October 4 – Act 1 Scene 1
Agenda
 Movie Version of I:I
 Reading Questions I:i
 Group reading - I:ii

Reading Questions
Homework
 Journal Act I:ii
Take out:
 Hamlet
 Pen/Pencil
 Reading Questions
I:i
 Journal I:i
Film version – I:i
 What
happened in the first scene?
 How
do the visuals help you understand
the content of the first scene?
 Did
you notice anything that you didn’t
pick up on in the reading?
I:i Reading Questions

1. As the play opens, Horatio joins Marcellus and Barnardo at their night
watch. He has joined them to inquire about the supposed ghost they have
seen. In what line(s) does Marcellus inform us of his request (to Horatio) to
confirm its existence? Write them below.

2. Barnardo describes the previous night, when the star to the west of the
North Star (the pole) had travelled across the night sky to the point where it is
currently shining. According to Barnardo, at what time did all of this occur?

Notice that in line 54 Horatio addresses the ghost as "thou." This is the form of
address used with friends or inferiors. Shakespeare's audience would have
been more attuned to the difference than we are.
3. Horatio initially says that talk of a ghost is just nonsense (line 35). Once it
appears, however, he realizes it is true. Explain how (and point out where)
Horatio interprets the appearance of the ghost. Summarize his explanation
here:

I:i Reading Questions

4. Starting with line 81, Marcellus proceeds to ask a series of
questions. First, he asks about why such a “strict” schedule of
guards has been imposed. What three questions does Marcellus
subsequently raise? This does not include his final question of “Who
can explain this to me (line 90)”

5. How does Horatio describe young Fortinbras? In which lines do
you find this description? What is young Fortinbras planning?

In lines 124-128, Horatio lists some superstitions associated with a
ghost's return from the grave. First, he mentions that in the Roman
Empire, just before the emperor Julius Caesar was assassinated,
corpses rose out of their graves and ran through the streets of
Rome speaking gibberish.
6. There are other omens, or signs, of bad things to come. What
are the three omens he describes in lines 129-132?

I:i Reading Questions

7. The ghost reappears and Horatio asks: “If you have a voice or can make
sounds, speak to me” and “If there’s any good deed I can do that will bring
you peace and me honor (grace), speak to me.” What are the two other
things Horatio says to (asks of) the ghost?

8. What is the purpose of the two discussions of the crowing of the cock,
Horatio’s pagan one (lines 165-171) and Marcellus’ Christian one (lines 172179)? In other words, what is learned from these discussions?

9. For what specific reason do they then decide to find Hamlet and tell him
about what just happened?
I:i Reading Questions
RESPONSE & REFLECTION:
 10. In your own words, describe the tone that is
established in this first scene (think about it… HOW
does an author/poet establish tone?). Then,
answer these questions: How does Shakespeare
draw his audience in to the time, place,
characters, and/or complications?
 Is this scene more or less compelling than what
you remember from Romeo & Juliet (servants of
the Montagues and Capulets meet / public brawl)
and Macbeth (three witches planning to meet
Macbeth / King Duncan hears news of a battle)?
Why?
Group reading – I:ii
 In
your group of 4, the person CLOSEST to
me is reader A, the person to their right is
reader B, then C, then D
 Read through the entire scene with your
group

Annotate/take notes as you go
 Go
back and answer the 7 reading
questions as a group
Homework:
 Complete
a journal assignment for Act I,
Scene ii for homework

Don’t forget to do 3 entries for each journal
assignment