Hamlet Questions and Vocabulary

Act One 1

Identify

Bernardo

Francisco

Marcellus

Horatio

King Hamlet.

2. What had Bernardo seen at a prior watch?

3. Why does Marcellus think Horatio should speak to the ghost?

4. What does young Fortinbras want to do?

5. Who do the soldiers/guards want to tell about the ghost?

6. Identify King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Laertes, and Polonius.

7. Where does Claudius send Cornelius and Voltimand?

8. What does the King tell Hamlet?

9. Hamlet is upset for two reasons. What are they?

10. What news does Horatio bring Hamlet?

11. What does Hamlet decide to do after he hears Horatio's news?

12. What is Laertes' advice to Ophelia?

13. What is Polonius' advice to Laertes?

14. At the end of Scene III, Ophelia agrees to "obey." What will she do?

15. What did the ghost tell Hamlet?

16. Hamlet swears Horatio to two things. What are they?

Match the words with the definitions below.

portentous invulnerable malicious filial

prodigal vow pernicious ambiguous

a) An earnest promise

b)Rashly or wastefully extravagant

c) The relationship of child or offspring to parent

d)Open to more than one interpretation

e) Immune to attack; impregnable; impossible to damage, injure, or wound

f) Full of unspecifiable significance; exciting wonder and awe

g)Spiteful

h) Deadly; destructive

Act II

1. Where does Polonius send Reynaldo? Why?

2. Why does Polonius think Hamlet is "mad"?

3. Why have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come to the castle?

4. What is Polonius' plan for testing his theory that Hamlet is love-crazy?

5. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern finally meet with Hamlet, and Hamlet discovers they were sent for by the King. How does Hamlet describe his personal problems to them? What does he tell them?

6. What arrangement does Hamlet make with Player 1?

7. After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave Hamlet, what does he basically say in his

soliloquy?

Match the words with the definitions below.

afflict discretion entreat beseech contrive

paragon appurtenance epitaph

a) Ability or power to decide responsibly

b)To make an earnest request of

c) Something added to another, more important thing; an appendage

d)To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on

e) An inscription on a tombstone in memory of the one buried there

f) A model of excellence or perfection of a kind

g)To address an earnest or urgent request to; implore

h)To plan with cleverness or ingenuity

Act III

1. What message do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern carry to the King? What is the King's

response?

2. Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy is in scene one. In a sentence or two

paraphrase his main points.

3. Describe Hamlet's tone when he speaks to Ophelia.

4. What do the King and Polonius decide about Hamlet's condition after eavesdropping on

Hamlet and Ophelia?

5. Why does Hamlet give instructions to the players?

6. What was the King's reaction to the play, and what did Hamlet and Horatio decide his

reaction meant?

7. What message does Rosencrantz deliver from the Queen?

8. The King has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern prepare to do what? Why?

9. Why doesn't Hamlet kill the King when the King is kneeling?

10. How does Polonius die?

11. What would Hamlet have his mother do?

Match the words with the definitions below.

commingled knavish contagion sinews

visage piteous scourge

a) Tendons; muscles

b)A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishmen

c) Blended

d)Unprincipled

e) Demanding or arousing pity

f) Harmful or corrupting influence

g)The face or facial expression

Act IV

1. What does Hamlet think of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

2. Why must the King "not put the strong arm on" Hamlet?

3. When the King asks Hamlet where Polonius is, what is Hamlet's answer?

4. What is the content of the letters the King sends with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to

England with Hamlet?

5. What prompts Hamlet to say, "My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!"?

6. What has happened to Ophelia?

7. Why does Laertes force his way in? What does he want?

8. What is the content of Hamlet's letter to Horatio?

9. What plan do the King and Laertes discuss to kill Hamlet?

10. What news does the Queen bring Laertes?

Match the words with the definitions below.

divulging discord replication convocation

imminent superfluous abatements

a) Reductions in amount, degree, or intensity

b)Being beyond what is required or sufficient

c) A reply to an answer; a rejoinder

d)About to occur; impending.

e) Becoming known

f) Tension or strife

g)Assembly

Act V

1. Laertes thinks that Ophelia should have a better funeral service. What is the priest's answer?

2. Why does Hamlet jump into Ophelia's grave?

3. What does the King say to Laertes to console him after Laertes and Hamlet are separated?

4. What did Hamlet do to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

5. What news does Osric bring Hamlet?

6. What happens to the King, Hamlet, Laertes, and the Queen?

7. Who does Hamlet recommend to the throne?

Match the words with the definitions below.

base churlish conjuration perdition

extolment aloof felicity carnal

a) Difficult to work with

b) High praise

c) Of or relating to the body or flesh; bodily

d) Great happiness; bliss

e) Loss of the soul; eternal damnation

f) The lowest or bottom part

g) Influence or effect by a supernatural power

h) Distant physically or emotionally

Hamlet Journals

1. Do you believe the old idea that babies resemble their father soon after they are born to prove parentage? Do you think babies should resemble their father?

2. Describe the dumbest reason someone has ever used for breaking up.

3. Describe a supernatural event you have experienced.

4. Describe a time you sought revenge.

5. Free Write

6. How long should a couple be together before they are intimate? Explain.

7. Describe a time people thought you were crazy.

8. Describe a time you were sent to spy on someone or someone was sent to spy on you.

9. How much attention should a girl pay to her father?

10. Free Write

11. Describe a time you disapproved of something your parents were doing.

12. Do you believe that there is only one person for you?

13. Describe a time you were devastated over something someone did.

14. Describe a time you were impulsive and regretted it.

15. Free Write