Name: __________________________________ Date: ______________ Period: _____
Hamlet: Act II Summary “cloze” Activity
Polonius tells _____________ to spy on his son ______________ in Paris.
Polonius learns from his daughter ____________ that a badly dressed _______________
met her, studied her face and promptly left. Polonius believes that Hamlet's ___________
behavior is because Ophelia has _______________________________ him. Polonius
decides to tell ___________________ the reason for Hamlet's recently odd behavior.
Focus: Theme—appearance vs. reality. Hamlet believes that if life has no purpose,
what’s the point of ______________? Polonius proposes the test to see if Hamlet is
really in love with ________________.
a. The King and Queen have sent for ___________________ and Guildenstern to
help figure out and alleviate Hamlet’s “transformation.” They will reward R & G.
b. Polonius tells them to listen to the ambassador first before he tells them why
_______________ is acting strangely.
c. The _______________ advance is worked out. They will now march through
Denmark to Poland if _____________ gives them permission.
d. Polonius explains Hamlet’s madness—that he’s madly _________________
Ophelia. They devise a test, to have Hamlet and Ophelia together and then hide
behind a _________________ and eavesdrop.
e. Line 171—there’s a switch to prose. Why? He’s having a “common” argument
with ______________ so this emphasizes the baseness by not using verse--the
upper class language. Hamlet calls Polonius a ________________, meaning a
pimp, saying he’s trying to pimp out Ophelia.
f. Hamlet’s banter with R & G shows Hamlet isn’t great friends with them OR they
don’t recognize him because he’s changed so much. Which do you think?
Hamlet shows he’s __________________ of their motives in coming to court.
g. There’s talk about the ___________________, the one that’s Hamlet’s favorite
has been upstaged by a troupe of children. But, Hamlet’s favorite troupe is in the
area.
Name: __________________________________ Date: ______________ Period: _____
h. Claudius’s behavior and Hamlet’s mixed feelings about ______________ and
murder are constant reminders that emotions can be faked—_________________
vs. reality.
i. Hamlet’s favorite acting troupe comes and they preview a speech from a play.
Hamlet pulls the leader aside and asks him to play The Murder of
__________________ and Hamlet will give him some lines to add to it.
j. Hamlet’s 2nd great ___________________, comparing himself to an actor. He
berates himself, calling himself dull and a day dreamer who can’t avenge a
murdered king. He feels he’s a _____________________.
k. He’ll have the players perform a story much like his father’s murder and watch
Claudius’s _________________. This is a test because the ghost could be
____________________.
Name: __________________________________ Date: ______________ Period: _____
Focus: Theme—appearance vs. reality. Hamlet believes that if life has no purpose,
what’s the point of revenge? Polonius proposes the test to see if Hamlet is really in love
with Ophelia.
l. The King and Queen have sent for Rozencrantz and Guildenstern to help figure
out and alleviate Hamlet’s “transformation.” They will reward R & G.
m. Polonius tells them to listen to the ambassador first before he tells them why
Hamlet is acting strangely.
n. The Norway advance is worked out. They will now march through Denmark to
Poland if Claudius gives them permission.
o. Polonius explains Hamlet’s madness—that he’s madly in love with Ophelia.
They devise a test, to have Hamlet and Ophelia together and then hide behind a
tapestry and eavesdrop.
p. Line 171—there’s a switch to prose. Why? He’s having a “common” argument
with Polonius so this emphasizes the baseness by not using verse--the upper class
language. Hamlet calls Polonius a fishmonger, meaning a pimp, saying he’s
trying to pimp out Ophelia.
q. Hamlet’s banter with R & G shows Hamlet isn’t great friends with them OR they
don’t recognize him because he’s changed so much. Which do you think?
Hamlet shows he’s suspicious of their motives in coming to court.
r. There’s talk about the acting guilds, the one that’s Hamlet’s favorite has been
upstaged by a troupe of children. But, Hamlet’s favorite troupe is in the area.
s. Claudius’s behavior and Hamlet’s mixed feelings about revenge and murder are
constant reminders that emotions can be faked—appearance vs. reality.
t. Hamlet’s favorite acting troupe comes and they preview a speech from a play.
Hamlet pulls the leader aside and asks him to play The Murder of Gonzago and
Hamlet will give him some lines to add to it.
u. Hamlet’s 2nd great soliloquy, comparing himself to an actor. He berates himself,
calling himself dull and a day dreamer who can’t avenge a murdered king. He
feels he’s a coward.
v. He’ll have the players perform a story much like his father’s murder and watch
Claudius’s reaction. This is a test because the ghost could be the devil.