Hamlet Study Guide
Background information: The play is set in Denmark. The King, whose name was Hamlet, died a little
over a month ago. The Hamlet that we mostly read about in this play is Hamlet’s son, who is also called
Hamlet. Young Hamlet is seriously depressed about his father’s death and other family matters. One of
the conflicts in the play involves the King of Norway, Fortinbras, who was killed by King Hamlet. Now
Fortinbras’ son, who is also called Fortinbras, wants to attack Denmark to get back lands that King
Hamlet took, and he thinks that now is a good time to attack since King Hamlet just died.
Please refer back to these themes throughout the play, even though I may only ask one question from
them here:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Disorder, Death, and the Afterlife
Politics
Father/ Daughter and Mother/Son
Madness: Real or fake? (meaning to be crazy)
Surveillance
Procrastination/ delay in action
Revenge
Define the following literary devices used in Hamlet:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Hendiadys
Puns
Soliloquy
Antitheses
Foil
Act 1 Scene 1
1. Why did Bernardo come?
2. What is the apparition that Bernardo, Marcellus, and Horatio see?
3. What happens when Horatio speaks to the ghost?
4. What are 3 examples of hendiadys in this scene?
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5. What does young Fortinbras intend to do?
6. What do you think about Horatio?
7. Who do they decide to tell about the ghost?
8. How does this scene make you think of the first theme?
Act 1 Scene 2
1. Who is Claudius?
2. What is your first impression of him after reading the scene? Is he honest/honorable or a
deceptive/liar? Why do you think that?
3. Thinking of theme 2, how does this scene compare to scene 1?
4. Who is Laertes’ father?
5. What was Laertes’ request?
6. What are 2 puns said by hamlet in this scene, and what do they mean?
7. Why is Hamlet sad?
8. What is Claudius’ reaction to Hamlet’s grief?
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9. How does Claudius reassure Hamlet?
10. What is Queen Gertrude’s request of Hamlet? Does he agree?
11. In Hamlet’s soliloquy, what does he say trouble him the most?
12. Are Gertrude and Claudius really in an incestuous relationship? Why/Why not?
13. Why did Horatio return to Elsinore Castle in Denmark?
14. What did Hamlet joke that Horatio really came to see?
15. What news did Horatio give Hamlet?
16. What did Hamlet decide to do?
Act 1 Scene 3
1. How are Laertes and Ophelia related?
2. What advice does Laertes give to Ophelia about Hamlet courting her?
3. What is Ophelia’s reaction to the advice?
4. Polonius also gives Laertes some advice, what are 2 things he says?
5. What does Ophelia tell her father?
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6. What does Polonius say about Hamlet’s declarations of love?
7. Thinking of theme 3, what is the relationship between Ophelia and her father?
8. Pretend you are Ophelia (sorry boys), write a diary entry about how you feel about Hamlet, and
your father’s and brother’s advice.
Act 1 Scene 4
1. Why do you think Hamlet is mad the King is up partying?
2. What are 2 antitheses that Hamlet uses to describe the ghost?
3. What does the ghost want Hamlet to do?
4. Does Hamlet do it?
Act 1 Scene 5
1. What is purgatory?
2. What did the Ghost say happened to him?
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3. Do you think that the Ghost is angrier at Claudius or Gertrude? Why do you think that?
4. In the space provided, draw a picture of what you think the Murder scene looked like.
5. The Ghost urges Hamlet to exact revenge on his uncle, but what about his mother?
6. What does Hamlet swear to do?
7. Does Hamlet tell Horatio what happened?
8. What does Hamlet want Horatio and Marcellus to swear?
9. Theme 4- After his encounter with the ghost, Hamlet pretends to be mad. Why do you think he
does this? Do you think it’s real or fake? Why?
End or Act 1 questions
1. Politics vs Family- What do you think this play is really about so far? What makes us think it
might be about politics (Fortinbras, Coronations)? What makes us think it’s about family matters
(Hamlet’s Family, Ophelia’s Family)?
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2. Create a Character web by putting the names provided in appropriate places with titles and
relationships: Ophelia, Polonius, Laertes, Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude
3. Choose 1 to answer- How is Fortinbras a foil to Hamlet’s situation. How is Horation a foil to
Hamlet?
4. Summarize what happened in this act in about 100 words.
Act 2 Scene 1
1. What 2 things does Polonius ask Reynaldo to do?
2. What would you do if told you must do this to another person?
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3. Why was Ophelia frightened?
4. Why does Polonius think that Hamlet is acting this way?
5. Polonius says the words “I am sorry” after being told about Hamlet’s behavior. Circle Why you
think he said that, and write why you think that way?
a. He felt sorry for his daughter
b. He felt sorry for Hamlet
c. He doesn’t care at all and just said it.
d. He’s worried about himself and his position.
6. Pretend you are Hamlet (sorry girls) write a letter to Ophelia. Use the text to remember what
you know about their relationship so far.
Act 2 Scene 2
1. Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and why did they come to the castle?
2. Why do you think that Shakespeare uses hendiadys when Claudius and Gertrude mention
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
3. What does Voltemand report to the King?
4. What does Polonius tell the King and Queen?
5. What does Gertrude mean when she says “More matter with less art?”
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6. What is Polonius’ plan?
7. Thinking back to theme 3- When Polonius says “I’ll loose my daughter to him,” what type of
relationship does this suggest?
8. What is one of the puns in this scene between Hamlet and Polonius?
9. How does Hamlet change when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter and Polonius exits?
10. What does Guildenstern admit to Hamlet after he questioned them?
11. Who does Rosencrantz say is coming to help cheer Hamlet up?
12. What do you think Hamlet means when he says “…my uncle-father and aunt-mother are
deceived…I know a hawk from a handsaw?”
13. What is one way that Hamlet mocks Polonius when he returns to tell Hamlet about the actors?
14. Why does Hamlet want the player to say the story of Pyrrhus?
15. How is Pyrrhus a foil for Hamlet?
16. What play does Hamlet wish to see tomorrow night?
17. Why is Hamlet angry at himself?
18. Do you think that Hamlet is procrastinating, or do you think he is right to make sure his uncle
killed his father before he acts?
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19. Hamlet feels that theater is a powerful thing. What do you think? Are movies and tv a powerful
and emotional thing nowadays?
20. What do you think about Hamlet (the character or the play) so far?
End of Act 2 questions
1. In this act, Hamlet says that Denmark is a prison, how does this relate to our 5th theme?
2. In about 100 words, summarize what happened in act 2 of the play.
Act 3 Scene 1
1. What did Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Claudius and Gertrude?
2. How does Claudius feel about Hamlet’s excitement about the players?
3. Why does the king ask the queen to leave?
4. What does Gertrude tell Ophelia before she leaves?
5. What famous lines start Hamlet’s soliloquy in this scene, and what is it about?
6. What did Hamlet and Ophelia talk about?
7. Does Claudius believe that Hamlet’s madness is real?
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8. How is the 5th theme important in this scene?
9. What is Polonius’ new plan?
Act 3 Scene 2
1. What is Hamlet instructing the player to do?
2. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do?
3. What is the dumb play (and the real play) about?
4. How do you think Claudius reacted when he saw the dumb play?
5. What does the player queen promise the player king?
6. What does Gertrude reply when Hamlet asks if she likes the play? What does it mean?
7. Why do you think Hamlet encourages Lucianus to hurry up and kill the player king? (Hint: He
says “Come, the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge.”)
8. What does Claudius do after Lucianus poisons the player king?
9.
What does Rosencrantz and Guildenstern say Hamlet’s mother requests?
10. Why do you think Hamlet is distancing himself from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
11. Why does Hamlet start talking about cloud shapes with Polonius?
12. What does Hamlet plan to do when he speaks with his mother?
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Act 3 Scene 3
1. How does Rosencrantz flatter the king?
2. What does the king want Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to do?
3. What does Claudius talk about in his soliloquy?
4. Thinking of theme 6, Hamlet comes in and has the perfect opportunity to kill Claudius. Why do
you think he delays?
5. Did Claudius successfully pray?
Act 3 Scene 4
1. What do Hamlet and his mother discuss?
2. What happens to Polonius?
3. Why do you think Hamlet was so quick to plunge his sword into the arras when thus far he has
been so hesitant to kill?
4. Who did Hamlet think was behind the arras?
5. Think back to theme 3, what is the mother-son relationship like here?
6. Pretend you are Queen Gertrude (sorry boys), what is your reaction to the harsh words that
Hamlet is saying?
7. Why do you think the ghost entered when it did?
8. Can the queen see the ghost?
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9. In line 170 in this scene there is a missing word. Nobody knows what Shakespeare really
intended to write. What word do you think would fit there. “And either …the devil or throw him
out,”
10. What did Hamlet command the queen to do?
11. What do you think Hamlet really wants her to do?
12. How does Hamlet feel about killing Polonius?
13. What does Hamlet plan to do with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
End of Act 3 questions
1. Choose 2 of the themes and describe how they were shown in this act.
2. Summarize what happens in this act in about 100 words
Act 4 Scene 1
1. What does Gertrude tell Claudius about Hamlet and what happened?
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2. What does Claudius decide to do with Hamlet?
Act 4 Scene 2
1. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern want Hamlet to tell them?
2. What does Hamlet call Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, why?
3. Where do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern take Hamlet?
Act 4 scene 3
1. What is Claudius thinking about in his soliloquy?
2. Where does Hamlet say that Polonius is, and what does he mean?
3. How does Hamlet tell Claudius to go to hell?
4. Where did Hamlet really hide the body?
5. What does Claudius plan to have done to Hamlet once he reaches England?
6. How do you know that Hamlet suspects Claudius’ plan?
Act 4 Scene 4
1. Where did Fortinbras send his captain and why?
2. What does Hamlet talk about in this soliloquy (Hint: partly Theme 7)?
Act 4 scene 5
1. What does the Gentlemen tell Gertrude about Ophelia?
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2. What does Ophelia do when she’s with the queen?
3. Who does Ophelia say will know of her father’s death?
4. Who did Claudius send to watch over Ophelia?
5. Who do the rioters want to be king?
6. What does Laertes ask the King?
7. What does Ophelia do when she re-enters?
8. What is Claudius’ offer to Laertes?
Act 4 Scene 6
1. Who came to visit Horatio?
2. What did the letter talk about?
Act 4 Scene 7
1. Laertes asks why Claudius didn’t punish Hamlet for killing his father, what were his reasons?
2. Why do you think Claudius doesn’t mention Hamlet’s madness?
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3. What does the letter say?
4. Why is Laertes happy Hamlet is returning?
5. What did Claudius say Hamlet was envious of? Was it true?
6. The king proposes a dual, with Laertes having a sharp sword, and Hamlet with a blunt one, what
does Laertes say he will do to ensure Hamlet’s death?
7. What does Claudius say he will do, just to be even surer of Hamlet’s death?
8. What is the queen’s news, and how did it happen?
9. What lie did Claudius tell Gertrude?
End of Act 4 questions
1. How is Laertes a foil to Hamlet?
2. What are your current thoughts about Claudius?
3. Write about 100 word summary of the actions in this act.
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Act 5 Scene 1
1. Who are the gravediggers talking about, and what are they discussing?
2. Give an example of a pun in this scene.
3. Why does the clown say Hamlet was sent to England?
4. Who did the skull belong to and what was his job?
5. What do you think Hamlet is feeling when he is holding the skull?
6. What does the Priest say about the burial?
7. What happens between Laertes and Hamlet?
8. What does Hamlet say about Ophelia?
9. What does Claudius tell Laertes?
Act 5 Scene 2
1. What did the letter that Hamlet found say?
2. What did the letter that Hamlet replaced say?
3. What are the 4 reasons Hamlet states for killing the king?
4. Why do you think Hamlet feels sorry for Laertes?
5. How do you think Hamlet feels about Osric?
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6. Does Horatio think Hamlet will win the duel?
7. What are some things that Hamlet says that lets you know he is done procrastinating and ready
to take action?
8. What does Hamlet say to Laertes before the start of the duel?
9. What is Laertes reply? Is it truthful?
10. What does Claudius put in the cup, and what is it really?
11. What does the queen mistakenly do? What is the result?
12. What happens to Laertes and Hamlet? What is the result?
13. Who does Laertes blame?
14. What is Hamlet’s response when he finds out the sword has venom?
15. Who does Hamlet say should be the next king of Denmark?
16. What did the English Ambassador come to say?
17. What happens in the end?
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End of play questions
1. What do you think caused the tragedy of Hamlet? And Why? (You can choose more than 1)
a. Hamlet’s personality
b. Claudius’ personality
c. Fate
d. The supernatural
e. Chance
f. Other…
2. Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play. Why do you think so? Should it be shorter? If you were an
editor, what would you cut?
3. In about 100 words, summarize what happened in act 5
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