Name: ________________________________________
Period: ____________
Hamlet Characters
Below you are given the characters’ names. Briefly identify who each character is. You might want to
include more than one relationship or title to help solidify the character in your memory.
The Ghost –
Hamlet –
Queen Gertrude –
King Claudius –
Ophelia –
Laertes –
Polonius –
Reynaldo –
Horatio –
Voltemand –
Cornelius –
Rosencrantz –
Guildenstern –
Osric –
Francisco –
Barnardo –
Marcellus –
Fortinbras –
Yorick -
Name: ________________________________________
Period: ____________
Hamlet Act I Study Guide
Act I – For each scene, write the location of the scene next to the number.
Scene i:
1) What is the setting of the play?
2) Why is Francisco happy to see Barnardo?
3) Why has Marcellus begged Horatio go join in the watch?
4) What does the ghost look like? What does the ghost do/say?
5) What was the outcome of the fight between King Hamlet and Fortinbras?
6) Why is there a need for a nightly watch on the palace?
Scene ii:
1) What is in the letter Claudius is sending to the ailing King of Norway?
2) Who is Laertes? What does he want to do?
3) Why is Hamlet grieving? (2 reasons) How do his mother and step-father treat this grief?
4) Why is the King planning a celebration?
5) What does Horatio reveal to Hamlet?
Scene iii:
1) What advice does Laertes give Ophelia?
2) What advice does Polonius give Laertes?
3) What advice does Polonius give Ophelia?
4) How does Polonius serve as comedic relief?
5) Why does Shakespeare include comedic relief in his tragedy?
Scene iv:
1) How does Hamlet feel about the drunken revelry?
2) What feelings does Hamlet have when he sees the ghost?
3) Why doesn’t Horatio want Hamlet to follow the ghost?
Scene v:
1) What does the ghost tell Hamlet?
2) How does the ghost want Hamlet to treat Claudius? What about Gertrude?
3) What does Hamlet make Horatio and Marcellus swear? Why?
Quotes from Act I: Identify the speaker of the quote and who the quote was directed to. Next provide a
brief summary of the quote and provide its meaning. Last, identify if the quote is figurative language
and if so, what kind?
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
“A little more than kin and less than kind.”
“O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt…”
“This above all: to thine own self be true.”
“Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me.”
“O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right.”