Act 1
Discussion Questions – Zeffirelli Act 1
1. How does Zeffirelli set the mood for the film in the opening sequence? (Cinematic lens)
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2. How does Zeffirelli let us know what his interpretation of the play of Hamlet will be? (Literary
Lens)
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3. Why does Zeffirelli cut the opening Ghost scene and Fortinbras? (Literary Lens)
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4. How does Gertrude look? (Dramatic Lens)
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5. How does Claudius look? (Dramatic Lens)
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6. How does Gertrude behave? (Dramatic Lens)
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7. How do we meet Hamlet? (Literary Lens)
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8. How does the funeral end? (Literary Lens + Dramatic Lens)
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9. Where is Hamlet while Claudius announces his marriage to Gertrude to the court? (Literary Lens +
Dramatic Lens)
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10. How does Polonius look? (Dramatic Lens)
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11. How do we know Polonius’s place at court? (Literary Lens + Dramatic Lens)
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12. Instead of being in front of the whole court, where does Zeffirelli choose to put Laertes’ asking to
leave for France? (Literary Lens)
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13. How do Claudius and Gertrude behave with each other? (Dramatic Lens)
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14. What surprising thing does Gertrude do? (Dramatic Lens)
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15. How does Hamlet deliver his first soliloquy? (Literary Lens)
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16. How does Ophelia look? (Dramatic Lens)
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17. What kind of father does Polonius seem to be? (Literary Lens)
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18. Where is Hamlet while Polonius is giving Ophelia advice? (Literary Lens)
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19. How does Hamlet greet Horatio? (Dramatic Lens)
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20. How does the Ghost appear? (Dramatic Lens)
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21. How does the Ghost look? (Dramatic Lens)
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22. How does Hamlet protect himself? (Dramatic Lens)
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23. How does the Ghost tell his story? (Dramatic Lens)
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24. How does the Ghost leave? (Dramatic Lens)
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Act 1
Discussion Questions – Branagh Act 1
How does Branagh introduce Elsinore? (Cinematic + Dramatic Lens)
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1.
2. How is Fortinbras introduced? (Literary + Dramatic Lens)
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3. How do Claudius and Gertrude look? (Dramatic Lens)
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How does Laertes look? (Dramatic Lens)
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4.
5. How does Polonius look? (Dramatic Lens)
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6. Are Voltimand and Cornelius shown in the film? Why are they here? (Literary Lens)
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How does Claudius tell Hamlet he is going too far in mourning for his father? (Dramatic Lens +
Literary Lens)
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7.
How does Hamlet greet Horatio? How can we tell that Horatio is Hamlet’s best friend? (Dramatic
Lens)
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How can we identify Hamlet’s father as Old Hamlet? (Dramatic Lens)
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How does Laertes give his advice to Ophelia? (Dramatic Lens + Literary Lens)
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11. Is Polonius a serious or comic character? (Dramatic Lens + Literary Lens)
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What do we learn about Ophelia as Polonius is telling her to stay away from Hamlet? (Literary
Lens + Cinematic Lens)
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12.
13. How is the Ghost shown in the film? (Dramatic Lens)
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What special effects are used in the Ghost scene? (Cinematic Lens)
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14.
15. Do we feel as frightened as the characters on screen? (Response)
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What does the Ghost look like? (Dramatic Lens)
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17. How does the Ghost tell his story? (Dramatic Lens)
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18. What happens when Horatio and Marcellus find Hamlet? (Dramatic Lens)
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