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Study Guide Levels Two & Three Wilson

Know the Characters:

Hamlet – Prince of

Claudius – Hamlet’s Uncle; he was recently crowned king of Denmark

Gertrude – Queen of Denmark; Hamlet’s mother

Polonius – Advisor to the King

Ophelia – Hamlet’s love interest; ’ daughter

Laertes – Polonius’ son ’s brother

Horatio – Hamlet’s best friend; voice of reason in the

Fortinbras – Prince of ; wants to regain land lost by his father

Courtiers:

Rosencrantz – Noblemen and acquaintances of Hamlet invited to cheer him Guildenstern – up

Osric - a courtier whose most important task is setting up a duel

Cornelius Voltemand – Ambassadors charged with going to Norway

Officers, Soldiers, and Servants:

Francisco – Marcellus – Soldiers who first witness the while on guard Bernardo –

Reynaldo – Servant to Polonius One, Scene One

1. What is the setting for the play? Denmark; Elsinore

2. What are Bernardo and Francisco doing at the beginning of the play? They are on watch; it is midnight and shifts are changing.

3. What is going on that makes this necessary? There is a military threat from Norway, in the form of Young .

4. Why is summoned to the roof of the castle? The want him to witness and/or validate the appearance of the ghost of the dead king.

5. What decision does Horatio make after witnessing what he does? He decides to tell young Hamlet, because he thinks the ghost will speak to him.

Act One, Scene Two

6. What has recently happened in Hamlet’s family? His father died and his mother married his uncle.

7. Why is Hamlet being scolded by his uncle? His uncle feels Hamlet has been mourning his father for too long. His mother, , tells him to stop dressing in dark clothing.

8. What does request of the King? Laertes asks for permission to return to France.

9. How is Hamlet responding to his Uncle? What literary technique Shakespeare using, explain and cite examples. He is speaking in , plays on words. Examples include “Aye, Madam I am too much i’ the sun.” and “A little more than kin and less than kind.” He speaks in puns so he can criticize Claudius without being accused of rudeness. He always has another (more innocent) meaning to fall back on.

10. What is the audience’s first impression of the prince? Opinion – perhaps intelligent, moody, depressed, etc.

11. What is a Soliloquy? What is the purpose? How is different from a monologue? Monologues and soliloquies are both long speeches by a single character. A soliloquy is when a character is alone on stage. The purpose is to share his or her thoughts with the audience.

12. When is Hamlet’s first soliloquy? What is the topic? After his mother and uncle leave, he is contemplating ; he will not do it because it is against his religion. He also discusses his hatred for his uncle.

13. What does this say about his mental state? He is depressed and hopeless; he no longer sees the beauty in things.

14. How do Hamlet and Horatio know each other? They went to school together in

15. Horatio is a very important character of in the play. He is depicted as being rational and scientific. Why might these characteristics be important when put into contrast with Hamlet? Hamlet can be irrational and overly emotional; he needs Horatio as a grounding force. The audience needs Horatio so they know what to believe.

16. How is the ghost dressed? How is this interpreted? The ghost is dressed in armor; it is interpreted as foreshadowing a war.

17. What is the plan? Hamlet will accompany them on the watch and try to speak to the ghost.

Act One, Scene Three

18. What advice does Laertes receive from his father before leaving? Polonius advises his son of many things including; not to borrow or lend money, choose his friends carefully, do not fight (but if you have to win), and to be true to himself. 19. What warning does Laertes give his sister Ophelia? That she should be careful of her heart and body when dealing with Hamlet. 20. What is her response? She tells him she will listen if he follows his own advice. Act One, Scene Four

21. What does the ghost want Hamlet to do? The ghost wants Hamlet to follow him to a more private location.

Act One, Scene Five 22. Describe the scene between Hamlet and the ghost of his father? Hamlet questions the ghost; we find out that the ghost cannot rest because his sins were un-confessed when he died.

23. What information does Hamlet get from the ghost? He finds out that Claudius killed the king by pouring poison in his ear. Everyone else believes that the king died because he was bitten by a snake. 24. What instruction does the ghost give Hamlet? He instructs him to kill Claudius but leave Gertrude to her own guilt.

25. What is Hamlet’s response? He agrees and says he had a bad feeling about his uncle all along.

26. What does Hamlet make the other witnesses swear? Who are the other witnesses? He makes them swear an oath that they will not reveal what they have seen; Marcellus and Horatio. He also warns them that he may appear crazy.