Hamlet - Characters II

Question 1

laertes

Answer 1

• is a foil to hamlet because he is aggressive and decisive
• foil that exposes more about hamlet as a character
• has no plan
• rash
• a little too obsessed with his sister

Question 2

ophelia

Answer 2

• has no power
• driven mad by all the pushing from other characters
• commits suicide by drowning
• powerless
• struggled as a woman

Question 3

polonius

Answer 3

• round character
• made for comic relief
• good and bad character

Question 4

rosencrantz and guildenstern

Answer 4

• only exist together

- powerless

Question 5

horatio

Answer 5

• trusted companion to hamlet
• acts as the voice of the audience
• tells hamlet’s legacy at end of play

Question 6

fortinbras

Answer 6

• rash foil to hamlet who helps develop hamlet

- illustrates what hamlet could have been and illustrates hamlet’s development

Question 7

ghost

Answer 7

• exists to drive hamlet; acts as the inciting incident
• questionable trustworthiness
• some people think the ghost’s words aren’t actually words but are hamlets deep thoughts

Question 8

answers

Answer 8

• (controls Ophelia) hamlet, laertes, and polonius
• passive (ophelia)
• constant pressure being put on her
• polonius
• when he hears his fathers death
• she doesn’t fight her death
• foil