Hamlet Act 2

Who does Polonius send to spy on Laertes? Renaldo
Does Polonius actually care about his son? No
What is Polonius concerned about when he sends Renaldo to spy on Laertes? His own reputation
Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Childhood friends of Hamlet II
Who is being used as pawns by Claudius? Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Why is Claudius using Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as pawns? Claudius knows they won’t argue or fight him
Do Claudius and Gertrude care about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? No
Why did Claudius and Gertrude ask Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to visit? So that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can find out what is wrong with Hamlet II
Does Claudius care more about Hamlet II or the possible war with Norway? Hamlet II
Is Gertrude aware of how upset her son his about her marriage with Claudius? Yes
Who returns to Denmark from Norway? Voltimand
What news from Norway does Voltimand get? That Fortinbras does not intend to attack Denmark but instead wants safe passage
How are Fortinbras and Hamlet II opposites? Hamlet’s father died -> he grievesFortinbras father died -> he fights
Who tells the King and Queen about Ophelia and Hamlet II? Polonius
What does Polonius read in front of Claudius and Gertrude? A letter from Hamlet II to Ophelia
What plan do Polonius, Gertrude, and Claudius devise to figure out if Hamlet II loves Ophelia or not? They plan to get Ophelia and Hamlet II together and spy on them to figure out there behavior
What is a fish monger? slang for a pimp
What happens when a actor talks “aside?” They speak to the audience as if talking to themselves. The other people on stage can’t hear them
What does Hamlet compare Denmark to? A prison
Does Hamlet II suspect why Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are visting? Yes
What famous father does Hamlet II cal Polonius? Jephtah
What is the play Hamlet asks to be preformed about? The play would be a reenactment of Hamlet I’s murder
What is Hamlet II’s plan surrounding the play? To watch Claudius’s reaction
What exactly is Reynaldo sent to Paris to do? Make up rumors about Laertes and see if the rumors he invents are actually true
Why does Polonius think that Hamlet II is acting weird? Believes Hamlet II is in love with Ophelia
How does Hamlet II appear to Ophelia in his guise of madness? Disheveled but he does not speak
Why does Polonius want to sort out Hamlets behavior? The public will be scared if the people in charge are acting weird
Is the King of Norway okay with Fortinbra’s plan to attack Denmark? No he forbids Fortinbras from attacking Denamark
Why does King Norway believe that Fortinbras is gathering troops? To attack Poland
What does Norway ask of Denmark? Safe passage through Denmark to Poland
What does Hamlet II reveal about his state of mind to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? That nothing makes him happy
Why (according to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) are the tragedians of the city forced to travel? The child actors are the popular theatre production
What does Hamlet II mean when he tells R&G that he is “but mad north-north-west”? There is one thing causing him to act crazy but he is in control.
Hamlet and the players recount part of a play concerning Pyrrhus, Priam, and Hecuba. From the portion given here, write what happens to these 3 characters. Priam is attacked by Prius and then Hecuba watches her husband die
Hamlet makes a strange request of one of the players for tomorrow’s performance. What is his request, and why do you suppose he makes it? Adding lines to the play in hopes of Claudius admitting his guilt
What is meant by this oft quoted line, “What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba” He is upset that the actor bring up true emotions about Hecuba’s loss.
In his soliloquy, Hamlet both upbraids himself and reveals his course of action. Is he so cruel to himself, and what does he plan to do? He is cruel to himself because he feels he is a coward for not already acting on his father behalf. Decides he will watch Claudius during the play before deciding his final act.
August 8, 2019