WHOLE PLAY ACT SUMMARIES

Question 1

Act 1

Answer 1

> First introduced to the characters, and main themes of the play are set up (ie. the appearance of the ghost, first mention of Hamlet’s antic disposition)
Cladius is the current king, Hamlet is seen to be grieving, established there is something ‘rotten in the state of Denmark’
Most characters are introduced

Question 2

Act 2

Answer 2

> Polonius sends a spy, Reynaldo, to check up on Laertes and report back to him
Ophelia tells her father she has been ‘afrighted’ by Hamlet coming in to her whilst she was ‘sewing’
Polonius tells the king of the matter, and a plan is hatched to watch Hamlet for madness
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are employed to keep an eye on Hamlet.
The ‘play (is the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King’)’ and the plan hatched to catch Cladius out

Question 3

Act 3

Answer 3

> King starts to suspect that Hamlet ‘puts on this confusion’
Queen leaves Polonius, Ophelia and Cladius talking about Hamlet, ‘I do wish your good beauties be the happy cause of Hamlet’s wildness. So shall I hope your virtues will bring him to his wonted way again’
Hamlet’s ‘to be or not to be’ speech, foreshadowing much of the rest of the play,
Ophelia and Hamlet interaction, ‘get thee to a nunnery…’
The play which re-enacts what Hamlet percieves to have happened in the death of his father.
Cladius, ‘my words fly up, my thoughts remain below’
Interaction between Queen and Hamlet, killing of Polonius, ‘a rat’ behind the ‘arras’

Question 4

Act 4

Answer 4

> Queen tells Cladius that Hamlet has a ‘very madness like ore’,
Hamlet and Cladius interaction, and he ‘comes for England’ about to board the ship but never does
Ophelia madness, ‘how should I your true love know from another one?’
Laertes returns, King and Laertes interaction and Laertes wants to ‘cut his throat in church’
Gertrude brings news that Ophelia has ‘drowned, drowned’

Question 5

Act 5