Hamlet Q&A Act 1 and 2

What do most people think was the cause of King Hamlet's death? What was the actual cause of his death? (Act 1, Scene 5)

Everyone's been told that he was bitten by a snake while he was napping in his orchard. This is not true. The snake was his brother, Claudius, who poured poison in his ear.

How long has it been since King Hamlet died? How long after the funeral did Queen Gertrude marry Claudius, her brother-in-law? Did Queen Gertrude love her first husband, Hamlet? What makes you think this? ( Act 1, Scene 2)

King Hamlet died a little less than two months ago. Gertrude and Claudius married about a month after the funeral. Answers to the last two questions will vary and always make for a compelling classroom debate. Expect students to begin to speculate about Gertrude's reasons for hooking up with Claudius. I always like to remind the class that ALL of these thoughts/ideas/ suspicions are running through Hamlet's head, too.

What's Ophelia's response to her brother? (Act 1, Scene 3)

She says she'll keep his advice close to her heart. She also, though, chides her brother not to a hypocrite. She says he needs to be careful in his love affairs in France, too.

When Hamlet tells his friends that he will likely put on "an antic disposition," what do you think he means? Look up the definition of "antic" and record the word's definition. From this, what do you think Hamlet's strategy is going to be in terms of dealing with his murderous uncle? (Act 1, Scene 5)

"Antic" means "bizarre" or "grotesque." So, Hamlet plans to begin acting strangely, possibly like he's mentally ill. He'll still be sane, but his mother and uncle won't know how to handle him. This will give him time to plan his revenge.

What was the outcome of the conflict between King Hamlet and King Fortinbras of Norway? (Act 1, Scene 1)

King Hamlet won and took ownership of lands that used to belong to King Fortinbras and Norway. Hamlet was the victor and killed Fortinbras. Now, Fortinbras' son, also named Fortinbras, wants revenge and plans to reclaim his father's old lands.

Why isn't Hamlet afraid of being harmed by the ghost? (Act 1, Scene 4)

He doesn't really care if he lives or dies, so he figures there's nothing to lose by following the ghost. He's depressed and desperate. The ghost can't hurt him anymore than he's already hurting, he figures.

What does Ophelia's response to her father show us about her character? (Act 1, Scene 3)

She's a meek, dutiful daughter. We should have the sense here that she will obey him.

What mood is established in this opening scene? How does Shakespeare establish this mood? (Act 1, Scene 1)

The mood is dark, creepy, and sinister. Shakespeare establishes this mood by setting the opening scene of this tragic play just after midnight. There are three scared watchmen and a skeptical friend of Hamlet's out on the watch, participating in a ghost-hunt. The audience should feel the tension right away and the cold weather reflects the mood.

What's one bit of life wisdom that you value that Polonius did not include in his advice to Laertes? Write down your own piece of advice to any young adult about to leave home. ( Act 1, Scene 3)

Students' answers will vary. This often makes for a fun class discussion.

Look at King Claudius' passage that begins, "'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet." List four of the reasons that Claudius says Hamlet ought to stop grieving. What do you think of Claudius' arguments? (Act 1, Scene 2)

1. Claudius tells Hamlet that it's natural for a father to die and that life goes on. 2. He calls Hamlet's grief "unmanly," meaning that Hamlet is acting too girlish with all of this depression and moping around. This builds on his characterization of Hamlet as "sweet" in the earlier line and we realize that Claudius does not mean this as a compliment. 3. He says Hamlet is acting against God's plan; there's a season for grieving, but that season has passed. 4. He says that continuing to grieve like this shows that Hamlet has a weak heart and mind. In the audience, we should be offended by Claudius' comments, since they are criticisms and veiled insults. "Get over it" and "man up" are not appropriate things to say to someone struggling with the loss of a beloved parent.

Horatio, an educated young man, likely studied the history of ancient Rome. He says that the appearance of this ghost reminds him of odd occurrences in Rome shortly before the assassination of Julius Caesar. Look back over Horatio's passage that begins, "A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye," and describe three things that Horatio says happened in Rome just prior to Caesar's death. (Act 1, Scene 1)

Answers should include that the graveyards were empty because the corpses/ghosts left their resting spots to wander around the streets of Rome, there were memorable meteor showers, the morning dew appeared to be made out of blood, the sun looked like it had a scary face, and the moon was almost in a complete eclipse. Emphasize in this passage that Horatio and people of his time believed the natural world would react dramatically when the world of man was in upheaval or filled with sin. These were all signs that something is wrong in the world, and Horatio is now worried about the state/future of Denmark.

When Hamlet sees the ghost of his father, he says, "It will not speak. I will follow it." Why, do you suppose, Hamlet refers to the ghost as "it" instead of "him?" (Act 1, Scene 4)

Answers will vary, but it could be that Hamlet is freaked out that he's seeing an actual ghost and doesn't yet fully embrace the idea that this spirit is his actual father.

When Horatio and the guards tell Hamlet about the ghost of his father, he is intrigued and promises to join them in hopes of contacting the ghost again this evening. Hamlet asks the men to keep this a secret. Why? (Act 1, Scene 2)

He hopes the ghost will lead him to evidence that will help reveal the identity of the murderer. Interestingly, no one here seems too concerned that people will think they're crazy because they are seeing a ghost. This emphasizes the point made earlier in the play when talking about Julius Caesar that the natural world likes to get involved in the affairs of mankind.

What is Laertes' advice to his sister, Ophelia, in regards to Hamlet? What reason does he give? (Act 1, Scene 3)

He tells her not to fall for Hamlet's sweet talk because he's a servant of the country and will have to marry whomever best fits his role as Prince of Denmark, and that woman will not be Ophelia. He's worried that Ophelia will be sexually used by Hamlet and then dumped. He doesn't want a love affair with Hamlet to leave her heartbroken and bitter.

Hamlet uses a subtle pun to express his displeasure at having Claudius as his new father. Write the line that includes the pun. (Act 1, Scene 2)

In Line 70 of the Folger edition, Claudius asks Hamlet, "How is it that the clouds still hang on you?" Then, in Line 71, Hamlet uses the pun, saying, "Not so, my lord. I am too much i' the sun." This means, of course, that he doesn't like being referred to as "son" by Claudius, which happens three lines earlier in Line 67.

Horatio was a skeptic, but he is quickly convinced that King Hamlet's ghost is walking the grounds of Elsinore castle. What two distinctive things about the ghost convince him that he is seeing King Hamlet's ghost and not just any ordinary ghost? Write the line numbers from where you found this information. (Act 1, Scene 1)

In Lines 72-75 of the Folger Library edition, Horatio says that he recognized the armor the ghost was wearing as the same armor that King Hamlet wore when he battled the former leader of Norway, Fortinbras Sr. He also noticed that the ghost frowned in just the same way as the old King frowned when he had to battle a group of Polish soldiers on an icy terrain.

Look at the first section of lines we hear from King Claudius, Hamlet's uncle/step-father. What should rub you the wrong way about the King's message to the court? Write a specific passage from the section of Lines 1-16 and explain what bothers you about the passage. (Act 1, Scene 2)

In his address to the court, Claudius speaks about grieving over his dead brother, but in the very same breath he describes his joy at marrying his sister-in-law. It's gross and his grief over King Hamlet seems insincere. Students will choose a variety of lines, but one that is especially icky in found in Line 22 when Claudius speaks of their grief-stained courtship. He says he and Queen Gertrude had "mirth in funeral" and "dirge in marriage." This means that they were flirting at the funeral. Again, ick. We in the audience should be feeling what Hamlet's feeling in this moment - disgust.

Look closely at the passage of Hamlet's lines that begin, "So oft it chances in particular men...," and end with, "to his own scandal." Summarize what he means in your own words. Then, explain the point Hamlet is making about how society judges people. (Act 1, Scene 4)

In the passage, Hamlet says that this bad habit of occasionally getting drunk is a lot like a birth defect in another man. In such a man, he can't be to blame for some small defect that he received when he was born, yet the world ignores all of the good such a man does and focuses instead on the one small defect. He's saying that the world views the royal family of Denmark in this way. They do so much good, but one small flaw will be what most people talk about. In terms of society, he's saying that we tend to focus myopically on the small flaw in someone's character and we ignore the greater good of the man.

At the end of the scene, the famous line, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," is delivered. Who says this line? What, in general terms, might it mean if someone used this phrase today to describe a situation? (Act 1, Scene 4)

Marcellus delivers the line. In general, it means that something's not right and someone's probably planning/plotting something sinister. I like to explain to my classes that this line has become so commonly used that it's almost an idiom. So, when they hear a politician complain about a new piece of legislation, saying, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," they should know it's an allusion to Hamlet and that the legislator is suggesting corruption or something of that sort.

When King Hamlet was alive, did he live a life free of sin? Cite a passage that leads you to this conclusion. (Act 1, Scene 5)

No, the ghost admits that he was a sinner. He says he was killed by his brother "even in the blossoms of my sin, unhous'led, disappointed, unaneled, no reck'ning made, but sent to my account with all my imperfections on my head." He means that he was killed before he could go to confession at church and pay penance for his sins.

In his advice for his daughter, Polonius echoes the concerns of Laertes, while still having a little fun with word-play. Look at Polonius' lines near the end of the scene that begin, "Marry, I will teach you!" Examine and explain the three different ways Polonius gives meaning to the word "tender/tenders" in this passage. (Act 1, Scene 3)

Since Ophelia has referred to Hamlet's flirtations as "tenders," her father uses that meaning first. Then, he uses the word "tender" as a verb, meaning to offer as payment. Finally, he uses "tender" as a synonym for "make" in the last line, meaning she'll make him look like a fool if his daughter is romantically used and dumped by the prince. Ah, puns are fun!

Look over Polonius' famous monologue in which he gives his son, Laertes, many pieces of advice. In your own words, write down six of the bits of wisdom Polonius wants Laertes to remember as he faces the world. (Act 1, Scene 3)

Students need to record at least six of the following: 1. Don't always say what you're thinking. 2. Don't act on unwise thoughts. 3. Be friendly to people, but don't be overly friendly/obnoxious. 4. Once a friend has proven himself loyal to you, keep him close and value that rare friendship. 5. Don't waste your time shaking hands and trying to befriend every new person you meet. 6. Try to avoid being in a fight, but once you're in a fight you need to be intimidating. 7. Listen to many people, but don't be the one to talk so much. 8. Hear everyone's opinion, but reserve your own judgment. 9. Spend all you can afford on clothes, but buy quality items instead of being fashionable. Clothes make the man, especially in France, where you're going. 10. Don't borrow money and don't lend it. When you lend money to a friend, you often lose the friendship as well as the money. If you borrow money, you'll spend it in irresponsible ways. 11. Above all, be true to yourself. If you're true to yourself, then you can't be fake with other people.

Hamlet says he must "hold his tongue" and not discuss his displeasure about the marriage with anyone, including his mother. Why, do you suppose, he feels he can't talk about his feelings with his mother? If your own mother married one of your uncles or a close family friend just a month after your father's death, what would you think? What would you say to your mom? (Act 1, Scene 2)

Students will likely realize that Hamlet views his mother as weak ("Frailty, thy name is woman!") and that there's nothing he can do now to change what has happened. Gertrude is also not only his mom, but the queen and he would be unwise to disrespect the queen. Finally, he must have suspicions about his father's death, wondering who (Claudius? His own mother?) was in on the plot. He doesn't admire, respect, or trust his mother right now. Students' answers to the last two questions are always interesting and worthy of class discussion.

At the end of this passage, King Claudius says, "So much for him." The use of the "him" pronoun is interesting here because it creates a double-meaning in the line. Which two different men might the King be referring to? What does each of the two different readings of the line show us about King Claudius? ( Act 1, Scene 2)

The "him" in the line could mean young Fortinbras, as most of the court would assume, or it could refer to the closest antecedent/noun, which is the "most valiant brother," King Hamlet. If the reader thinks that Claudius means young Fortinbras, then it is clear that Claudius feels confident about his own military power and is even a bit arrogant. If the reader thinks that Claudius means his brother, then he is being callous and it should suggest a heartlessness to the reader. At the end of this scene, Hamlet begins to suspect foul play against his father and this line could be read as evidence to support that suspicion.

When he decides to follow the ghost, Hamlet says that "each petty artery in this body" is "as hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve." Look to your footnotes or an online search to explain Hamlet's allusion to Greek mythology here. Explain the Nemean lion's role in mythology and then explain why this is an interesting simile for Hamlet to use. (Act 1, Scene 4)

The Nemean lion was a beast that was believed to be invincible, but it was killed by Hercules/Heracles as one of his 12 labors, or challenges, that led him to immortality. Hamlet's allusion to this epic battle is interesting because he compares himself to the lion, who loses the battle, not to Hercules/Heracles, the victor. This line could be read as an element of foreshadowing.

What does the ghost want to have happen to Queen Gertrude? Why, do you suppose, this is the ghost's instruction to Hamlet? (Act 1, Scene 5)

The ghost tells Hamlet not to take action against Gertrude and, instead, to let God be the judge of her actions. Students' answers to the second question will vary, but it's likely that the ghost views Gertrude as weak/easily manipulated and, therefore, not as culpable as Claudius. It also could be that the ghost still loves his wife and doesn't want to directly play a role in having harm come to her.

What does the ghost want Hamlet to do? (Act 1, Scene 5)

The ghost wants Hamlet to take revenge against Claudius and kill him.

Why don't Hamlet's friends want him to follow the ghost? (Act 1, Scene 4)

They are worried that the ghost will try to harm Hamlet. Horatio worries that the ghost will trick Hamlet and cause him to hurt himself or that the ghost will drive Hamlet insane. This is ironic, of course, because Hamlet's already pretty mentally unstable and has already entertained thoughts of hurting himself/suicide.

At the end of the scene, why do the men decide to go find young Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, and tell him about the ghost? ( Act 1, Scene 1)

They think the ghost has a message to deliver and suppose the ghost will be more willing to talk to Hamlet, his son.

Hamlet is more than just a little depressed. He is heartbroken, devastated not only by the death of his father but also the alarmingly fast nuptials of his mother. Write the line that shows us he wishes he could die, just to end the pain he's feeling. (Act 1, Scene 2)

Two lines promote the idea that Hamlet has begun to think about suicide. In Lines 135-136 of the Folger edition, he says, "O that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into dew." He wishes he could just evaporate/disappear. Students will also likely notice Lines 137-138: "Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-slaughter!" He wishes it weren't a sin to kill himself. These are heavy thoughts for a young man to be having. (Note: This religious law will be a factor in Ophelia's burial later in the play, but I, of course, don't mention this yet to my classes.)

What element toward the end of the scene could be read as foreshadowing of tragedy? (Act 1, Scene 1)

When Horatio tries to converse with the ghost, he asks the ghost to speak if any good can come out of this visit, but the ghost is silent, refusing to speak. He asks the ghost to speak to him if there's anything that could be helpful to the state of Denmark, but the ghost is silent. Finally, he asks if there's any hidden treasure that the ghost wants to disclose the location of, but the ghost continues to withdraw. The ghost is here for an entirely different reason than the ones mentioned by Horatio and there's no good that's going to come to the people of Denmark.

Aside from the ghost sightings that have happened two nights in a row, why is a strict watch being maintained outside Elsinore castle? (Act 1, Scene 1)

The guards have heard that young Fortinbras of Norway is planning an attack on Elsinore. The guards are working to protect the royals of Denmark from the feared attack as Fortinbras launches a scheme to win back the lands that were lost by his father.

While Hamlet is out with Horatio and the guards looking for the ghost of King Hamlet, what is King Claudius doing? Why does Hamlet find this offensive? (Act 1, Scene 4)

Claudius is up late drinking heavily and hosting a loud party. We should be offended because this should still be a somber time of grief for the passing of the king. Hamlet is also annoyed because such loud antics reflect poorly on the royals of Denmark, who have a sour reputation amongst other nations as being people who like to drink to excess. Hamlet thinks this makes all of them look bad.

King Claudius sends a letter to the King of Norway to tell young Fortinbras to back off from his plans to attack Denmark. What makes the audience think that this letter/request will not be effective? ( Act 1, Scene 2)

Claudius says that the current King of Norway is "impotent and bedrid" and that he is unaware of young Fortinbras' actions. A ruler who is so out- of-touch likely doesn't have much real power, so the audience should remain concerned that the threat from Norway will continue to be a factor in this story.

Why, do you suppose, Hamlet swears his friends to secrecy? (Act 1, Scene 5)

He doesn't want to give Claudius any inkling that he knows the truth about the murder.

Early in the scene, Horatio, one of Hamlet's friends, cracks a small joke to show the watchmen (and the audience) that his heart is not fully into joining the ghost-hunt. Write the line that an actor portraying Horatio should read wryly. (Act 1, Scene 1)

The joke is when Horatio is asked if he is there and he says, "A piece of him." Here, Horatio uses humor to show that he doesn't want to be out in the cold in the middle of the night with a couple of guards who think they've seen a ghost. We should chuckle here, since he's suggesting that the rest of him wants to be back in his warm bed.

Hamlet is dealing with his grief and rage about his father, mother, and uncle/step-father. How, do you suppose, might Ophelia's obedience to her father's command affect him? (Act 1, Scene 3)

Students' answers will vary, but this will likely be another brick in the wall of his mental collapse. I like to remind students how devastated they would feel if a blooming love affair of their own were suddenly cut off. No one likes to be dumped and that alone can make us feel sad, alone, and desperate.

King Hamlet's ghost tells us that he was killed when his brother dropped poison into his ear. Metaphorically, what might be Shakespeare's message to us about the power of words? (Act 1, Scene 5)

Students' answers will vary, but rumors/gossip can be powerful tools to ruin someone's peace of mind. It's interesting that of all of the ways that Shakespeare could have chosen to have King Hamlet killed, he chose this symbolically loaded method. We ought to be very careful about the words we allow to fill our heads. I also like to have students notice the numerous times allusions to ears and hearing are made in the play. This motif would serve as material for an excellent end-of-unit writing assignment, should you so choose.

What is Hamlet's response to this request? (Act 1, Scene 5)

He willingly and eagerly agrees.

Claudius agrees to send Laertes, a young nobleman and son of a trusted advisor, back to France, yet he wants Hamlet to stay put at Elsinore castle and not return to school in Wittenberg. Why, do you suppose, Claudius wants to keep Hamlet close? (Act 1, Scene 2)

Students' answers will vary, but it should be clear to the class that Claudius does not have Hamlet's best interests at heart. It's most likely that Claudius wants to keep an eye on Hamlet, who has a legitimate claim to the throne. Some more-cynical (and correct) students might also suspect that Claudius intends to have Hamlet killed in the future.

Look at the last few lines of this scene. Hamlet says, "O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right!" From this line, it's clear that Hamlet believes in the idea of fate/destiny. How would such a belief affect Hamlet's behaviors? Do you believe in the idea of fate or destiny? Explain your answer. (Act 1, Scene 5)

Students' answers will vary, but it's reasonable to conclude that if Hamlet believes it's his destiny to be the one to avenge his father's death, then he would be able to act without hesitation. (Interesting, this is not the case, but I don't share this part of the story yet with my classes.) Students' answers to the last question will vary widely and always make for an interesting class discussion.