Hamlet Study Questions:
Act I scene i
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-NLnsq3P7Y
1) What do we learn about Fortinbras?
2) What conclusions do Horatio and Bernardo arrive at once the apparition had
shown itself twice?
Act I scene ii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2RHXt9t-d4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REyGYWeNSpc&NR=1&feature=endscreen
3) How would you characterize Hamlet’s relationship with his uncle/father in
this scene? Select quotations and explain.
4) When Hamlet uses the word, “common” and “seem”. What connotations
does he imply when speaking with his mother?
5) In lines 135-165, what observations does Hamlet make about his mother
specifically and women generally? Define the tone of this passage.
6) At the end of scene ii, Hamlet makes an observation about his father’s ghost.
What is it and what does this observation suggest?
Act I scene iii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXS2esgBvxQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI8T5DPxY5Y
7)
8)
9)
10)
What is Laertes telling his sister between lines 20-31?
In lines 32-46, what “love advice” does Laertes impart to his sister?
What does Ophelia suggest to her brother about the irony of his words?
What advice does Polonius then give to his son?
11)
What conceit /extended metaphor does Polonius use with Ophelia?
What can we connote from his words? What thematic strain can we see in all
three of these interactions that parallel their words of “borrowing” and
“lending.”
Act 1 Scene iv
12)
13)
What is Hamlet saying about himself and others perhaps in lines 26-41?
What concern does Horatio voice in lines 81-85?
Hamlet Ghost Scene: Act I, Scene v
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBznOZu7FQo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBQucj2hea4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNF1MADUz2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvj0D0QOFhw (David T speaking about playing Hamlet)
14)
Starting with line 15, what does the spirit tell Hamlet of his disposition
and consequences?
15)
What is the spirit’s one command?
16)
What allusion does the spirit use for the murderer? What does this use
suggest?
17)
What does the spirit suggest about his wife? What failings does he see
in her?
18)
Between lines 82-86, what does the father tell the son about the
unfortunate nature of the timing of his death?
19)
What does the father/spirit advise in regard to Hamlet’s mother?
20)
Between lines 99-118, what does Hamlet commit to for himself? How
will he comport himself from then on?
21)
At the end of scene v, following all three swearing to the wishes of the
spirit, what does feel he needs to do? How well prepared does he feel in
regard to this charge placed upon him?
Act II, Scene i
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN0DAxjw0z0
22)
Why does Polonius wish to spy on his son?
23)
For what reasons does Polonius send his daughter to the king? What
are his concerns?
Act II, Scene ii
The King/Uncle/Father and Queen/Mother/trollop suborn R&G:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vTXtdQ63FA
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive…to spy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8C4gPU_hEU
The Players arrive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnrKScWFR3M
Oh what a rogue and peasant slave am I…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyB4ktn7AIE
Act II scene ii
1) What concerns does Polonius have in regard to his daughter and Hamlet?
What does he suggest to the King? What is this father then willing to do?
What does this suggest?
2) Hamlet purposely misconstrues what Polonius says. To what end? What is he
implying by his behavior? What does he seek?
3) What lines suggest that Hamlet distrusts R. & G.? What then does Hamlet
come to understand about his time while home?
Claudius and Polonius spy on Hamlet: To Be or….. (Act III i)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1geIIDdrV7c (?)
Sending Hamlet away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nM_Oqd6Ers
The Mousetrap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtYCXO-jAJg
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alfutKH2388
Act III, scenes 1 & 2: students choose lines that explain the cogent
points
Act III, scene iii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XJwsReIfis
4) In Claudius’ soliloquy, what does he say the limitations are for prayer? What
series of questions does he ask of himself? To what end does he finally come
in regard to his personal salvation?
5) For what reasons does Hamlet not take Claudius’ life?
Act III, scene iv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOjpvNPr3JU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay502y7aspo
6) Why does Hamlet kill Polonius?
7) With what lines does Hamlet accuse his mother of killing her husband and
the King?
8) List the important points that Hamlet makes directly to his mother in regard
to her marriage of his father’s brother (lines 49-99).
9) In what ways does the ghost admonish Hamlet? In what ways does the ghost
encourage Hamlet to act?
10)
What does Hamlet beg his mother to do?
11)
In what lines does Hamlet say that he does not trust Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern?
Act IV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXNDEnN1M_Q IV 1-4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOkImi8n0Os IV ii, iii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=easWqy08wr8 iv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI3SMQ4iMRE v
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFR9A76DZ0g Vii
Read the synapses and find the lines that highlight the imperative ideas.
Act V
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLO5IdAl-q8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVHu5BTylbMscene i
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3kkKldrYvU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9VZp7IFfXQ
ii