Hamlet Act 1Discussion Questions

1 Ms. Kizlyk AP Language Semester 2 Hamlet Act 1 Discussion Questions Act I, scene 1 1) The play begins on a dark winter night outside Elsinore Castle in Denmark as a few watchmen (Bernardo and Marcellus) and a friend of Prince Hamlet (Horatio) have a conversation. What is revealed in this conversation? (lines 26 46) 2) What does Horatio notice about the physical appearance of the ghost? 3) The characters discuss the reasons for the ghost s presence. A) Why does Horatio think that this ghost is making an appearance? B) As Marcellus is trying to figure out possible reasons for the ghost s appearance, he mentions and Questions several things that he has been seeing around the kingdom.

2 What are these things? (lines 81 90) C) Horatio then recounts the story of King Hamlet s conquest of certain lands once belonging to Norway in lines 91 119. What information is given to the audience here? Ms. Kizlyk AP Language Semester 2 D) What is important about Horatio s allusion to Julius Caesar in lines 124 136)? 4) The ghost reappears. A) What does Horatio try to ask the ghost? B) Why do the men believe that the ghost left? C) What do the men decide to do at the end of the scene ? Act 1, scene 2 5) Claudius speaks to his audience as king. A) What does he first speak about in lines 1 16?

3 Ms. Kizlyk AP Language Semester 2 B) What information does Claudius give in regards to the current situation between Denmark and Norway in lines 17 38? 6) What does Laertes ask of Claudius in lines 52 58)? 7) After Claudius says to Hamlet , But now, my cousin Hamlet , and my son (line 66), Hamlet s first lines in the play are A little more than kin and less than kind (line 67). What is your first impression of Prince Hamlet from this line? 8) What advice is Gertrude giving to Hamlet when she says, Good Hamlet , cast thy nighted color off, / And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.

4 / Do not forever with thy vail d lids / Seek for thy noble father in the dust. / Thou know st tis common. All that lives must die, / Passing through nature to eternity ( )? 9) Hamlet tells his mother that his inner sorrow is enormous (lines 79 89). A) What advice does Claudius tell Hamlet about his mourning of his late father? Ms. Kizlyk AP Language Semester 2 B) What does he ask of Hamlet in lines 90 121)? Any possible motives for Claudius to ask of this? 10) In lines 133 164, Hamlet gives his first soliloquy where he will discuss three main issues and use three Greek allusions. A) What does Hamlet first consider in lines 133 138?

5 B) What does Hamlet say about his uncle? How does he use two allusions to Greek mythology in his discussion of his uncle? C) What does Hamlet say about his mother? What does he when he says, Frailty, thy name is woman! in line150? Why does he use a Greek allusion in his discussion of his mother? D) What type of rhetorical device is used when Hamlet says incestuous sheets in line 162? What does he mean? Ms. Kizlyk AP Language Semester 2 11) Hamlet meets up with Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo, who inform Hamlet that they have seen what they believe to be the ghost of his late father (lines 197 - A) How does Hamlet respond?

6 B) After his friends leave, Hamlet has a moment alone. What does he mean in lines 277 281? Act 1, scene 3 12) This scene includes long monologues from Laertes (lines 13 48) and Polonius (lines 57 87) in which each character is giving advice. A) Laertes gives his sister Ophelia advice Hamlet in lines 6 48). 1. What is Laertes trying to remind Ophelia of when he says his will is not his own in line 20? 2. What other reasons does Laertes give to Ophelia for being careful with Hamlet ? B) Next, summarize the advice that Polonius is giving to his son Laertes. Ms. Kizlyk AP Language Semester 2 C) Polonius also gives his advice and thoughts concerning Ophelia s relationship with Hamlet .

7 1. When Ophelia says that Hamlet has been giving her a lot of affection lately, Polonius responds by saying, Affection, puh! You speak like a green girl, / Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. / Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? (lines 110 112) What is Polonius saying? 2. When Ophelia says that she isn t sure what to think, he says, Marry, I ll teach you. Think yourself a baby / That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, / Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly, / Or not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, / Running it thus you ll tender me a fool (lines 114 118). What does he mean by this?

8 3. When Ophelia says that Hamlet has given her vows, Polonius tells her that Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, / When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul / Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter, / Giving more light than heat, extinct in both / Even in their promise as it is a-making, / You must not take for fire (lines 124 - 129). What does he mean here? 4. What advice is Polonius basically giving to Ophelia concerning Hamlet ? 5. How does Ophelia respond to her father during this conversation? Ms. Kizlyk AP Language Semester 2 Act 1, scene 4 13) As Hamlet keeps watch outside the castle with Horatio and Marcellus, he explains in lines 15 - 41 the tradition that the king is taking part in (the king gets drunk with his friends and is out all evening).

9 A) Why does Hamlet seem to be against this tradition? (Lines 17 25) B) What does he compare this tradition to? (Lines 27 41) 14) The ghost beckons Hamlet to follow it out into the night. Hamlet s companions urge him not to follow, begging him to consider that the ghost might lead him toward harm. A) When Hamlet first sees the ghost, he says, Angels and ministers of grace defend us! / Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned, / Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, / Be thy intents wicked or charitable, / Thou comest in such a questionable shape (lines 43 48). What is Hamlet wondering here?

10 B) Why does Hamlet decide to follow the ghost? C) What does he threaten if his friends won t let him go? Ms. Kizlyk AP Language Semester 2 Act 1, scene 5 15) Hamlet and the Ghost talk with each other. First, let s look at lines 1 48. C) What does the ghost tell Hamlet that he must be prepared to do after he listens to what it has to say? B) Why is Hamlet s father Doomed for a certain term to walk the night / And for the day confined to fast in fires (lines 15 16)? C) What does the ghost say about his presumed death and the actual murder? (lines 42 47) 16) Summarize the ghost s long monologue (lines 49 99), focusing on the following topics.