1. The night watchmen are changing shifts, and brought Horatio to see
the
ghost of the late King Hamlet. He is skeptical but then sees the
spirit. He
believes the sighting is a bad omen they talk about how King Hamlet had
defeated
Fortinbras and claimed his lands. Fortinbras’ son sees the death of
King Hamlet,
to be the time to get the land back. At dawn, Horatio and the two
guards
decide top share the sighting with young Hamlet.
2.I think this first scene foreshadows the rest of the play: young
Fortinbras, bad omen of King Hamlet. Without the appearance of the
ghost, the scene
would not have had the same effect. There would have been no urgency,
it just
would have been the guards talking on the night walk.
3. I don’t get the relevance of Horatio striking the King and how
Marcellus
thinks it was a bad decision. I don’t understand the justification
mostly
“started like a guilty thing/upon a fearful summons” at the crowing of
the cock.
What is going on?
Act 1 Scene 2
4. “How is it that the clouds still hang on you?” King Claudius I like
this
line because it paints a picture in my head. All it really says is ‘how
is it
you are still sad?’ but he wrote so beautifully. The clouds are like a
rainy
day over a persons head. “Season your admiration for a while” Horatio I
like
this quote because it kind of made me think about what it meant when I
first read
it. it means to moderate your wonder. When I read it I first thought it
meant
make your admiration more, not to lesson.
6. Hamlet is upset with Claudius and Gertrude because they married so
quickly
and it wasn’t respectful to his father. Claudius likes Gertrude because
she s
the queen and is rich. Hamlet Sr. loved Gertrude, Claudius is just in
it for
the money. Hamlet respects his father even when he dies. It makes sense
that
he didn’t respect Claudius because of what he did to his father and he
treats
him like he is a child.
7. The king is very stuck up. When he makes hi becoming king speech he
orders
things in order of importance. He speaks about the death of the king
first,
then his recent marriage, Fortinbras and a letter telling him to tell
Fortinbras to back off. He talks about Laertes going to France and then
about Hamlet.
By talking about Laertes first, the king shows that he more important
than his
own nephew. (Laertes is his friends son)
Act 1 Scene 3
1. Laertes, son of Polonius and sister of Ophelia, leaves on a ship.
Laertes
tells Ophelia that Hamlet is in love with her but to be careful.
Polonius then
tells her that she shouldn’t listen to Hamlet or take him seriously. He
thinks Hamlet isn’t really in love with Ophelia. she is confused on the
subject.
7. Poor Ophelia. She doesn’t know if Hamlet truly loves her or not.
Polonius
and Laertes have warned her about him but who knows if that is just
them
trying to protect their daughter/sister. She just seems so confused on
who to
believe.
2. The significance of the scene is to set up how Ophelia feel about
Hamlet
along with Polonius and Laertes.
Act 1 Scene 4
1. Hamlet arrives with Horatio and Marcellus to watch for the ghost.
They
suddenly hear trumpets and cannon fire. hamlet explains that it is the
new king
in a drunken rage. Then the ghost appears and Hamlet addresses him and
asks him
why he wanders. The ghost wants him to follow and the two men beg him
not to
follow, but he breaks away from their restraints. they decide to follow
Hamlet.
3. Why is it that the ghost only responds to Hamlet. Everyone else
tried to
get the ghosts attention and ask him questions and ignores them and
continues
wandering. Why do the two guys try to restrain Hamlet?
5. I don’t blame Hamlet for asking his fathers ghost questions. I would
have
followed my fathers ghost also. I wouldn’t have let some guys restrain
me. I
think Hamlet is a very deep character and has much emotion.
Act 1 Scene 5
1. Hamlet is alone with the ghost. The ghost has to wander at nights
until
his death is avenged. He says that Claudius poured poison in his ear
and killed
him. He pleads with hamlet to not do anything to his mother, to leave
her
punishment to god and her conscience. He says he will avenge his death.
Hamlet
runs into the two men and makes them promise not to reveal anything or
why Hamlet
goes insane.
5. If I were hamlet, I would feel so relieved to have my questions
answered
by my father. Also, to know that Claudius was the killer. But never
knowing is
worse than knowing the truth sometimes.
2. With out the explanation of his murder we may have never known.
Knowing
that Claudius killed King Hamlet, young Hamlet has more negative
feelings toward
Claudius.
Act 2 Scene 1
4. “Faith, no, us you may season it in the charge.” Polonius. I like
this
quote because it means to be mean, but say it in a nice way. He wants
to be mean,
but he doesn’t want it to be obvious that he is being mean. I also like
“and
let him play his music.” Polonius. I didn’t know what it meant at first
but
the book had a meaning for it. It says that Reynaldo is not to make
Laertes’
behavior better, but report what he has done.
7. I would be scared if I were Ophelia. I understand where is Hamlet is
coming from, but Ophelia doesn’t know he is only pretending to be mad.
Ophelia did
break his heart, but she didn’t really mean to turn him insane. Hamlet
was all
loving and now all of a sudden he snaps and goes crazy. He seems to be
rambling on and on about nothing at all.
5. Polonius doesn’t seem like a very honest or nice person. Laertes is
his
son and he wants to go spying on him. That doesn’t seem right to me.
Then , when
Ophelia fall for Hamlet, he tells her not to see him ever again. He
also
seems like one to jump to conclusions. Ophelia tells him Hamlet has all
the
symptoms of a madman and he says “ oh yes, he is a madman. He is mad in
love.”
Act 2 Scene 2
3. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are supposed to be Hamlets friends, so
why do
they betray him? They all grew up together , but as soon as the king
asks
them, they say things like they were never friends in the first place.
Why does
Polonius automatically think the reason Hamlet has gone mad is because
Ophelia
broke up with him? He does have other things on his mind.
2. Hamlet puts an extra scene in the play to make sure Claudius killed
his
father. This is important because it shows us that Hamlet is not truly
crazy.
All Hamlet has to do is watch the face of Claudius to see id he is
really
guilty. Then he will take action.
6. Hamlet and Ophelia are now broken up. Ophelia tells Polonius how
crazy he
is and Polonius believes her. This shows that he trusts his daughter
because
she did what he told her to do. They seem to have an honest
relationship in
this act. Since they are no longer together, Hamlet went crazy. This
shows he was
in love with her.
Act 3 Scene 1
1. The King is trying to figure out why Hamlet acts crazy. The king
still
tries to get Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to get things out of Hamlet.
He then
goes to speak to Ophelia. He’s very mad still and starts yelling at
her. He
tells her to get to a convent. Hamlet then discovers that the whole
thing was a
set up.
2. The significance of this scene was to show that Hamlet wasn’t having
it
anymore. It shows that people aren’t trusting Hamlet at all.
4. “To be or not to be, that is the question” Obviously this is the
most
famous quote in Hamlet and maybe in the Shakespeare's’ writings. It’s
funny
because the quote just states whether he thinks life is worth living
anymore or not.
Because of everything Hamlet is going through, no wonder he wants to
commit
suicide. “get thee to a nunnery” Hamlet says this many many times. He
is again
saying she is horrible, bad and a whore. He says it repetitively
because he
wants to get it through her head.
3. Why can’t everyone see that Hamlet has just lost everything? Don’t
they
have any respect for him? Why does Ophelia listen to her father? Why
can’t the
King and Queen leave Hamlet alone? How does Ophelia live with herself
after
what she has done/ How many times does Hamlet say “Take thee to a
nunnery”?
Act 3 Scene 2
1. The scene starts off with actors and Hamlet talking. Hamlet then
explains
what kind of play they need to do for the king and queen. The play is
about
Hamlets uncle killing Hamlets father. Everyone has astonished looks on
their
faces when the play is acted out. The king doesn’t know what to think
and tells
them to stop the play as he runs out of the room. Hamlet then speaks to
Horatio
and is very pleased with hoe it went. He feels like he got the king.
6. Hamlet thinks the king is guilty of murder. He deceitfully made a
play
about the killing to make everyone aware. I think he surprised many
people
including the king and queen. His relationship with the king is now
even more on the
rocks that before. Some people are probably praising Hamlet for his
thought
but some are probably accusing him even more of being crazy.
2. The significance of this scene was to show that even thought Hamlet
is
crazy, he’s also pretty smart for thinking of that play. It just shows
that
Hamlet really does know his uncle is guilty.
Act 3 Scene 3
1. King Claudius send Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to accompany Hamlet
to
England because Hamlets madness is a threat to him. Polonius enters and
tell the
king that Hamlet is going to talk to his mother and he plans on
eavesdropping
and any info. he learns he will report to him immediately. The king
openly
admits that he feels bad for his crime. He realizes that he hasn’t
prayed since
the crime. Hamlet enters with a sword and intent on killing the king
but
realized that he was praying and decided to wait until he was drunk or
sleeping.
2. This scene is significantly important because without it we wouldn’t
hear
the king actually admit his crime. Without it, we could only assume
that he
killed King Hamlet but now we know.
3. Why does he pray when it doesn’t do the king any good? And I don’t
get why
Hamlet doesn’t just kill the king when he gets the chance?
Act 3 Scene 4
1. Hamlet is in a rage talking to his mother about what a bad person
she is
for being with Claudius. Polonius come from behind the curtain, hamlet
mistakes
Polonius for Claudius and kills him. He tells his mom he is not crazy
and
tries to convince her to not tell Claudius. He takes Polonius’ body
away.
3. Why did he have the sword still with him? I mean people just carry
sword
around for no reason?
4. “A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and
marry with
his brother.” With this line you would think he has lost his mind for
sure.
He is comparing the murder of Polonius to being as bad as his father’s
murder
and how she marries his brother- those are some low blows!
Act 4 Scene 1
1. The Queen tells Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius. He says they
should
ship him away. Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to go find
Hamlet
and bring the body of Polonius to the chapel.
3. I don’t quite understand why everyone thinks Hamlet is crazy. They
seem so
quick to judge. isn’t everyone entitled to a little emotional outburst
once
in a while? At times I understand, but just because you kill someone
doesn’t
mean you are crazy. Why is the queen so loyal to the king? She is the
queen so
she can have a say in what's going on.
4. “ Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain” Claudius. This is cool
because if
anyone in our modern age were to say it, people would think they were
crazy
or at least weird. It seems all mixed up and jumbled together. All it
says is
that Hamlet got pissed and killed Polonius.
5. The queen seems like a big tattle tale to me. Whenever Hamlet does
something she has to tell the king. She used to defend Hamlet, now she
thinks he is
crazy. Just because he killed someone now his own mother thinks he is
crazy.
Act 4 Scene 2
1. Rosencrantz goes to talk to Hamlet, along with Guildenstern. Hamlet
kind
of taunts them and makes fun of them. He keeps walking away and having
them
follow him.
6. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are no longer really friends with
Hamlet.
They used to be but now they are traitors. When they talk to Hamlet,
Hamlet just
makes fun of them. They are only talking to Hamlet to get things out of
him to
tell the king. They think he is crazy just like everyone else.
7. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are thinking that Hamlet is crazy. They
seem
like they don’t want to be around him unless they have to. And they do
have to
because the king told them to find him. The King wants them to be his
spies.
Claudius could go find him himself, but he would rather have someone
else do
ti for him.
2. This scene is important because it shows that Hamlet is still
playing the
rest of the people in the play. when Rosencrantz and Guildentstern got
to
find Hamlet they ask him about what he did to Polonius’ body. Hamlet
doesn’t
answer exactly. He keeps avoiding the question. He gives them bizarre
hints. The
play wouldn’t be the some because hamlet doesn’t want anyone to know
where the
body is and he still doesn’t trust them as friends.
Act 4 Scene 3
a. When the king finds out Hamlet has killed Polonius he uses it
against him
to send him to England. Hamlet says okay since that’s where he wanted
to go
tin the first place. When Claudius is alone he says that Hamlet should
be killed
or els his own safety will be in danger.
3. Why does Claudius need Hamlet dead? Why can’t he just send him far
away
never to be seen again. at least that way he won’t be killing his own
nephew.
People in this book don’t deem to have morals. Why doesn’t Claudius
feel bad
when sentencing his nephew to death? Why would he send him to England?
Doesn’t he
know that’s where he wanted to go in the firs place?
5. I think Hamlet should have been against going to England at first at
least. That way the king wouldn’t suspect that that’s what he really
wanted in the
first place. If I were the king and this crazy guy I was sending to
England
just said okay, I’d be a little suspicious. 4. “ A man may fish... that
worm”
Hamlet. I like this quote because it tell a cool circle of things. A
worm eats
a king, the fish eats the worm, the man eats the fish. Therefore the
man
become part of the king. It’s like the circle of life.
Act 4 Scene 4
1. Fortinbras, the Kings nephew of Norway, informs Hamlet, Guildenstern
and
Rosencrantz of a battle in Poland. Hamlet is confused as to why they
are going
to battle in Poland. He see it as kind of exciting. Hamlet feels guilty
because he feels Fortinbras is doing something and yet Hamlet, himself
is not doing
anything about his fathers murder and his mothers bad choice.
3. Why is Fortinbras going to battle in Poland? Has Hamlet felt guilty
this
whole time? What is the king doing while this is going on? Does the
Queen know?
What does the King think about all this? do the citizens in Poland know
what
is going to Happen?
4. “ Now whether it be bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple or
thinking
too precisely on the event” Hamlet is saying in this statement that he
felt
cowardly when Fortinbras said he was invading Poland. It shows that
Hamlet still
does have a conscience because he hasn’t killed the king yet.
2. The significance of the scene was to show Hamlet feeling opposite od
what
has was before. It also shows Fortinbras for once. It’s setting up a
possible
conflict between the kin, Fortinbras and Hamlet. It’s hard to tell
though
because we don’t really know what's happening with Fortinbras.
Act 4 Scene 5
1. Ophelia speaks crazy to the queen and then to everyone else in the
area
including the king. The reason she is acting this way is because her
father is
dead. Laertes secretly comes home from France. He has many followers
who shout
him as the king. The king finds it absurd. Laertes shows up and is mad
about
his fathers death. as he is speaking with the king, Ophelia is going
around
giving everyone. He’s talking to the king about who killed Polonius.
The king
says it wasn’t him. So he helps Laertes figure out who it was even
though he
already knows. It;s kind of a way for him to get rid of Hamlet for
good.
6. Laertes believes the king doesn’t know who killed Polonius. He
trusts the
king 100 percent no matter what he says. I think the king doesn’t even
care
much about Laertes. He just want to see Hamlet gone no matter what I
think.
Hamlets relationship with Laertes isn’t very good due to Ophelia and
him Hamlet
and her relationship didn’t work out.
7. I’m so sick of the king. He’s fake and hides things all the time. I
wish
someone would find out about him and send him off somewhere instead of
Hamlet.
It’s just annoying to know that the king has killed the former king and
nobody cares except for Hamlet. He’s the only one who knows for sure.
I’m just
tired of the King getting away with everything.
3. Why doesn’t anyone think the king is guilty? Does Laertes like
Hamlet or
hate him? Will the king get caught for his act of murder? Does anyone
else know
that the king killed Hamlets father? Will Ophelia stop being crazy as
time
goes by? Will they kill Hamlet? Will Laertes find out Hamlet killed his
father?
Are Ophelia and Hamlet going to get back together? What does Laertes
think of
Ophelias' craziness?
Act 4 Scene 6
1. Sailors come in with a letter for Horatio. It’s from hamlet. It
explains
where he is and that he wants the king to have to letter. He explains
that hi
ship got attacked and he was the only prisoner. He also explains that
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are behind him on their way to England
also.
4.” Let the King have the letters I have sent and repair thou to me
with as
much speed thou wouldest fly death” This was a written statement by
Hamlet. It
means that he should get the letters to the king and that he’s afraid
to die.
5. Horatio seems like a good friend. I didn’t realize he was such a
good
friend until Hamlet sent him a letter . The letter said it had
something important
to tell Horatio which means that the friends are really close. It seems
as it
nothing can happen to make them not be friends. It seems as if they
have a
very good relationship.
6 .Horatio and Hamlet’s relationship is a good one. They’re close and
it
seems like they tell each other a lot. I think that it got stronger
when hamlet
sent the letter naturally. They king and Hamlets relationship on the
other
hand seems as if it keeps getting weaker and weaker, but possibly with
this
letter, their relationship may get a little bit stronger. Who knows
really.
Act 4 Scene 7
1. Claudius convinces Laertes that he didn't kill his father. The king
says
he hasn’t done anything to Hamlet because of the king and because
everyone
loves Hamlet. They get a not saying Hamlet isn’t in England and he will
be coming
by to see the king. They have a plan to kill Hamlet, by one: fencing,
two:
poisoning his drinks. Ophelia has drowned and Laertes is really mad.
The king
says he tried to soothe Laertes but he really didn’t.
3. Did Ophelia commit suicide or did she really fall and drown? Why
does the
King always lie to the Queen. He’s so dumb.
5. I don’t blame Laertes for being mad about his father and sister
dying, but
I hate that he is siding with the king. H’s stupid because he is the
major
problem causer.
Act 5 Scene 1
1. Two grave diggers are setting up Ophelia non religious burial.
Hamlet and
Horatio are singing and stop at the burial. They see a skull, it is a
jester.
Gertrude says goodbye and said she wished they ha gotten married.
Laertes
jumps in the grave and wants to be buried with his sister. Hamlet tells
him he
will get his revenge.
3. Was Hamlet really sad at the funeral or was he mocking Laertes? Why
did
Gertrude wish that hamlet and Ophelia get married?
5. I definitely think Hamlet has lost his mind. I can understand being
upset
that Ophelia is dead, but to jump in the grave after her.
Act 5 Scene 2
1. Hamlet rewrites the death letter and is informed that he and Laertes
are
to fight. They battle, the Queen drinks poison, Hamlet is stabbed and
forced to
drink poison, Laertes is wounded. Laertes apologizes. Horatio lives to
tell
everyone, Fortinbras claim the throne, they bury Hamlet.
3. Why didn’t the king stop the queen from drinking the poison? Who id
the
man that announced the battling?
5. I’m glad that Laertes forgave everything and convicted Claudius of
his
sins. I think Laertes turned out to be a pretty good guy in the end.
