“Something is rotten in the state of
Denmark.”

Act I, scene I
Discussion
• Exposition: establishment of character, situation, conflict…
• The watch on the battlements Horatio and the Ghost
• Horatio is introduced: he is educated, rational, dutiful
• Scene establishes that something is wrong in
Denmark:
– Nervousness of the watch
– Tension in the opening lines “Who's there?”
– Appearance of the ghost of Old Hamlet
– Preparations for war
– Problems with young Fortinbras
These factors introduce us to a troubled Denmark

Act I, scene I
Discussion
With your seat partner, answer questions
1-6 in your study guide packet. Use textual evidence to support your answers.
Finally….
1. Find evidence that Horatio connects unnatural happenings to the ghost’s appearance. Use textual evidence to support answers.
2.
Why do you think King Hamlet’s ghost appears at the beginning of the play? What might the allusion to Julius Caesar suggest?

Act I, Scene ii
• The Court, Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet,
Laertes, Polonius
• Contrasts with scene one in that this scene gives illusion of normality
– Claudius: a competent administrator
– Hamlet: still mourning the loss of his father; sets him apart from others: “ a cloud still hangs over him” – depressed, unsettled

Act I, Scene ii
Central Theme introduced: “Seems,
Madame” Speech (Appearance vs.
Reality)
• Claudius and Gertrude deal with
Hamlet’s grief – irony in their concern over “natural” death by “unnatural causes”
• Hamlet’s First Soliloquy – our real first glimpse of Hamlet
• Horatio’s Friendship

Act I, Scene ii:
Discussion
– Group one: examine the King’s opening lines and underline key words describing his character—what outward appearance or façade is revealed in this speech?
– Group two: analyze the King’s advice to
Hamlet about dealing with his father’s death—what is his advice? Do you agree?
– Group three: examine Hamlet’s first soliloquy. How would you describe
Hamlet? Why is his speech so pessimistic?

“Mommy Dearest”
Finally….
– What kind of relationship does Hamlet have with his uncle and his mother?
Explain.

Act I, Scene iiI:
Pre-reading
Relationships, characterization…
– In this upcoming scene, we meet
Ophelia, Laertes’ sister and Polonius’ daughter. Both give her some important advice about love.
– What advice would you give your daughter or sister about love?

Subplot: Laertes, Ophelia, Polonius
1. Laertes and Ophelia
2. Polonius and Laertes
3. Polonius and Ophelia

Act I, Scene iii:
Discussion
Reread Polonius’s advice to Laertes. With your seat partner, translate his advice into Modern
English. Then answer the following questions:
1. Do you agree with his advice? Explain.
2. What is Polonius’ concern for his daughter?
How is his advice similar to Laertes’ advice?
3. Do you agree with their concerns? Explain.

Hamlet, Horatio and the Watch meet the Ghost
– The question of the Ghost:
“Spirit of Health or Goblin Damned”?
What do you think so far? Why?

• Hamlet and the Ghost
1. The meeting
2. The instructions: Punish Claudie,
Leave Gertie alone
3. Feigned or real: insanity? An “antic disposition”? Why? (Revisit the text)
4. Hamlet’s reaction…

Quiz
• Prepare for 50 point quiz on Act I:
• Quote Identification
• Fill-in-the blank: Setting, characters, and plot
• Short answers
• Quote analysis: review the passages that we translated and studied in detail!

• Pg.23
• Hamlet
• Polonius
• Laertes
• Ophelia
• Horatio
• Ghost
• Marcellus