| Hamlet | Prince of Denmark, outmaneuvered by his uncle |
| Claudius | King of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle (and brother of the slain king) |
| Horatio | friend and confidant to Hamlet (in first act with soldiers) |
| Gertrude | Queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet |
| Polonius | advisor to the king, political animal |
| Laertes | son to Polonius and brother of Ophelia |
| Ophelia | daughter to Polonius |
| Rosencrantz and Guildenstern | “Friends” of Prince Hamlet; sent for by Claudius to… |
| Marcellus and Barnardo | officers of the watch who first see ghost |
| Two Clowns | grave-diggers. In the film version one of the gravediggers is played brilliantly by Billy Crystal. Pay close attention to the speech and language of the gravediggers as compared to the other characters in the play |
| How is the conflict initiated? | When Hamlet talks to the ghost of his father |
| What is Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia? | boyfriend/ lover |
| What is Hamlet’s relationship with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? | college friends |
| What is Hamlet’s relationship with Horatio? | best friend |
| Why is Hamlet reluctant to believe the ghost? | he thinks it might be the devil tricking him |
| What does the ghost ask Hamlet to do? | avenge him |
| What does the ghost caution Hamlet against? | bringing his mom into it |
| What is Hamlet’s “antic disposition?” | his madness |
| How does Hamlet decide to “prove” his uncle’s guilt? | he puts on a play like his father’s death |
| What is the name of the play within the play in Hamlet? | the murder of gonzago |
| What deception did Denmark believe was the cause of King Hamlet’s death? | death by natural causes |
| What does Polonius feel is the reason for Hamlet’s madness? | Hamlet’s is in true love with daughter |
| How does Polonius die? | hamlet stabs him |
| How does Hamlet respond to the death of Polonius? | he goes mad and blows up on his mom |
| How does Ophelia die? | she drowns |
| According to the gravedigger, how old is Hamlet? | 30 |
| Who does Hamlet trust the most? | horatio |
| Where do Hamlet and Laertes attend school? | paris |
| But to perseverIn obstinate condolement is a courseOf impious stubbornness; ’tis unmanly grief;It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,A heart unfortified, a mind impatient. | claudius |
| This above all – to thine own self be true;And it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man. | polonius |
| My words fly up, my thoughts remain below;Words without thoughts never to heaven go. | claudius |
| I lov’d Ophelia: forty thousand brothers Could not, with all their quantity of love, Make up my sum. | hamlet |
| Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince,And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! | horatio |
Hamlet
September 4, 2019