Hamlet Act 2

Reynaldo Polonius’s servant who we only meet once
What does Polonius send Reynaldo to do? go to France to spy on Laertes, make sure he’s behaving
When Polonius sends Reynaldo to France, what does this show? he doesn’t trust his son
Describe the scene Ophelia describes to her father with Hamlet Hamlet bursted into her room looking disheveled. He grabbed her wrists and shook her. Then he backed out of the room. Didn’t say one word
Why did Hamlet go into Ophelia’s room and scare her like that? it was an act of antic disposition. (the first time we see his antic disposition)
What is Polonius’ theory about why Hamlet is acting crazy he is upset about the breakup
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Hamlet’s childhood friends
Why did the King bring in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? to have them try to find out what’s bothering Hamlet (basically spy on Hamlet)
Why do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to spy on Hamlet? the queen says they’ll be rewarded (not being good friends to Hamlet)
Who does Polonius tell his theory to? the king and queen
What does the queen say she thinks is the reason for Hamlet being upset? his father’s death and their hasty marriage (This is correct! The one time she says something smart!)
Uncle of Young Fortinbras responds to king’s letter by saying: Young Fortinbras was planning to attack Denmark, but now he’s not. Now he wants to attack Poland and he wants to march through Denmark to get there
How does King Claudius respond to Uncle Fortinbras’s letter? I’ll think about it (not yes, not no)
Talking way too much and not getting to the point is one of ______’s qualities. Polonius
What does Polonius show the king and queen to help prove his theory? the love letter to Ophelia from Hamlet
What does the love letter show? That Hamlet was truly in love with her. He didn’t just want to sleep with her like everyone thought
What does the queen think about Polonius’ theory? she prays it’s true because she doesn’t want to be the reason for her son being crazy. She’d rather it be Ophelia
When the king asks Polonius “how can we test your theory?” what does Polonius say? Hamlet hangs out here every day for hours. We’ll set up Ophelia to go talk to Hamlet. We’ll hide behind the curtain and listen and come to a conclusion
After Polonius is done talking with the king, Hamlet comes in and… starts messing with Polonius by calling him a fishmonger and pretending like he doesn’t recognize him.
Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern good liars? no. Hamlet sees right through them
What makes Hamlet suspicious about seeing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? he hasn’t seen them in years, now all of a sudden they show up and won’t tell him why
Why does Hamlet say Denmark is a “prison”? he can’t leave because he told his mother he wouldn’t
“nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so” Hamlet- it’s all about perception/how you see things that makes it good or bad
How many times does Hamlet ask why Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are there? 4 times
“My lord, we were sent for” Guildenstern- telling Hamlet why they’re there
Hamlet’s speech telling them why he’s upset he lost his “murph” (happiness). He’s depressed. Life is meaningless to him.
What is Hamlet’s philosophy of humanity? (revealed in his speech to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) What separates us from animals is our ability to reason. We all have this ability. Even with abilities like this, he doesn’t care. He is angry at human kind. Specifically Claudius, Ophelia, and Gertrude
players poor traveling entertainers
What does Hamlet think when he hears the players are coming to Elsinore? he’s happy/excited. it’ll lighten the mood
How does Hamlet treat the players? How does Polonius treat them? Hamlet-very nicelyPolonius- like they’re lower class
“Good my lord, will you see the players well treated?” Hamlet- treat the players well. (Polonius responds that he’ll treat them like the lower class they are)
When the players come, what major difference between Hamlet and Polonius is revealed? their view of poor people
Play within the play Murder of Gonzago
Hamlet’s plan to see if the ghost was telling the truth He will change the play Murder of Gonzago around to make it like the murder of his father. Then he’ll watch Claudius’ reaction
Soliloquy #2 -theme- his plan for revenge-he says how passionate the actor’s speech was-I should be that passionate-am I a coward?-starting to see himself for what he is- a procrastinator-what am I waiting for? I haven’t done anything yet-“Bloody villain!” = Claudius-he says his plan-through the play, I hope to catch my uncle