act by act overview hamlet

Question 1

act 1 (5)

Answer 1

king has died,
Claudius succeeds him,
Hamlet is still mourning.
the ghost appears and asks to be avenged.
ophelia is told by Polonius and Laertes not to trust hamlet.

Question 2

act 2 (4)

Answer 2

R+G spy on Hamlet - Kings orders
Polonius spies on Hamlet and Ophelia
Reynaldo spies on Laertes in France - Pol’s orders
Hamlet organises mousetrap

Question 3

act 3 (5)

Answer 3

To be or not to be soliloquy.
The Mousetrap
Claudius leaves during the play and plans to send Hamlet away.
Hamlet gets angry with Gertrude kills Polonius by mistake.
Ghost reappears.

Question 4

act 4 (4)

Answer 4

Hamlet sees Fortinbras’ army.
Ophelia’s madness is explored.
horatio hears of hamlets escape.
Claudius reunited with Laertes to take down hamlet.

Question 5

act 5 (5)

Answer 5

ophelia is buried
Ophelia is fought over by Hamlet and Laertes.
they decide to fence.
all but Horatio die.
fortinbras takes over.

Question 6

Hamlets soliloquies allow us to

Answer 6

Access his mind
Voice his fears
Interpret the play

Question 7

Hamlets first soliloquy

Answer 7

Reveals his melancholy

‘Oh that this too too sullied flesh would melt’

Question 8

The end of Hamlets soliloquies

Answer 8

When Hamlet returns from England, there are no more soliloquis

He is in a new frame of mind, no longer afflicted by doubts