NORTH WEBSTER

I am including the study guides for the Hamlet test for you to study over the break

Hamlet
Act I Study Guide
Answer the questions in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper.
Scene 1
1. What is Horatio's opinion of the ghost before and after he sees it? What does the ghost look like?
2. Explain the political unrest that takes place in Denmark at the beginning of the play. (lines 90-120)
3. Paraphrase the 3 questions that Horatio asks the ghost. (lines 140-150)
4. List the 2 allusions that Horatio uses in lines 124-137. Explain why Horatio uses them.
5. List 3 examples of figurative language used in Act I, scene 1.
Scene 2
6. What is the “good and bad” news Claudius states to his royal court in lines 1-16.
7. How does Claudius deal with young Fortinbras’ threat against Denmark? (Lines 17-38.)
8. Explain the queen’s comment: “cast thy knighted color off…” (line 70)
9. Explain Claudius’ comments to Hamlet regarding his father’s death. Explain at least 5 pieces of advice he gives to
Hamlet? (lines 90-121)
10. List and explain the 4 allusions in Hamlet’s speech. (lines 133-164)
11. Quote and explain 4 examples of figurative language from Hamlet’s speech. (lines 133-164)
Scene 3
12. Compare Laertes’ advice to Ophelia (lines 20-41) with Polonius command to Ophelia (lines 132-145)
Scene 4
13. Explain Horatio’s fear about the Ghost. (lines 77-86)
Scene 5
14. In lines 14-18, the ghost gives Hamlet a hint about the afterlife. Where is he? What is his daily routine?
15. Explain the figurative language the ghost uses in lines 18-28. What point does the ghost make?
16. What does the entire kingdom of Denmark believe happened to King Hamlet? (lines 38-47)
17. Explain the real details of how King Hamlet died. (lines 65-87)
18. What line tells Hamlet there may have been an affair between Gertrude and Claudius?
19. What does the ghost say to do about the queen? Copy the line that uses a metaphor for guilt.
20. What does Hamlet mean when he says he will “put on an antic disposition”? Why do you think he will do this?
(lines 188-202)
21. Explain the command Hamlet gives to Horatio and the guards. Pay close attention to what is in the quotes

Hamlet
Act II Study Guide
Answer the questions in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper.
Scene 1
1. Where is Reynaldo being sent? Why?
2. Describe the encounter between Ophelia and Hamlet. (lines 99-112)
3. What conclusion about Hamlet does Polonius come to at the end of this scene? (lines 123-132)
Scene 2
4. Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? What are they instructed to do? (1-42)
5. How does the King of Norway respond to his Nephew's plot against Denmark? What is young Fortinbras new
plan of action? (64-85)
6. What does Gertrude believe to be the cause of Hamlet's "distemper"? (56-60)
7. What does Polonius believe to be the cause of Hamlet's "distemper"? (91-181).
8. What is Polonius' plan to find the true cause of Hamlet's "antic disposition"? (171-181)
9. How & why does Hamlet use figurative language with Polonius? List 2 examples. (185-237)
10. Explain the “prison” and “shadow” metaphors Hamlet uses when speaking with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
(257 - 285)
11. Hamlet’s speech to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is rich with figurative language. List 4 examples and
explain them. What does the audience learn about Hamlet’s attitude and behavior in these lines? What
statement is Shakespeare, through the character of Hamlet, saying about human nature? (316 - 334)
12. Explain the allusion to Jepthah in lines 427 - 436.
13. A group of players (or actors) arrive at Elsinore. What is the significance of the speech about Pyrrhus that
Hamlet requests to hear? (458 – 544)
14. What 2 requests does Hamlet ask of the actor? (560 – 569)
15. Explain Hamlet's analogy in lines 578 - 598.
16. Hamlet uses several metaphors and similes to describe himself in the last speech (576 – 634). Quote 3
examples and explain his self-image or mindset.
17. How has Hamlet's opinion of the ghost changed? What is Hamlet's new plan of action? (616-634

Hamlet
Act III Study Guide
Answer the questions in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper.
Scene 1
1. What instruction is Ophelia given at the beginning of this scene? (48-51)
2. Copy the line where we see Claudius admit his guilt.
3. Explain Polonius’ statement: “(‘Tis too much proved), that with devotion’s visage and pious action we do sugar o’er
the devil himself.” (52-55)
4. Explain King Claudius’ metaphor in lines 56-62. What important fact does he reveal to the audience? Why is it in an
“aside?”
5. List and explain 3 examples of figurative language from Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech. (64-96)
6. List and explain 2 examples of figurative language from Ophelia’s speech in lines 163-175.
7. What does the king decide to do with Hamlet in lines 176-189? What is his fear?
8. What does Polonius plan to do in lines 190-201?
Scene 2
9. What does Hamlet instruct Horatio to do before the play? (79-92)
10. Quote and explain 2 examples of Hamlet’s rudeness during the play. (98-290)
11. Explain Hamlet’s “pipe” metaphor in lines 374-402.
12. Quote and explain 3 examples of figurative language in lines 419-432.
13. How is Hamlet’s soliloquy at the end of scene 2 different from others? 419-432
Scene 3
14. Read the king's soliloquy (40-76) Is he sorry he killed his brother? What would he have done in order to repent?
Explain his prayer.
15. Why won't Hamlet kill Claudius and get revenge in this scene? (77-101)
16. Explain the irony in this scene. Focus on lines 102-103
Scene 4
17. Explain 2 of the 4 allusion in lines 63-81.
18. Quote and explain 2 examples of figurative language in lines 63-81.
19. Why does the ghost reappear? (126-131)
20. What 2 things does hamlet command his mother not to do? (178-218)
21. Lines 225-232 provide some foreshadowing. What do you think will happen next?

Hamlet
Act IV Study Guide
Answer the questions in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper.
Scene 1
1. What does Gertrude relate to the king? What is the king's fear? (lines 1-15)
Scene 2
2. Explain the metaphor Hamlet uses to describe Rosencrantz. (lines 10-24)
Scene 3
3. According to Hamlet, where is Polonius? Explain his lines, (lines 22-27)
4. What does the King plan for Hamlet? (lines 67-77)
Scene 4
5. Why has Fortinbras come to Denmark? (lines 1-30)
6. Explain the comparison between Hamlet and the army of soldiers in the soliloquy. (lines 50-69)
7. Describe Hamlet's attitude at the end of Scene 4. (lines 68-69)
Scene 5
8. What happened to Ophelia and why? (lines 1-104)
9. Why is Laertes upset about in lines 237-242?
10. What is ironic about King Claudius’ speech in lines 135-141?
Scene 6
11. What happens to Hamlet on his trip?
Scene 7
12. Why doesnt't Claudius execute Hamlet for the murder of Polonius? (lines 11-26)
13. In what manner will the king go about killing Hamlet? (69-76)
14. Read King Claudius’ question to Laertes in lines 141-143 and note Laertes response in line 144. With this in
mind, compare Laertes and Hamlet in the way they each goes about getting revenge.
15. How do Laertes and Claudius plan to kill Hamlet? (lines 145-186)
16. What happens to Ophelia at the end of act 4?
Hamlet
Act V Study Guide
Answer the questions in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper.
Scene 1
1. What are the grave diggers debating over? (lines 1-32)
2. How does the grave digger answer Hamlet’s questions? (line 118-167, but focus on line 140)
3. How does Shakespeare make fun of his own country? (lines 155-157)
4. About how old is Hamlet? (lines 145-163)
5. Quote 3 examples of Hamlet’s use of Hyperbole at Ophelia’s funeral. (lines 281-301)
Scene 2
6. What does Hamlet find while on the ship to England? (lines 15-29)
7. How does Hamlet accomplish his revenge on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? (lines 33-63)
8. How does Hamlet justify his revenge on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? (lines 64-69)
9. What is Hamlet’s opinion of Osric? (lines 94-101)
10. What message does Osric bring and what is Hamlet’s response?
11. What is Horatio’s opinion about Hamlet’s above response? (lines 220-222)
12. Who arrives at the end of the play? What is his reaction to what he finds in Denmark? (lines 400-449)
13. How many people die in this play? List them, and the manner in which they died