Hamlet Test Review: Act 1 & 2 Flashcards
Act I Scene I
The Ghost of Hamlet’s father is seen by Horatio and the soldiers in guard-duty.
Setting:
gun platform outside the castle of Elsinore
Who:
soldiers on duty (Barnardo + Francisco)
Horatio (Hamlet’s friend)
Marcellus (a soldier or guards)
What:
Soldiers see a full armed ghost, King Hamlet that appears and vanishes. They ask Horatio and Marcellus to confirm that they are seeing the same thing. There is a superstition that states that ghost will appear to warn the living so the men fear this possibility (the think this could have to do with Fortinbras of Norway). Horatio challenges the Ghost to talk but gets no response. The men decide to inform Hamlet, perhaps the ghost will talk to him.
Act I Scene II
King Claudius addresses the Danish court, speaking of his recent marriage to the wife of their deceased king. Ambassadors are sent to Norway, and a young man, Laertes, asks permission to return to France. This is granted, but Prince Hamlet is not allowed to go back to his university studies. Horatio tells Hamlet of the Ghost’s appearance.
Setting: royal court
Who: King Claudius Queen Gertrude Young Hamlet Laertes, Polonius' son Polonius, most valued counselor
What:
King Claudius delivers a well-calculated speech to make a good impression. He explains his marriage with Gertrude, minimally mourns his brother’s death, talked about Young Fortinbras demanding land to be returned and emphasizes balancing the sadness with joy. Laertes is granted permission to leave Denmark but is not extended for Young Hamlet. It can be seen by his physical state the Hamlet is depressed and refuses to take consolation from his uncle and mom. The two lecture him about death and loss. He cannot return to Wittenberg. Horatio enters and tells him he has come for the funeral but Hamlet insists it was for the wedding. Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnado tell him about the ghost. Hamlet agrees to keep watch for the ghost.
Act I Scene III
Laertes says goodbye to his sister, Ophelia, and his father, Polonius.
Setting:
domestic, a reunion space for the family
Who:
Laertes
Polonius
Ophelia
What:
Laertes is going to Paris
Laertes to Ophelia:
does not want to lose touch with her
he worries about her relationship with Hamlet
tells her to not fall in love with him
tells her that perhaps he may love her now but he is a prince (far too up in the hierarchy) and will not honor their relationship.
to protect her name and virginity and she tells him to practice his advice.
Polonius to Laertes:
keep his thoughts to himself
restrain from bad desires
treat others with familiarity and not vulgarity
keep old friendships and embrace new ones
listen more than he talks
restrain from borrowing or lending money.
Polonius to Ophelia: lectures her about he friendship with scoffs at the idea of love afraid that Hamlet will seduce his daughter orders her to end their relationship
Act I Scene 4
Hamlet accompanies Horatio on the night-watch and sees the Ghost of his father.
Setting:
gun platform outside the castle of Elsinore
Who:
Hamlet
Ghost
What:
The men in the castle are celebrating the king. Guns are fired when the king drinks a toast. Hamlet how the Danes drinking habitats lowers their reputation in the eyes of others. Suddenly the Ghost appears and Hamlet said he will talk to it no matter what, whether it be an evil or good spirit. The Ghost indicates that Hamlet should follow him. The friends try to talk him out of this because it is unsure what the Ghost’s motives are.
Act I Scene 5
The Ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius and demands revenge. The Ghost tells its story of adultery and murder for which it demands revenge**
Setting:
Who:
What:
The Ghost informs them that he has come from purgatory. He does not pity but instead revenge. He talks about being betrayed by his wife and murdered by his brother. There are signs of dawn and this alerts the Ghost that he will soon have to leave.
Horatio and Marcellus arrive looking for Hamlet. They find him in an odd mood and his words do not make sense. Hamlet makes them swear to keep the information private.
He talks about an antic disposition that he will create. He feels like he has found a purpose for his life.
Outside the castle, the ghost talks to Hamlet. The Ghost tells Hamlet that he has come from Purgatory (meaning he is Catholic) and is the spirit of King Hamlet. [The Ghost also tells Hamlet not to pity him, but rather avenge his death]. He then goes on to explain to Hamlet that he wasn’t killed by a poisonous snake while asleep in the orchard like everyone had been told he was. Instead, King Hamlet was murdered by his own brother, Claudius, who snuck up on him while he was asleep and poured a vial of poison into the king’s ear. The poison made his blood curdle immediately. Claudius had robbed King Hamlet of his life, crown, and wife within minutes. Unfortunately, the king never got a chance to have his sins forgiven. The sun begins to set and the Ghost has to return to purgatory. Hamlet vows to forget everything he’s ever heard about how his father died and remember only what the Ghost told him. [He also remembers to avenge his father’s murder]. Horatio and Marcellus enter and Hamlet tells them to promise not to tell anyone what he’s about to tell them. He then goes on to describe the Ghost to them and everything that had previously happened.
Act 2 Scene I
Polonius sends his man to Paris to spy on Laertes, and Ophelia tells her father about Hamlet’s strange behavior.
Setting:
palace
Who: Reynaldo Polonius Ophelia Hamlet
What:
Polonius has Reynaldo go to Paris to check up on his son, Laertes. Before Reynaldo leaves, Polonius gives him a list of things to ask other people about Laertes such as if he’s been partying a lot, or sleeping with a lot of women. He tells him that he can lie about his son with the hopes to get some truth out of this.
Ophelia then comes to Polonius to tell him how much Hamlet has scarred her. He came to her room looking a wreck and acting strangely. Polonius tells Ophelia that Hamlet is madly in love with her and being away from her for awhile has driven him even deeper into his “craziness”.
Act 2 Scene II
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are set to spy on Hamlet for the king, and Polonius describes Hamlet’s encounter with Ophelia. The players arrive in Elsinore, and Hamlet sees a way to trap the king.”
Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and the change in Hamlet’s behavior in hopes that they will be able to figure out what wrong with him. After they leave, Claudius listens to reports from his ambassadors returning from Norway. Together, Claudius and Gertrude turn Hamlet’s friends on him.
Claudius and Polonius care more about foreign policy than Hamlet.
Claudius makes a big mistake and lets Young Fortinbras pass through Denmark to ‘go to Poland’ but this is will lead to many bad results.
Polonius says Hamlet is mad. Hamlet wrote Ophelia a letter about his affection and they believe he is broken because she has let him go.
Polonius proposes that they spy and if he is wrong, he can lose his job. Hamlet implies he had sex with Ophelia. Hamlet is mocking Polonius and calls him old.
Hamlet notices something suspicious and wants to know why they really came. He knew this because they came for no reason and he figured it out immediately.
– “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
Marcellus, Act I Scene 4
Themes
Revenge Manipulation Following through on commitments Deceit and lies Spying Ghosts and Magic Death and Family Honor Inheritance The battle for power, political royalty Familial bonds and showing it Suicide and Grief Mad vs antic disposition Emotions and decision making Isolation and paranoia Regret
– “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.”
Polonius, Act 2 Scene 2
