Act 1 Scene 1

Question 1

Key bits

Answer 1

Introduction to ghost.

Gothic setting.

Supernatural/ mystery.

Unclear what the ghost shows? Do we belief the ghost?

Question 2

Time quote

Answer 2

“Tis now struck 12”

Supernatural
Powers of darkness
Evil

Question 3

Marcel ghost quote

Answer 3

“Tis but our fantasy… will not let belief take hold”

Question 4

Enter ghost in armour

Answer 4

Elizabethan audience see ghost as problematic / no trust / sceptical.
Ambiguous.

This enhances the mystery of the plot and reinforces severity of the crime

“Strange eruption to our state”

Question 5

Evidence that the ghost is the king

Answer 5

“In the same figure like the king that’s dead”

“The very armour he had on”

Question 6

Why is the supernatural signicantV

Answer 6

It foreshadows the nature of the crime committed and shows the disruption of nature.

Crime is public

Question 7

Regicide

Answer 7

Regicide is what disrupts the natural order and in turn it generates wider consequences on the country

Question 8

“Young fortinbras”

Answer 8

Wants to invade Denmark which is now a weak/ chaotic state due to regicide.

He takes charge / aggressive

Unlike hamlet

Question 9

How does Horatio take on detective role ?

Answer 9

Questions ghost.

“If thou hast any sound or use of voice speak to me… speak to me”

Demands answers

Question 10

Ghost cannot be trusted

Answer 10

Horatio “started like a guilty thing upon a fearful summons”

“It faded on the crowning of the cock”

Crow signifies bad omen

Question 11

Overall what happens

Answer 11

Ghost appears to guards

Guards are sceptical

Ghost doesn’t speak

They want to tell hamlet

Question 12

How does Shakespeare create right mood for scene ?

Answer 12

Scene begins with “who’s there?” - uncertainty/ mystery.

Uses half lines to create broken rhythm - unease as text doesn’t flow.

Marcellus calls ghost “majestical” but Horatio says it “acted like a guilty thing” - shows ambiguous / confused nature unclear intentions

Question 13

Genre

Answer 13

Appearance of ghost means they expect supernatural events that were common with revenge tragedies.

Question 14

Themes introduced

Answer 14

Supernatural

Doubt / uncertainty - unclear on ghosts

Question 15

What does scene open with ?

Answer 15

Media res

Opens with preparing for war which is a state crime.
The private crimes have corrupted the state and that’s responsible for those in power.

Question 16

Regicide

Answer 16

Transgression
Biggest crime back in Elizabethan time
Corrupts whole state

Political state dies

Question 17

What is the signicsnce of fortinbras and laertes

Answer 17

Parallel to hamlet
They both take instant revenge - not bothered about consequences

Make hamlet look less like a villain

Question 18

What does the ghost represent ?

Answer 18

Moral ambiguity
Supernatural 
Scepticism 
It’s why hamlet needs more proof 
Bad omen