet about the ghost rather than the new king, Claudius?
Provide an example of the following from this scene: simile, allusion, metaphor, personification, foreshadowing.
Key terms to be aware of: apparition, portent, omen, the Great Chain of Being.
Act 1, Scene 2
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Identify the key plot points revealed through King Claudius’ first speech.
How does this scene act as a contrast to scene 1?
What role does Polonius fulfill for the king?
Looking at the big picture, what role might the character of Laertes fulfill in the play?
What is an “aside”? What is the meaning of Hamlet’s opening aside?
What does Hamlet wish to do in this scene? What does Claudius want him to do?
What prevents Hamlet from returning to university? What suspicion does he have?
Provide an example of the following from this scene: pun, personification, simile, allusion.
Key terms to be aware of: contrast, appearance versus reality, anachronism.
Hand-In Assignment – Paraphrase of Hamlet’s 1st Soliloquy: I will be giving you a handout for this assignment.
Act 1, Scene 3
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This is a scene of advice. What advice does Laertes give his sister Ophelia regarding Hamlet?
Polonius delivers a famous speech to his son Laertes in this scene as Laertes prepares to leave for university.
Paraphrase and list the main recommendations Polonius gives his son.
What do we learn about the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia?
What, like any good father, is Polonius afraid of regarding Hamlet’s affections toward his daughter?
Act 1, Scene 4
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Discuss Hamlet’s theory of human nature from lines 23 to 38. Do you agree with this theory?
What is Hamlet afraid of when he sees the ghost for the first time?
Why does Horatio not want Hamlet to follow the ghost?
Provide an example of the following from this scene: personification, simile, foreshadowing.
Key terms to be aware of: wherefore, humours (blood = optimistic, black bile = melancholic,
yellow bile = angry, phlegm = phlegmatic).
Act 1, Scene 5
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What news does the ghost bring Hamlet when it finally speaks?
What does the ghost want Hamlet to do? What does it not want him to do?
Between lines 75 and 80, the ghost tells Hamlet why he is doomed to walk the earth rather than gain entrance into
heaven. Explain what it says.
What does Hamlet promise the ghost as it disappears?
What does Hamlet ask of Horatio and Marcellus?
What do we learn of Hamlet’s plan at the end of this scene?
Provide an example of each of the following from this scene: simile, allusion, metaphor.
Key terms to be aware of: Divine Right Kingship, the king’s body / health = the health of the country, hebenon.
*I will be giving you a handout here containing an assignment for Act 1.
Hamlet Content Questions – Act 2
Act 2, Scene 1
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What indication do we have that time has passed?
Why does Polonius send his servant Reynaldo to Paris?
What news does Ophelia bring to Polonius?
What conclusion does Polonius jump to regarding Hamlet’s strange behaviour and what does he decide to do?
Provide an example of each of the following from this scene: metaphor, simile, pun.
Key term to be aware of: madness, appearance versus reality, different types of love
Act 2, Scene 2
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Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and why has King Claudius summoned them to court?
What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to do and why do they agree to do it?
According to Claudius and Gertrude, what is causing Hamlet’s foul mood?
Summarize the news that Voltimand, a messenger, brings from Norway.
Explain how Shakespeare uses satire in Polonius’ speech, lines 85 to 94.
Explain the meaning of the Queen’s quote “More matter, with less art.” (line 95)
Why has Ophelia not returned Hamlet’s overtures of love?
Describe the plan Polonius initiates to prove that Hamlet is “madly” in love.
Describe the exchange between Hamlet and Polonius. How does Hamlet treat Polonius? Why do you think he
treats him this way?
Describe the two extreme views of life that Hamlet discusses in his speech between lines 297 and 314.
Describe the relationship between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. In your opinion, should Hamlet trust
these two? Why or why not? Do you think Hamlet does trust them? Explain your reasoning.
Hamlet has a lengthy conversation with the players. What speech does he want them to perform? Why do you
think he chooses this speech?
At the end of this scene, Hamlet makes two requests of the players. What play does he want them to perform?
What is the second request?
Hamlet delivers a lengthy soliloquy at the end of this scene. Why is he so upset with himself? What plan does he
come up with at the end of the soliloquy?
Provide some of the possible reasons for Hamlet’s procrastination? Why hasn’t he avenged his father yet?
If Hamlet’s mood during his first soliloquy can be described as depressed, what can his mood be described as in
this second soliloquy?
Provide and example of each of the following from this scene: simile, metaphor, pun, anachronism, allusion,
personification.
Key terms to be aware of: the Seven Ages of Man, what it means to be human, procrastination, revenge,
cowardice versus bravery, melancholy, loyalty versus false friendship, prose versus poetry, acting versus real life
*Be prepared to write your first test at the end of Act 2!