Hamlet – Act 2 Questions
1. Describe the conversation between Polonius and Reynaldo.
What is Polonius’ intention? What impression do you have of
him as a father after this conversation?
2.
1?
What state of mind is Ophelia in when she arrives in scene
What has caused this mood?
3. Using Ophelia’s words, describe Hamlet.
been acting strangely?
Why has Hamlet
4. What judgment does Polonius make regarding the cause of
Hamlet’s actions?
5. Who are the two people with whom Claudius and Gertrude are
speaking in scene two? For what reason have they come to
Denmark?
6. Why is Fortinbras no longer an immediate threat to
Denmark?
7. What impression can be made of Hamlet from the letter he
wrote to Ophelia?
8. There is more than one indication in act 2 that Gertrude
does not really know her son very well. Find two examples of
this notion.
9. What is Hamlet’s attitude toward Polonius? Why does he
feel this way? What reaction does Polonius have toward
Hamlet?
10. What indications do we have that Hamlet knows exactly why
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are present?
11.
Describe Hamlet’s reception of the players.
12.
Why is Hamlet so moved by the Hecuba speech?
13. In what way does the first player’s delivery of his lines
make Hamlet question his own sense of self-worth?
14. What does Hamlet ask the player to do the following
night?
15. What does Hamlet mean when he says “the play’s the thing
/ wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king”?