HAMLET
William Shakespeare
Name_______________________________________________________________
CHARACTERS
Hamlet- The prince of Denmark. His father, King Hamlet, has recently died, and his mother Queen
Gertrude, has married the new king, Hamlet’s uncle Claudius.
Claudius-King of Denmark. Hamlet’s uncle who succeeded his brother to the throne and married his
brother’s wife Gertrude.
Gertrude- Queen of Denmark. Hamlet’s mother, who married Claudius one month after King Hamlet’s
death.
Polonius- Lord Chamberlin and Chief Aide to King Claudius. Father of Laertes and Ophelia.
Horatio- Loyal friend of Hamlet. He was asked to come see the ghost.
Ophelia-Daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes; Hamlet’s girlfriend.
Laertes-Polonius’ son. A student at the University of Paris, like Hamlet.
Fortinbras-Prince of Norway. Lost his father and is avenging his death by organizing an army to attack
Denmark.
The Ghost-King Hamlet. He is back and wants revenge on his brother Claudius.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern- Hamlet’s friends and classmates. They were sent for by the King and
Queen to find out what was wrong with Hamlet.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS CHART
ACT I
HAMLET
CLAUDIUS
POLONIUS
GERTRUDE
OPHELIA
ACT II
ACT III
ACTS IV & V
PERFECT 10 DIRECTIONS
For this unit we will be using the Perfect 10. The perfect 10 is composed of a bunch of squares
containing mini-projects, each with a specific value. The students will be randomly asked to select a
project periodically throughout the unit to complete. This allows students to complete mini- projects of
their choice as they read the text, and is a break from the traditional answering of review questions. In an
effort to “complete” the task, students must complete enough projects to achieve the passing score of a
10. Projects are to be completed one at a time and ONLY when assigned by the teacher. Additionally, on
the date they are due, each individual project will be collected and scored by the teacher. Students will be
given 2 days from the date of assignment to complete each task.
These are independent projects; therefore, while students are encouraged to approach teachers
with any questions, the teachers cannot assist you in the completion of them.
Other important facts to note:

If projects are not handed in the day they are due, you do not receive the points. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Anyone who is absent on the day they are due must hand them in immediately upon their return
or it will result in the grade of a zero.

The writing portions of each project must be TYPED. This must be done in size 12, Times New
Roman font, and with a 1” margin. You are receiving 2 days for each project for this reason. NO
EXCEPTIONS.

After each mini-project you complete you must get the signature of a teacher in that box before
crossing it out. Also, you must hold on to each graded project as proof of completion and for credit.
HAMLET PERFECT 10
Often, people get tattoos to
represent a person they knew, or
life-changing experience, they
went through. Imagine you are
Hamlet, create a colorful tattoo
that you would get to represent
your experiences in life thus far.
Accompany it with a one page
description of the image you
created, pictures you used, and
what the tattoo symbolizes
(2points).
Create a comic strip depicting
one scene from the play. Be sure
to use text bubbles and that
images are clear. Accompanying
this should be a well-written
paragraph (7-10 sentences)
explaining why you consider this
scene to be so important (2
points).
Select another character (from
the text we have read thus far)
and write a 5 paragraph essay
comparing and contrasting
them to Hamlet. Be sure to
evaluate similarities and
differences that exist among
their looks, attitude towards life,
family, etc. (3 points).
Imagine you are Gertrude. Your
husband has just died, you
married your former brother-inlaw, and your son is unhappy.
Using events from the text and
your own creativity, write a one
page diary entry describing your
feelings about everything that is
going on. Be sure your entry has a
proper salutation (Dear Diary)
and signature(2points).
Which character is most like you?
Why? Your explanation should be
at least one page. Remember to
describe the character well. Give
evidence – examples of things the
character has done or said that
support your description. Also,
give evidence of what it is about
you that is similar to the
character—these might be
examples of things you have said
and done. (Two pages – typed and
double-spaced)
Pretend you are Hamlet. Write a
letter to your recently deceased
father telling him of all the
changes that have occurred
since his death. Make sure your
letter shows emotion and the
resentment you have towards
your Uncle Claudius (2 points).
DO NOT SELECT BEFORE ACT4
Create an alternative book
cover for Hamlet. Cover should
be creative, and show an
important event or scene from
the play thus far. (The title and
author’s name should also be
found on this page). On the back,
write an entertaining 1
paragraph summary about the
play that would make others
want to read it (2points).
Create a 10 question multiple
choice test covering events
from this act. Questions should
vary in difficulty, and for each
question there should be 4
possible answers labeled A, B, C,
or D. Answers should not be
obvious (2points).
Choose a character that has died
and write a 1 page eulogy for
them. Be sure to describe
important events in their lives, list
relatives (if any), and highlight
important experiences they may
have had (2points).
*ALL PROJECTS MUST BE TYPED & IN SIZE 12 TIMES NEW ROMAN FONT!
HAMLET Review Questions
ACT I
Scene 1
1. Describe the opening scene of the play? Why is Francisco nervous?
2. What is Horatio nominated by the others to do? Is he successful?
Scene 2
3. Describe Hamlet. How does he look, behave, and why is he upset?
4. Why does Hamlet agree to stay in Denmark rather than returning to school?
5. Define a soliloquy. Why do you think authors use them in a play?
Scene 3
6. Who is Ophelia and how does Hamlet feel about her?
7. Why does Laertes not approve of Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship?
8. What advice does Polonius give Laertes before he returns to school?
9. Why does Ophelia finally agree not to see Hamlet anymore?
Scene 4
10. Define Irony. What is the ironic about the beginning of this scene?
11. Describe the ghost. Why are the men so afraid of letting Hamlet follow it?
Scene 5
12. What exactly does the ghost reveal to Hamlet?
13. How does Hamlet react to the news, and what does he promise to do?
14. How does Hamlet plan to carry out his plan? Do you think it will work? Why or why not?
ACT II
Scene 1
15. Why does Polonius send Reynaldo to Wittenberg?
16. Describe Hamlet’s physical appearance and behavior. How does Ophelia react to this?
Scene 2
17. What does Polonius tell the King and Queen is the reason for Hamlet’s strange behavior? How does
he support is beliefs and what is their reaction to him?
18. How does Hamlet feel about Polonius? Use events/facts from the text to support your answer.
19. Why is Hamlet so upset with himself? (Think about the ways he compares himself to an actor).
20. Because Hamlet still doubts the ghost to be his father, what plan does he devise to prove Claudius’
guilt? Do you think it will work, why or why not?
ACT III
Scene 1
21. Do you think Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are loyal to Hamlet? Why or why not?
22. Why does Claudius decide to send Hamlet to England?
Scene 2
23. What is Claudius’ reaction to “The Mousetrap?” Does Hamlet’s plan work?
Scene 3
24. Put Claudius’ soliloquy into your own words.
25. Why does Hamlet decide not to kill King Claudius? Do you agree with his decision, why or why not?
Scene 4
26. How does Polonius’ prying behavior backfire?
27. What does Hamlet reveal to Gertrude, that he believes she has done wrong?
28. At the end of the scene, what does hamlet instruct his mother to do? Do you think she will listen,
why or why not?
ACT IV
Scenes 1& 2
29. Why do you think Claudius tells Gertrude they must inform the court of their reason for sending
Hamlet away?
30. Why do you think Hamlet is refusing to tell Rosencrantz & Guildenstern where Polonius’ body is?
Scene 3
31. What reason does Claudius give the Lords for sending Hamlet away?
32. Once alone, what plan does Claudius personally devise to getting rid of Hamlet permanently?
Scene 4
33. How would you describe Hamlet’s opinion of himself? Give examples from the scene to support your
answer. (Hint: Reference his soliloquy)
Scene 5
34. How has Ophelia changed from the beginning of the play? Why?
35. Why has Laertes returned to Elsinore, and why is he upset with Claudius? What is Claudius’
response?
Scene 6
36. What does the letter Horatio has received, reveal has happened to Hamlet?
37. Make a prediction of what will happen next.
Scene 7
38. Upon hearing of Hamlet’s return to Denmark, what plan do King Claudius and Laertes devise?
39. If the plan falls through, what does Claudius plan to do as a backup?
40. What has happened to Ophelia and how?
ACT V
Scene 1
41. What is the Irony in Ophelia being buried in a Catholic cemetery?
42. How does Laertes react to Ophelia’s burial, and what is Hamlet’s response to him?
Scene 2
43. What does Hamlet reveal is the reason he has returned to Denmark so suddenly?
44. What explanation does Hamlet give Laertes regarding his father’s death? How does Laertes
respond?
45. Why is Hamlet doomed regardless of whether he wins or loses?
46. Why has Queen Gertrude fainted?
47. What does Laertes reveal to Hamlet when he falls, and what is Hamlet’s reaction?
48. What happens to Claudius?
49. Who does Hamlet approve to become the King of Denmark? Why do you think he chose this person?
50. When he arrives in Denmark, what does Fortinbras find, and what news does he bring?
51. Why is Hamlet carried away honorably?
SOLILQUY
A dramatic speech or monologue delivered in a play, in which a character talks to him or herself
and reveals their thoughts or feelings aloud.______ ____________________________________________
“Now I’m alone. Oh, what a mean low-life I am! It’s awful that this actor
could force his soul to feel made-up feelings in a work of make-believe. He
grew pale, shed real tears, became overwhelmed, his voice breaking with
feeling and his whole being, even, meeting the needs of his act—and all for
nothing. For Hecuba!
What is Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,that he would weep for her? Just
imagine what he would do if he had the cause for feeling that I do. He would
drown the stage with his tears and burst the audience’s ears with his
terrible words, drive the guilty spectators crazy, terrify the innocent ones,
confuse the ignorant ones, and astound absolutely everyone’s eyes and ears.
But what do I, a grim and uncourageous rascal, do? Mope around like a
dreamer, not even bothering with plans for revenge, and I can say nothing—
nothing at all—on behalf of a king whose dear life was stolen. Am I a coward?
Is there anyone out there who’ll call me “villain” and slap me hard? Pull
off my beard? Pinch my nose? Call me the worst liar? By God, if someone would
do that to me, I’d take it, because I’m a lily-livered man—otherwise, I
would’ve fattened up the local vultures with the intestines of that low-life
king a long time ago. Bloody, inhuman villain! Remorseless, treacherous, sexobsessed, unnatural villain! Ah, revenge! What an ass I am. I’m so damn
brave. My dear father’s been murdered, and I’ve been urged to seek revenge
by heaven and hell, and yet all I can do is stand around cursing like a whore
in the streets. Damn it! I need to get myself together here! Hmm…. I’ve
heard that guilty people watching a play have been so affected by the
artistry of the scene that they are driven to confess their crimes out loud.
Murder has no tongue, but miraculously it still finds a way to speak. I’ll
have these actors perform something like my father’s murder in front of my
uncle. I’ll watch my uncle. I’ll probe his conscience and see if he
flinches. If he becomes pale, I know what to do. The ghost I saw may be the
devil, and the devil has the power to assume a pleasing disguise, and so he
may be taking advantage of my weakness and sadness to bring about my
damnation. I need better evidence than the ghost to work with. The play’s
the thing to uncover the conscience of the king.”