Act 5 Scene 1

Question 1

Hamlets speech

What does he contemplate regarding nature of death

Answer 1

Sees death as an equaliser

Everyone however wealthy will see this end

‘Skull of a lawyer’

Question 2

Comical conversation between hamlet and grave digger

Answer 2

‘Who’s grace is this surrah?’

‘Mine sir’

Question 3

Who was Yorrick

Answer 3

Hamlet ‘a fellow infinite jest’
‘Hath born me on his back’

Like a father

Question 4

What effect does the discovery of Yorik have on hamlet

Answer 4

Brings across truth of death - sanctity - no remorse when Polonius dies

Is he killing Claudius for love or honour

Question 5

Analyse Laertes speech

Find eg of hyperbole which suggest an appearance of superficial display of grief

Answer 5

‘O treble wow/ Full ten times treble on that cursed head’ [leaps into grave]

Question 6

How does hamlet challenge Laertes’ display of grief.

How do we respond

Answer 6

‘Whose grief bears such an emphasis’ who’s phrase of sorrow conjures the wandering stars’

Fight

‘To outface me with leaping in her grave’