Hamlet 1:3

Question 1

general events of 1:3

Answer 1

• 3 parts: L-O, P-L, P-O
• private and domestic scene
• reveals the oppressive standards of purity and modesty for women

Question 2

‘and the trifling…’

Answer 2

‘and the trifling of [Hamlet’s] favour’ - L to O
- private side of Hamlet
- free to play with the affections of women

Question 3

‘a toy in…’

Answer 3

‘a toy in blood’ - L to O
- says H sees O as a passing fancy
- TRANSIENT AFFECTION

Question 4

‘youth of…’

Answer 4

‘youth of primy nature’ - L to O
- animalistic
- sex/lust

Question 5

‘His greatness… he himself…’

Answer 5

‘[Hamlet’s] greatness weigh’d, his will is not his own;/ For he himself is subject to his birth:/ He may not, as unvalued persons do,/ Carve for himself’ - L to O
- has to take the path determined for him
- has no say
- ‘his birth’ - heir
- will not marry a girl like Ophelia

Question 6

‘circumscrib’d […] yielding of that…’

Answer 6

‘circumscrib’d […] yielding of that body whereof he is the head’ - L to O about Hamlet
- public duty
- body politic

Question 7

‘your chaste…’

Answer 7

‘your chaste treasure open’ - L to O
- can still marry her off to elevate their status
- commercial enterprise
- virginity

Question 8

‘The chariest…’

Answer 8

‘The chariest maid is prodigal enough/If she unmask her beauty to the moon’ - L to O
- even the most modest girl can fall foul/be wasteful if she gives herself to a man
- blame the woman

Question 9

Ophelia accuses her brother (Laertes) of hypocrisy

Answer 9

‘Do not […] show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,/ Whiles […] himself the primrose path of dalliance treads/ And recks not his own rede’ - O to L
- it’s okay for him cos he’s a man
- standing up for herself
- ‘primrose path’ - path of pleasure

Question 10

‘Give thy thoughts…’

Answer 10

‘Give thy thoughts no tongue’ - P to L
- don’t talk too much

Question 11

‘Be thou familiar…’

Answer 11

‘Be thou familar, but by no means vulgar’ - P to L
- don’t be over friendly

Question 12

‘Those friends thou…’

Answer 12

‘Those friends thou hast, and their adoption/ tried,/ Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel’ - P to L
- don’t let go of truly good friends
- alliances - politics

Question 13

‘Give every man…’

Answer 13

‘Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;/ Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy/ judgement’ - P to L

Question 14

‘rich, not gaudy…’

Answer 14

‘rich, not gaudy;/ For the apparel oft proclaims the man’ - Polonius to Laertes
- dress stylish but restrained
- appearances

Question 15

‘Neither a borrower…’

Answer 15

‘Neither a borrower nor a lender be’ - P to L

Question 16

'’Tis told me he…’

Answer 16

'’Tis told me he hath very oft of late/ Given private time to you’ - P to O
- eyes everywhere, reporting back to her father

Question 17

‘He hath, my lord…’

Answer 17

‘He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders/ Of his affection to me.’ - O to P
- Polonius will use ‘tenders’ repeatedly over the next 10 lines

Question 18

‘You speak like…’

Answer 18

‘You speak like a green girl’ - P to O
- ‘unbloomed’ - L (both use nature)
- ‘before their buttons be disclos’d’ - L

Question 19

‘I will teach…’

Answer 19

‘I will teach you: think yourself a baby’ - P to O
- patronising

Question 20

‘That you have ta’en…’

Answer 20

‘That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay/ Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more/ dearly’ - P to O
- higher sale price
- commodity

Question 21

‘you’ll tender…’

Answer 21

‘you’ll tender me a fool’ - P to O
- make him look like a fool if she gives her self away easily

Question 22

‘My lord, he hath importun’d me…’

Answer 22

‘My lord, he hath importun’d me with love/ In honourable fashion.’ - O to P
- defends hamlet

Question 23

‘Ay, springes…’

Answer 23

‘Ay, springes to catch woodcocks!’ - P
- comparing Ophelia to prey
- woodcocks are notoriously easy to catch

Question 24

‘your maiden…’

Answer 24

‘your maiden presence;/ Set your entreatments at a higher rate’ - P
- higher dowry, the right time
- ‘chaste treasure’ - L

Question 25

business semantic field in Polonius’ advice to Ophelia

Answer 25

‘parle’ ‘brokers’ ‘investments’ ‘suits’ ‘bonds’
- business, commercial

Question 26

‘that he is young…’

Answer 26

‘that he is young,/ And with a larger tether may he walk/ Than may be given you.’ - P to O