HAMLET
Study Guide
Shakespeare’s English
The thing to remember is this: Shakespeare’s English is not that different from our own –
a different spelling here, a word ending there. Often, these minor differences occupy the
point between comprehension and confusion. Here is a brief list – with explanations – to
help you translate Shakespeare’s English into your own:
THOU – you: (subject) “Thou hast thy father much offend.”
THY – your: (possessive) “Hold thy desperate hand.”
THINE – your: “As I look into thine eyes, I see the stars.”
THEE – you: (object) “He loves thee.”
HAST – have: (see example for “thou”)
ART – are: “Thou art a villain!”
‘TIS – it is: “‘Tis a lovely morning.”
‘TWAS – it was: “‘Twas an excellent party.”
DOTH – does: “Why doth Romeo seem sad?”
DOST – do: “Thou cannot speak of what thou dost not feel.”
HATH – has: “He hath come a long way.”
WILT – would: “Wilt thou be gone?”
HIE – go quickly: “Hie thee hence to thy ghostly friar’s cell.”
WARRANT – promise: “ I warrant thee, I will get revenge!”
SHALL/SHALT – will: “I shall attend your party.”
-EST: Many Shakespearean verbs are made by ending “thinkest, sayest, goest, etc.
FAIN – gladly: “Fain I will go thither with thee.”
FIE – an expression of disapproval: “Fie on it!”
OFT – often: “I oft looked upon her face.”
AY – yes
NAY – no
ANON – soon: “Anon I will come to thy house.”
WHEREFORE – why: “Wherefore art thou Romeo?”
HENCE – from here: “Go hence to Mantua, and wait for my letter.”
HITHER – here: “Get thee hither!”
THITHER – there: “Go thither and find Mercutio.”
WHITHER – where: “Whither goest he?”
ERE – before: “I will talk to him ere I leave.”
Before the play Begins….
Denmark is Europe’s oldest monarchy. The royal family of Denmark lives in the castle
at Elsinore, a coastal town in the east. Norway is their rival to the north, ruled by Old
Fortinbras. Old Hamlet kills Old Fortinbras in a duel, winning bragging rights and lands.
Old Norway (brother of Old Fortinbras) inherits the throne. Hamlet was born on that
very day. He grew up playing with Yorick (the court jester) and his friends Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern. Hamlet later met Horatio at the University of Wittenberg in Germany.
While Hamlet was away, his uncle Claudius murdered Old Hamlet by pouring poison in
his ear, then claiming he poisonous snake bit the king. Claudius then goes on to inherit
the throne of Denmark and marry Gertrude, Old Hamlet’s widow.
ACT I
Scene One
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
For what are Bernardo and Marcellus waiting?
At what time does the ghost appear?
Who is the ghost?
What does Horatio think the appearance of the king means?
What occurred between Old Hamlet and Fortinbras of Norway?
For what is Denmark preparing?
What does Horatio compare the coming of the ghost to?
Who does Horatio and Marcellus tell about the ghost?
Is the ghost real, a figment of the imagination, or an ominous warning?
Scene Two
1. Claudius talks as if he was hesitant in marrying Gertrude. Do you think this was
the case? Why?
2. What does Fortinbras want?
3. Where and for what purpose does Claudius send Cornelius and Voltemand?
4. What does Laertes want from Claudius?
5. What do you make of Hamlet’s first lines being an aside? What does this tell us
about Hamlet? What pattern will it set up for us?
6. Claudius reprimands Hamlet for his sorrow, describing it as “unmanly grief.” Is
this suspicious or natural?
7. What request does Claudius deny Hamlet?
8. How long did Claudius and Gertrude mourn Old Hamlet before marrying?
9. How do Hamlet and Horatio know each other?
10. What does Horatio report to Hamlet?
11. What oath does Hamlet ask Horatio and the guards to make?
Scene Three
1. What does Laertes say to Ophelia regarding Hamlet?
2. What is the meaning of Polonius’ speech to Laertes?
3. What does Polonius demand of Ophelia?
Scene Four
1. What is Hamlet’s opinion of Claudius and his merry making?
2. Why does Horatio advise Hamlet against following the ghost?
Scene Five
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What does the ghost ask of Hamlet?
What are the details of Old Hamlet’s murder?
Why does Old Hamlet’s soul reside in purgatory?
Who does the king ask Hamlet to spare?
What does Hamlet ask of Horatio and Marcellus?
How does Hamlet say he will act in the future?
ACT II
Scene One
1. What does Polonius ask Reynaldo to do?
2. What is Ophelia so distraught?
3. What does Polonius believe is causing Hamlet’s madness?
Scene Two
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What does Claudius ask of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
What does Gertrude believe is the cause of Hamlet’s madness?
What does Voltemand report?
How will Polonius’ theory be tested?
What does Hamlet say about Denmark?
What does Hamlet immediately know about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s
visit?
7. Who makes a surprising visit to Elsinore?
8. Why would Hamlet want to hear the speech about Pyrrhus?
9. What play would Hamlet like to see?
10. How does Hamlet plan to catch Claudius?
ACT III
Scene One
What is Ophelia’s role in the spying of Polonius and Claudius?
What confession does Claudius make in his aside?
What does Hamlet return to Ophelia?
Who do you think Hamlet attacks Ophelia so ruthlessly? Who or what is he really
attacking?
5. What theory concerning Hamlet’s madness does Claudius retract?
6. Where does Claudius plan to send Hamlet?
7. Who does Polonius believe will get to the bottom of Hamlet’s madness?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Scene Two
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do as the play is being performed?
What does Polonius’ past role of Julius Caesar foreshadow?
What did the silent show pantomime?
What does Gertrude mean by “the lady doth protest too much” (3.2.254)?
What is the “seduction play” called?
How does Claudius respond to the play?
What puns are present in Hamlet’s chastising of Guildenstern? What does Hamlet
reveal he knows?
Scene Three
1. Where does Claudius decide Hamlet must go?
2. What act can Claudius not do?
3. Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius outright?
Scene Four
1. To whom is Gertrude referring when she says “thou hast thy father much
offended”? How does Hamlet respond?
2. Why does Hamlet kill Polonius?
3. Why does the ghost of Old Hamlet appear as his son is berating Gertrude?
4. What does Hamlet ask his mother to do?
ACT IV
Scene One
1. What does Gertrude report to Claudius?
2. What does Claudius ask of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
Scene Two
1. What does Hamlet call Rosencrantz? Is this a fitting description?
Scene Three
1. What do Claudius’ letters demand of England?
Scene Four
1. Why is Fortinbras in Denmark?
2. Why does Hamlet admire Fortinbras?
Scene Five
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What has happened to Ophelia?
How is Ophelia’s condition different from Hamlet’s?
Who has unexpected returned from France?
Why do the people call for Laertes to be king?
How are Laertes and Hamlet similar?
Scene Six
1. What do the sailors bring for Horatio?
2. What has become of Hamlet?
Scene Seven
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What does Claudius reveal to Laertes?
What excuses does Claudius give for not punishing Hamlet?
What surprising letter does Claudius receive?
Of what skill is Laertes a master?
What trickery will Laertes use to seal Hamlet’s fate?
What back-up plan does Claudius concoct?
What does Gertrude report concerning Ophelia?
ACT V
Scene One
1. What do the gravedigger and the “other” argue over concerning the dead
gentlewoman?
2. To whom did the skull belong?
3. Whose funeral procession do Hamlet and Horatio interrupt?
4. What is Laertes’ reaction to Hamlet’s presence?
5. What does Hamlet claim to “do” better than Laertes?
Scene Two
1. What order did Hamlet find among the paper on the ship bound for England?
2. Who received Hamlet’s fate in England?
3. What challenge does Osric bring Hamlet?
4. How does Hamlet excuse his behavior to Laertes?
5. Why does Laertes switch foils?
6. Who drinks from the poisoned cup?
7. What does Laertes reveal to Hamlet in his dying words?
8. How does Hamlet kill Claudius?
9. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do for him?
10. Who arrives after marching from Poland?
11. Why type of burial does Fortinbras arrange for Hamlet?