HAMLET Flashcards
What happens in Act 1 Scene 1
The play opens at Elsinore Castle, where Francisco and Bernardo, guards, discuss the odd appearance of the ghost. Horatio, Hamlet’s friend, joins them, and they witness the ghost of king Hamlet, the ghost vanishes, and they decide to inform prince Hamlet.
What happens in Act 1 Scene 2
King Claudius, now ruler, addresses the court, discussing his marriage to queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, and the death of king Hamlet. He is in deep mourning and feels isolated. Claudius urges him to stop grieving, while Hamlet expresses his unhappiness with life. Claudius sends envoys to norway to deal fortinbras, who threatens Denmark. Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost.
What happens in Act 1 Scene 3
Laertes advises his sister Ophelia to avoid Hamlet, warning her he may not be serious about their relationship. Polonius, their father, agrees and instructs Ophelia to reject Hamlet’s advances.
What happens in Act 1 Scene 4
Hamlet meets the ghost, who beckons him to follow. The guards and Horatio express concern for Hamlet’s safety as he follows the ghost.
What happens in Act 1 Scene 5
The ghost reveals to Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius and demands revenge. Hamlet vows to remember and obey the ghost’s command. The ghost disappears, leaving Hamlet in a state of turmoil.
What happens in Act 2 Scene 1
Polonius sends Reynaldo to Paris to gather information about Laertes. He instructs Reynaldo to spy and spread rumors. Ophelia enters, distressed, and describes Hamlet’s odd behavior: he came to her in disarray, acting erratically.
What happens in Act 2 scene 2
Claudius and Gertrude express concern over Hamlet’s behavior. They summon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, childhood friends of Hamlet, to investigate his mental state. Hamlet meets them and realizes they were sent to spy. He muses about the nature of madness. He decides to stage a play that mirrors his father’s murder to catch Claudius’s conscience.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 1
Hamlet delivers the famous “To be, or not to be” soliloquy, contemplating existence and the fear of the unknown in death. He encounters Ophelia and speaks to her ambiguously, leading to her distress.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 2
Hamlet directs the players to perform a play called “The Murder of Gonzago,” which closely resembles his father’s murder. He hopes to observe Claudius’s reaction. During the performance, Claudius becomes visibly agitated and ultimately leaves, confirming his guilt to Hamlet.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 3
Claudius, feeling guilty, attempts to pray for forgiveness but struggles with his remorse. Hamlet enters and considers killing him but refrains, fearing that killing Claudius while he is praying would send him to heaven.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 4
Hamlet confronts Gertrude in her chamber. During the heated discussion, he accidentally kills Polonius, who is hiding behind a tapestry. The ghost appears, reminding Hamlet of his purpose, urging him to focus on revenge rather than his mother’s actions.
What happens in Act 4 Scene 1
Gertrude informs Claudius of Polonius’s death. Claudius realizes the danger Hamlet poses and decides to send him to England, ostensibly for his safety.
What happens in Act 4 Scene 2
What happens in Act 4 Scene 3
Claudius speaks to Hamlet and explains his plan to send him to England. He hopes to protect the kingdom from Hamlet’s potential threats.
What happens in Act 4 Scene 4
On the way to the ship, Hamlet encounters Fortinbras’s army, who are marching to fight for a small piece of land. This encounter inspires Hamlet to reflect on his own inaction.
