| What is the atmosphere at the opening of the play? | Cold, spooky, quiet |
| How is this produced? | “Twas not a mouse stirring”, “Tis bitter cold” |
| Explain, “Long live the king” | Commemorating old king and saluting new king |
| Who is Bernardo, Francisco, and Marcellus? Who is Horatio? | Guards who first sees the ghost. Hamlet’s best friend |
| What is Bernardo’s state of mind? How is this evident? | He is spooked. “Bid them make haste” |
| What is the significance of Francisco’s words: “And I am sick at heart” | He is depressed from the death of the king |
| Provide the first reference to the ghost | “So, tell us, did you see that thing again tonight?… we’ve seen twice now. That’s why I’ve begged him to come on our shift tonight, so that if the ghost appears he can see what we see and speak to it” |
| What does Horatio think the ghost is? | A fantasy of their imagination |
| When the ghost appears, how is Horatio affected? | He is struck by fear and wonder, he now believes |
| What does Marcellus mean by “Thou art a scholar, speak it Horatio” | That he is the educated one and that he should be able to communicate with it. |
| How do Bernardo and Horatio describe the ghost? | Similar to the king, wearing similar armor from when he “died” in battle |
| Does the ghost answer Horatio? Does Horatio still hold the same view he had at the beginning? | No, he now believes and thinks that this foreshadows danger to the kingdom |
| How does Horatio describe young Fortinbras | Hot and full of metal |
| What connection does Bernardo make between the appearances of the ghost and the disturbed conditions in Norway? | The ghost is dressed as the king, the ghost is there to warn them of danger in the kingdom |
| When the ghost reappears, what does Horatio say | If you have anything good to say, speak |
| Why does the ghost appear? | To warn them; disappears after the crow |
Hamlet Act 1 Scene 1
July 17, 2019