Act 1 Scene 3

Question 1

Analyse ‘a violet in the youth of primy nature’

Answer 1

Suggests Ophelia is immature and naive as violets bloom and die quickly, suggesting their love will do the same.
Perhaps their love is lust because love isn’t gained and lost so quickly

Question 2

Analyse ‘chaste treasure’

Answer 2

Ophelia’s virginity is valued and should be protected as it is her best attribute.

Question 3

Quotes showing SF of monetary value/currency

Answer 3

‘tender yourself more dearly’
‘sterling’
‘taken these tenders for true pay’

Question 4

Quotes suggesting Ophelia is naive

Answer 4

-‘you speak like a green girl’
-‘think yourself a baby’
-‘a violet in the youth of primy nature’

Question 5

How did Ophelia respond to Polonius ordering her to not speak to Hamlet?

Answer 5

‘I shall obey my lord’

Question 6

What happened in the 1996 Branagh version when Ophelia says ‘I shall obey my lord’

Answer 6

Polonius pushes Ophelia into a confession booth whilst saying this, showing Ophelia views him as God.

Question 7

analyse- ‘Do not show me the steep way to heaven’

Answer 7

Ophelia is calling Laertes hypocritical by wanting her to remain pure. Laertes is dismissive as he doesn’t have anything to fear as a man.

Question 8

Quotes showing Laertes repeating the word fear when speaking to Ophelia

Answer 8

-‘fear it, Ophelia, fear it’
-‘best safety lies in fear’