Hamlet Bellringer # 2
4-8-14
Directions: Use your character map to help you with
these questions.
1. What happens to Hamlet’s father before the play
starts?
2. What did Hamlet’s mother do, shortly after this?
3. What is suspicious about this action? List all you
can think of.
4. Who is Polonius?
5. Why does Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship seem
odd? (Why could it not work?)
Today’s Target: I can read drama and analyze the
author’s use of conventions.
Hamlet Bellringer # 2
4-8-14
Directions: Use your character map to help you with
these questions.
1. What happens to Hamlet’s father before the play
starts?
2. What did Hamlet’s mother do, shortly after this?
3. What is suspicious about this action? List all you
can think of.
4. Who is Polonius?
5. Why does Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship seem
odd? (Why could it not work?)
Today’s Target: I can read drama and analyze the
author’s use of conventions.
Hamlet Bellringer # 3
4-9-14
All questions are from Act I, scenes i and ii. Use your book to
help you.
1. At the beginning of Act 1, scene I, why are the guards
“on edge”? (Give two reasons).
2. Why do the characters in Act 1 decide the ghost will not
speak to them?
3. Why is Claudius sending ambassadors to Norway?
4. What is the basic reasoning of Claudius and Gertrude’s
argument to Hamlet about his melancholy?
Today’s Target: I can read drama and analyze the
author’s use of conventions.
Hamlet Bellringer # 4
4-10-14
All questions are from Act I, scenes ii and iii. Use
your book to help you.
Parenthetical Citation = (Act.Scene.Lines)
1. “Frailty thy name is woman!” (1.2.146) What
does Hamlet mean by this statement? Do you
think he is speaking about all women or just his
mother? Why?
2. What is Laertes’s advice to Ophelia?
3. What does Polonius command of Ophelia?
Today’s Target: I understand how the author’s
choice of details supports characterization.
Hamlet Bellringer #6
4/14/14
1. How was Old King Hamlet killed?
2. How does the ghost feel about the queen’s
involvement in his situation? What does he tell
Hamlet to do about it?
3. What does Hamlet resolve to do at the end of
Act I? List two items.
Today’s Target: I can summarize information
important for analysis.
Hamlet Bellringer #7
4/18/14
1. List two instances of spying or investigations
we know about thus far in this play.
Today’s Target: I can compare what is directly
stated in a text to its inferred meaning.
Hamlet Bellringer #8
4/21/14
1. Describe the way Polonius speaks. Why does
this frustrate Gertrude in Act 2?
2. What does Hamlet demand to know from
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when they come
to visit him?
3. What plan does Polonius come up with to
determine if the reason for Hamlet’s madness is
his love for Ophelia?
Today’s Target: I can compare what is directly
stated in a text to its inferred meaning.
Hamlet Bellringer #9
4/22/14
1. List all occurrences of spying and deception
so far in the play. I thought of 6. How many
can you think of?
Today’s Target: I can identify and interpret
characterization and tone in a text.
Hamlet Bellringer #10 4/23/14
1. What do you think the “O What a Rogue”
speech shows about Hamlet’s character?
Today’s Target: I can compare what is directly
stated in a text to its inferred meaning.
Hamlet Bellringer #11 4/24/14
1. What are the two possible interpretations of the
word “nunnery” from Act 3, scene 1?
2. Which interpretation do you believe Hamlet
meant when he continually implored Ophelia to
“Get ye to a nunnery”?
3. Think of a time when you’ve felt betrayed by
someone you believed you could trust. How did
that person’s betrayal influence you? How did it
influence your relationship with that person?
Today’s Target: I can compare what is directly
stated in a text to its inferred meaning.