Hamlet Test Study Guide

Question 1

What happens when Francisco and Bernardo meet at the beginning of 1.1? Where are we, and when?

Answer 1

1. Francisco is waiting for Bernardo

2. We are in the Castle of Elsinor in Denmark in the late Middle Ages (13-14th century)

Question 2

Why is there confusion over which one is supposed to challenge the other by asking “Who’s there”? Why is Horatio with Bernardo and Marcellus? Who is he?

Answer 2

3. They two guards are equally ranked and it is confusing because they have just seen a ghost
4. Horatio is there because he is easily skeptical of ghosts. Horatio is there to determine if their really is a ghost
5. Horatio is prince Hamlet’s best friend

Question 3

What is Horatio’s initial response to the story of the apparition? What happens when the ghost appears for the first time (1.1.37.1)?

Answer 3

Horatio does not really believe it.

When the ghost first appears Bernardo points out that it looks a lot like the late king Hamlet

Question 4

Notice that Horatio addresses it as “thou.” This is the form of address used with friends or inferiors. Shakespeare’s audience would have been much more attuned to the difference than we are. What is the effect of Horatio’s addressing the ghost as “thou”?

Answer 4

Horatio’s use of thou is disrespectful and causes the ghost to leave.

Question 5

What does Horatio first assume the appearance of the ghost means (1.1.68)? Why are there such intense war preparations in Denmark? (Read 1.1.69-106 carefully to get the international background of the play.) What does Horatio suggest by his discussion of Julius Caesar’s death (1.1.106.5-.18)? Why does he choose the example of Rome? Why is the passage set off and in italics? (See note 2, line 106.)

Answer 5

1. Horatio thinks that the apparition is a bad omen and that something bad is going to happen
2. Their are war preparations because it is believed that young Fortinbras is returning to take back his fathers lands
3. Horatio suggests that King Hamlet and Julius Ceasar are both alike because they are both prideful

Question 6

What happens when the ghost appears for the second time (at the SD before 1.1.108.1)? Why does it leave so abruptly? The questions Horatio asks it represent, according to the thought of the time, the reasons why a ghost could appear.

Answer 6

1. Horatio asks why the ghost has come and the ghost begins leaving because of the roaster

Question 7

What is the purpose of the two discussions of the crowing of the cock, Horatio’s pagan one (1.1.130-37) and Marcellus’ Christian one

Answer 7

Horatio’s Pagan Story: The god of daylight comes out and this forces the sinful beings to hide
Marcellus Christian Story: Christ Resurrection causes no evil at dawn

Question 8

What do we know so far about the nature of the ghost? Do we know yet if it is a “good” ghost (i.e., “really” the spirit of the person it appears to be) or a “damned” ghost (a devil or evil spirit in the shape of the person it appears to be)?

Answer 8

All we know is that the ghost only roams at night. We don’t know weather they are evil or not.

Question 9

. What is Claudius telling the court in the first part of his speech (1.2.1-16)? What does he say about young Fortinbras and his uncle the king of Norway (ll. 17-41)? How is Claudius responding to the threat? (You may also want to keep in mind that the name “Claudius” appears only in the opening stage direction for 1.2. The name is never spoken in the play. He is simply “the King.”)

Answer 9

Claudius corresponds with Fortinbras Uncle to try to get Fortinbras not to continue his attack

Question 10

What does Laertes want from the King? How does Claudius respond to him? Based on his first 64 lines in office (1.2.1-64), how would you rate Claudius as a ruler? In what ways does he already differ from Old Hamlet as king? (Consider how Old Hamlet would have responded to Young Fortinbras.)

Answer 10

Laertes wants approval from king to return to France. Claudius agrees. Claudius differs from Hamlet because king Hamlet was more forceful and took matters into his own hands whereas Claudius gets other people to do it for him

Question 11

What do Claudius and Gertrude want Hamlet to do that he doesn’t want to do? What won’t they let him do it? How does he respond to them? How do they respond to the way he responds to them? (You probably know three names associated with the University of Wittenberg in Germany: Martin Luther, Doctor Faustus, and Hamlet. Can you see any connections among the three?

Answer 11

Claudius and Gertrude want hamlet to stay at home and not go to school. Claudius is degrading and says that prince Hamlet needs to get over his fathers death

Question 12

How seriously do you take Claudius’ argument against Hamlet’s “prolonged” mourning (1.2.87-108)? How long has Hamlet been mourning (1.2.138)? (The normal mourning period of a noble or gentle woman for a dead husband at this time [ca. 1600] was a year or more.)

Answer 12

It is ridiculous. Hamlet has only been morning for 2 months. In their culture 2 years was the normal amount

Question 13

Read Hamlet’s first soliloquy (1.2.129-59) carefully. What is it that is really bothering him about what has happened since his father’s death? How would you describe the tone of his feelingsdetached, impassioned, rational, ironic, or what?

Answer 13

Hamlet contemplates suicide, death, and happiness. He questions his fathers death and his mothers marriage. Hamlets general tone is angry and upset

Question 14

What is Hamlet’s response to the news from Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo? Notice the way Hamlet questions them. How much do we know about how his mind works at this point of the play? What does he suspect as the reason for the ghost’s appearance (1.2.254-57)

Answer 14

Hamlet doesn’t need persuading, he quickly goes with Horatio and beings suspecting his father way murdered

Question 15

What does Laertes warn Ophelia about? What, apparently, has been the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia since his return from Wittenberg?

Answer 15

Laertes works Ophelia about falling in love with Hamlet

Question 16

How seriously do you take Polonius’ precepts? Consider especially the last one.

Answer 16

I take them seriously especially the last one. I think that he gives great advice

Question 17

How willing is Ophelia to discuss with her father what she has discussed with Laertes? What is his response to Hamlet’s interest in her and her response to him? How seriously should she take their warnings about Hamlet’s lack of seriousness and his inability to choose his own wife?

Answer 17

Ophelia is reluctant to take this advice from her father, however she gives in as she is under him in their culture

Question 18

What do we know about Laertes, Polonius, and Ophelia by the end of 1.3? What sort of people are they? What sort of family are they? Who is missing from this family? How strong-willed in Ophelia?

Answer 18

The family are trying to protect Ophelia for her own sake. Ophelia and Laertes have a strong bond with each other while Polonius is the strict one protecting their honor. They are simply a family that looks out for each other

Ophelia is strongwilled but only away from father, she develops a rebellious stage despite being what’s told of her.

Question 19

Why do the trumpets and cannons sound, according to Hamlet? What does Hamlet think of the custom?

Answer 19

this signifies “drinking the night away” for the celebration of Claudius and Gertrude’s marriage.
Hamlet is disgusted by this he believes, Denmark’s drunken behavior is the reason for its deteriorating reputation by foreign countries.

Question 20

How does Hamlet respond to the ghost? If it is a “damned ghost,” is he as safe as he thinks he is in 1.4.45-48? Why don’t the others want him to go? Why can’t/don’t they stop him? What does Marcellus still think the nature of the problem is (1.4.67)?

Answer 20

Although the ghost does not directly harm Hamlet, it does lead him to his doom, just as his friends feared. It convinces him to seek revenge, and he is killed as a result, after ruining the lives of Ophelia, Polonius, Gertrude and Laertes. The ghost may have been telling the truth, but its advice still led to disaster.

Question 21

Is Hamlet surprised when the Ghost asks him to revenge his father’s murder? Is he surprised when he learns who the murderer is?

Answer 21

Hamlet quickly promises revenge despite knowing the whole story; he knew beforehand that Claudius was a villain so he takes credit for this realization

Question 22

Do father and son have the same opinion of Claudius? (Compare 1.2.139-40, 152-53 and 1.5.47-52.) Would others in the court, not knowing about Claudius’ crime, see Claudius as this much below his dead brother?

Answer 22

YES, They both see him as selfish and a bad king

Question 23

How did Claudius murder Old Hamlet?

Answer 23

poison in the ear

Question 24

What does the Ghost tell Hamlet to do about his mother?

Answer 24

the ghost tells hamlet to leave his mother alone and let god deal with her

Question 25

Read Hamlet’s second soliloquy carefully (1.5.92-113). What does Hamlet say he has learned? In other words, what general piece of wisdom does he want to save from this encounter (1.5.109). Is this shockingly new information to us? Or is Hamlet just becoming “grown up”? (When did you first learn that you couldn’t always trust people?) Notice how quickly Hamlet moves from the specific (Claudius) to the general (“one”). Compare the same movement he makes from the specific person Gertrude to “frailty, thy name is woman” (1.2.146). Given this soliloquy, how soon would you expect Hamlet to go for his revenge?

Answer 25

1. Claudius is the cause of his father’s death
2. He repeats over again to remember the words of his father and this encounter
3. Nope, seeing how Claudius is villainous and the fast marriage (lots of red flags)
4. He damns his mother for marrying her husband’s killer (but we still don’t know if Gertrude was in the know)
5. Rather quickly to go for revenge, consider his mourning over his father and his fascination with the supernatural

Question 26

What happens when the others find Hamlet. What does he ask them to swear? What does his mention of an “antic disposition” (1.5.173) suggest about his future plans? How might you expect Hamlet to be acting when next we see him?

Answer 26

They swear on the cross of the word not to mention this night. From this point forward Hamlet begins acting mad

Question 27

How much time has passed between Act 1 and Act 2? How do you know? (Keep watching for evidence.)

Answer 27

Almost six months. The scene with the ghost was in winter and the flower picking scene with Ophelia was tin the spring/summer

Question 28

What is Polonius telling Reynaldo to do? What does this tell up about Polonius and his way of thinking
and acting?

Answer 28

Tells Reynaldo to ask around about his son Laeretes, You can tell that Polonius has trust issues and is the very overprotective type

Question 29

Why is Ophelia so upset when she enters at 2.1.74.1? What has happened to her? Does Hamlet’s
appearance (in her telling) as a madman (a distracted lover) come as a surprise after what we last heard him
say? Why would he appear in this sort of madness to her? Is there any possibility he really is a distracted
lover responding to Ophelia’s apparent rejection of him? How well has she obeyed her father’s orders in
1.3?

Answer 29

Ophelia is distraught about her Hamlet acting crazy and about the way she is treated

Question 30

What is Polonius’ response to what Ophelia tells him? Where are they going?

Answer 30

Polonius claims that he will go to the king to tell Claudius of the relationship forming between Hamlet and Ophelia

Question 31

Why have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come to court? What is their relation to Hamlet? What use does
Claudius have for them? Does this remind you of Polonius’ use for Reynaldo? Are there any significant
differences?

Answer 31

King Claudius uses Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet because he is curious as to why Hamlet is acting so weird. This again shows how Claudius hires other people to deal with his problems

Question 32

How effective is Polonius as a bearer of news? How convinced are Claudius and Gertrude that Polonius
has found the answer? How do they plan to test this answer? Does Polonius; plan sound like his normal
way of operating (2.2.163-68)?

Answer 32

Polonius claims hamlet has gone made and that he is just protecting his daughter from a crazy man

Question 33

Immediately following the discussion of the plan, Hamlet appears. Wouldn’t this be a good time to try
out the plan? Do they?

Answer 33

After discussing the plan, Hamlet appears. This wouldn’t be a good time to try out the plan because Polonius has only heard of Hamlet’s behavior second-hand and has not seen such madness for his own. Polonius is the only one that speaks to Hamlet after their discussion and simply tries to investigate and observe on his own before the conversation.

Question 34

How does Hamlet behave when he enters? Does Polonius think he is mad? Is this the way we would
expect Hamlet to act after Ophelia;s description in 2.1? Why does he call Polonius a fishmonger? (It may
help to know that fishmongers&; wives, and daughters, apparently because of the fish, were assumed to be
extremely fertile and thus able to conceive easilyand thus the connection in 2.2.185-86.)

Answer 34

Hamlet knows who polonius is and who sent polonius to check on him. Hamlet insults him by calling him a fisherman which is the lowest of low

Question 35

How does Hamlet behave when he enters? Does Polonius think he is mad? Is this the way we would expect Hamlet to act after Ophelia’s description in 2.1? Why does he call Polonius a fishmonger? (It may help to know that fishmongers’ wives, and daughters, apparently because of the fish, were assumed to be extremely fertile and thus able to conceive easily and thus the connection in 2.2.185-86.)

Answer 35

Hamlet acts fed up and a little annoyed when he enters and first talks to Polonius and plays on the words Polonius uses to speak with him. Polonius has an aside where he decides that Hamlet is far gone and is convinced he is right about the connection to Ophelia

Question 36

How does Hamlet first act with Rosencrantz and Guidenstern.

Answer 36

When Hamlet first speaks with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he continues to behave with word play throughout the conversation as he had with Polonius. At this point Hamlet discovers that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are agents of Claudius and he feels double crossed

Question 37

Why are the players traveling? What has been going on in the city? (Much of 2.2.317-46 refers to
contemporary events in London around 1599-1601.)

Answer 37

These players or actors are traveling to put up shows for people to watch, this provides Hamlet with the plan to test out his theory

Question 38

What is the significance of Hamlet’s referring to Polonius as Jephthah (2.2.385). Jephthah’s story is
interesting in this contextsee Judges 11:30-40.

Answer 38

Jephthah promises a burnt sacrifice to God of the first person who comes to his door to win over the Ammonites, the first person was his only virgin daughter, relating to Polonius stripping his daughter of her pride and freedom

Question 39

What is unusual about the speech Hamlet begins to recite (2.2.430-44) and the First Player continues
(2.2.448-498). How is its style different from that of the surrounding lines of Hamlet? Why is its subject
matter appropriate? (See Note 2 to line 430.) Do lines 461-62 echo anything from or about the play
Hamlet? Why can’t the First Player finish the speech?

Answer 39

Hamlet begins reciting it but can not finish. This shows his inability to finish or complete revenge

Question 40

How much have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern learned from/about Hamlet?

Answer 40

They are very confused about Hamlets actions. They haven’t learned much about the true hamlet

Question 41

Finally the planned meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia is arranged, spies and all. What does Polonius
give Ophelia to read (3.1.46)? What response does his remark get (in an aside) from Claudius? Why is this
speech of Claudius’ important? What do we learn that we have not learned before?

Answer 41

A prayer book is given to Ophelia. Claudius responds as if he is guilty… wait he may care.

Question 42

Read Hamlet’s fourth soliloquy carefully (3.1.58-90). How is this soliloquy different from the first two?
Think about the way Hamlet’s mind works within the first two–is the same thing happening here? What is
the main idea of this third soliloquy? (For an interesting variant of this speech, you might want to look at
the duke’s version in chapter 21 of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-a great parody/pastiche.)

Answer 42

He is wanting to kill himself, but in the first 3 it wasn’t so deep. Now, as he acts crazier, he is realizing that love doesn’t exist. The third solo makes us question Hamlets desire to live

Question 43

What happens between Hamlet and Ophelia in the so-called “Nunnery scene” (3.1.90-160)? Does Hamlet
know that he’s being watched? Does he determine that during the scene? Can you spot a place where he
might? (Remember how he changed his way of talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at 2.2.267.) Who is
the “one” referred to in “all but one” (3.1.147)? What does it add to note that in talking about marriage in
3.1.146-48 Hamlet seems to be echoing St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7?

Answer 43

Ophelia returns his letters

Question 44

How does Claudius respond to what he has seen and heard? Is he convinced that love is the cause of
Hamlet’s madness? What does he plan to do about Hamlet? How does Polonius respond? Is he willing to
give up his “love” answer? What does he propose as an additional way to find out what Hamlet is thinking?
Are you surprised that it includes spying?

Answer 44

Claudius feels threatened by Hamlet’s speech

Question 45

What advice does Hamlet have for the actors? Why?

Answer 45

Try to be as realistic as possible he wants the reaction of the king

Question 46

Why does hamlet say he especially likes Horatio? Does hamlet see Horatio similar to him or different from him?

Answer 46

Both Hamlet and Horatio are calm. Not easily angered

Question 47

What is Claudius’ mood as he stops the play at 3.2.247? How does Hamlet respond? If Hamlet has
learned that Claudius is indeed guilty (if that’s why he stopped the play and not for some other reason),
Claudius has also learned something from the presentation of the play. What has Claudius learned?

Answer 47

Claudius is angry and guilty

Question 48

What message do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have for Hamlet? Despite the chaos at the end of the
play, is this message unexpected after hearing Polonius’ suggestion at the end of the Nunnery scene (3.1)?
What lesson does Hamlet teach with a recorder?

Answer 48

His mother wants to see him. No, he is trying tones with Hamlet and make him seem crazy

Question 49

What does Claudius admit in his attempt to pray? Has the play actually had an effect on him? Why can’t
he ask for forgiveness?

Answer 49

He admitted murdering his brother

Question 50

What happens when Hamlet enters? Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius then? What is ironic about
Hamlet’s decision?

Answer 50

Hamlet wants to kills Claudius but he is attempting to wait for the right moment he doesn’t want to do it while he is praying

Question 51

How successful is the first part of the interview between Gertrude and Hamlet? What goes wrong (even
before Polonius’ death)? Who controls the conversation? Why does Gertrude call for help?

Answer 51

Not good. Hamlet. She is fearing for her life

Question 52

Does Gertrude know that Claudius killed hamlets father?

Answer 52

no she is oblivious

Question 53

What device does Hamlet use to force Gertrude to consider what she has done?

Answer 53

Hamlet compares Claudius to king Hamlet

Question 54

Hamlet seems to be getting through to Hamlet when the Ghost enters. Why does the Ghost appear at this
point? How is his appearance different from his appearances in Act 1? Who saw him then? Who sees him
now? What is his message to Hamlet?

Answer 54

Hamlet has fulfilled the act. Only hamlet can see him. Keep an ion your mother.

Question 55

After the Ghost leaves, does Hamlet succeed in what he came to do? What is Gertrude’s state when he
leaves? What should she do, and what should she not do?

Answer 55

No he wanted to kill Claudius not Polonius. She is very afraid for Hamlet because she doesn’t know whether he is telling the truth or not. Let the king seduce her

Question 56

What does Hamlet think of his upcoming trip to England? What does he expect to do?

Answer 56

He expects to get away from his school mates by sneaking away

Question 57

Does Gertrude tell Claudius the truth about what happened between her and Hamlet (4.1.6-7)? Is she
following Hamlet’s advice at the end of 3.4?

Answer 57

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern learn from Hamlet that he sees them as sponges that “soak up the king’s countenance, rewards, [and] his authorities”.

Question 58

why can’t Claudius simply jail Hamlet?

Answer 58

because that would raise suspicions in Claudius’ kingdom

Question 59

Is Hamlet going to England as a prisoner or in the guise of a royal representative?

Answer 59

Hamlet is told that he is being sent to England in the guise of a royal representative but is truly being sent as a prisoner to his execution.

Question 60

4. What do Claudius’ letters tell England (i.e., the king of England) to do with Hamlet? Why does Claudius
   expect to be obeyed? (The situation is more or less historical, since England was ruled by a Danish king
   from 1016-1042. The original Hamlet story seems to date from about this time.)

Answer 60

Claudius’ letters tells the King of Englandto kill Hamlet. Claudius believes that England will obey his orders because they still pay homage to Denmark.

Question 61

Why is Fortinbras’ army passing through Denmark? (Remember 2.2.60-80.)

Answer 61

Fortinbras’ army is passing through Denmark to conquer back some lost territory from Poland.

Question 62

Notice that the Folio text contains only lines 1-9 of this scene. What is the effect of having only those
lines? Why would even that much of the scene appear? In other words, what is the function within the play
of 4.4.1-9?

Answer 62

ask about this question. No demarcationin my book for the “Folio text” that “contains line 1-9 of this scene.”

Question 63

Where is Hamlet going when he meets the Captain?

Answer 63

Hamlet is going to England when he meets the captain

Question 64

1. What do we learn about the state of Gertrude’s soul in her aside (4.5.17-20)? What does this say about
   how she has responded to Hamlet’s accusations and recommendations in 3.4?

Answer 64

Gertrude’s soul is in torture right now. She says that everything she has done has lead to some great misfortune and that she is destroying herself in fear of being destroyed. She has not reacted well to Hamlet’s accusations and recommendations in 3.4 if she is beating herself up this much

Question 65

Who brings Hamlet’s letter to Horatio? What has happened to Hamlet? (Happily, we have been spared
seeing Hamlet as Errol Flynnsee Olivier’s movie version for that. However, this letter does show us a
Hamlet quite capable of acting when the occasion presents itself.)

Answer 65

A sailor brings Hamlet’s letters to Horatio. Hamlet has been taken as the sole prisoner of some pirates. While Rosencrantz and Guildenstern remain on their voyage to England, Hamlet will be brought back by the pirates.

Question 66

Claudius has obviously convinced Laertes of his innocence. What things of a personal nature do we learn
about Gertrude and Claudius (4.7.11-16)? Laertes wants his revenge, but Claudius tells him “You shortly
shall hear more.” What does Claudius expect to be able to tell Laertes soon?

Answer 66

Claudius and Gertrude are actually very close

Question 67

What plan do Claudius and Laertes develop? What happened when Lamord came to Denmark two
months ago? How will Claudius and Laertes use Laertes’ reputation to get revenge?

Answer 67

Claudius and Laertes plan to kill Hamlet when hecomes back

Question 68

How many tricks and poisons does it take (according to Claudius and Laertes) to kill a Hamlet?

Answer 68

It apparently takes a sharpened sword laced with poison and paired with an “accidental” stabbing along with a poison laced drink to guarantee Hamlet’s death.

Question 69

How is Lertes doing with Ophelias death

Answer 69

Laertes responds with outrage at his sister’s death. Claudius is afraid that this will cause him to not act rationally and to become careless when killing Hamlet.

Question 70

What are the two clowns doing while they talk? Who is the “she” of 5.1.1? Why, according to the second
clown, is she really being given a Christian burial?

Answer 70

They are digging the grave for Ophelia