hamlet act 2

What specific job Polonius gives to Reynaldo at the beginning of this scene? Is Polonius being a good dad when he assigns this task? Explain your answer. Polonius wants Reynadlo to deliver money and letters to laertes, who is now in france. He also, though, wants smears Laretes’ reputation a bit as he tries to earn the trust of Laertes’ friends, whom he hoped will tell Reynaldo about Laertes’ naughty behavior. Students’ answer to the last questions will vary. Some will say that an involved parents should check up on his kids, but most students agree that Polonius takes his inquiry too far here.
Describe what hamlet does when he enters Ophelia’s room. Why, do you suppose, hamlet chose Ophelia to be the first person to whom he reveals his new, strange behavior? He grabs Ophelia’s wrist and stares at her face without speaking for a long time. He nods his head three times and sighs heavily. Then, he stalks out of her room staring at her as he goes. He does not look to see if he is going to run into the walls are the door; he just keeps staring at Ophelia as he leave the room.
According to Polonius, what is the force that causes the most insanity/self-destruction in the world? Polonius says that love is a force that most often causes people to behave in a way. The line that tells us is : “This is the very ecstasy of love, whose violent property fordoes itself and leads the will to desperate undertaking as often as any passion under heaven”
What recently actions by Ophelia does Polonius believe have led to Hamlets insanely? What do Ophelia’s actions show us about her character? Ophelia sent back love letters that Hamlet tried to have delivered to her and she hasn’t made herself available to be wooed by him. Polonius believe this blocking of love has led to Hamelt’s insanity. This action shows us that Ophelia is a dutiful daughter; she has fully obeyed her father’s instructions without hesitation.
Explain how the respect of Claudius and Gertrude upon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is similar to the mission give Reynaldo by Polonius in the last scene. What point is Shakespeare making to the audience here? In both cases, parents are hiring/requesting someone to spy on their children. Shakespeare seems to be critical of partners here, implying that non of them are truly about to control their adult children.
How has the problem with young Fortinbras been solved? Do you think King Claudius should give permission for young Fortinbras to pass through Denmark on his way to attack Poland? Why or why not? The elder uncle scolded the younger Fortinbras and told him to stop his plains of attacking Denmark. The younger man was given 3,000 crowns to placate him and he vows to leave Denmark alone. Now, the king of Norway has asked king Claudius to allow permission for young Fortinbras to pass though Denmark as he plain to launch attack against Poland. If he says no to the request and denies passage, it might alienate the leadership of Norway. If he says yes and allows the Norwegians access to Poland via Denmark, then his people might become targets, too. It could be a trick, allowing your enemy deep u to the heart of your country.
Early in the scene, Polonius delivers this famous line: “…brevity is the soul of wit.” What’s ironic about this? Polonius is extremely long-winded , so it should amuse to the audience that these words come from his lips.
Find and write down a line from Polonius that shows that he has a large ego. “Hang there been such a time – I would fain know that – that i have positively said, “this so,’ when, it proved otherwise?”
Polonius is so certain that he is correct about the source of Hamlet’s insanity that he points to his head and shoulders and says, “Take this from this, if this be otherwise,” meaning he should be killed if he’s wrong. Given that we know the truth about Hamlet and given that this is a famous tragedy, what do you suppose is going to happen to Polonius by the end of this play? Obviously, this line is an element of foreshadowing. (Polonius is killed in the play)
What is Polonius’ plain to find out of hamlet is truly love-crazed over Ophelia? He says he and Claudius should hide behind a curtain in the lobby of the castle where hamlet often likes to take long walks as hamlet comes across Ophelia there. They basically plan to eavesdrop on hamlet and Ophelia.
While talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet says this famous line: “…for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” What do you think of Hamlet’s philosophy here? Is he right or wrong? Explain your thoughts and be sure to use a modern example to prove your point To have them meet so they can spy on them
Shakespeare uses a lighter moment in this scene to make fun of the London theater seven of his own time. What’s troubling trend in state productions in the late 1500’s that Shakespeare does not like ? He’s irritated by the popular trend of having children, instead of adult actors, in all of the roles. When Roseencrantz tells hamlet that the boy actors have won over public favor, he says, “Ag, that they do, my lord – Hercules and his load, too.” This is a veiled reference to like at Shakespeare’s globe theater, as Hercules worked with the tartan atlas for a time to hold the weigh of the world in his shoulders. This is an inside joke of sorts that modern readers may miss
Why is hamlet’s choice of hearing the speech about Pyrrhus, Priam, and Hecuba an interesting choice? The Greek tragedy holds parallels for what he wants to do to King Claudius and the grief that Hecuba will feel about seeing her dead husband
What’s the name of the play that hamlet has requested the acting troupe to preform the following night? What is hamlets plain to make the play even more-closely parallel the murderous actions of his uncle? Hamlet wants to see a play called, The Murder of Gonzago. He will add a few lines to the original work. Those lines will most likely mimic the specifics of Claudius murderous actions against king Hamlet.
Why does the actor’s crying bother hamlet? The actors emphasize for Hamlet his own lack of passion and lack of action moving forward in his plain to kill Claudius. He reasons that a more – passionate man, like this actor, wouldn’t hesitate in the way he has.
In Act I, Scene 5, Hamlet said, “It is an honest ghost.” Yet in this scene, he says, “The spirit that I have seen may be the devil.” What has evidently happened as Hamlet has thought about the strange events? He’s begun to have doubts about moving forward with his plot against Claudius. He know the ghost is right; but he’s intimidated and someone frozen by him emotions. Murdering someone is a heavy move. Hamlets not quite ready to act, so he says he wants more than evidence that will him help steel this nerve
Hamlet talks about the skill of the actor who must ” force his soul” to pretend to have emotions. How has hamlet also been playing a role in act II? He has been acting mad thorough out act II
What “motive and cue for passion” does hamlet have? How would it affect the actor’s performance if her were to have it? Hamlets “motive and cue” is his fathers murder. It is reasonable to assume that an actor that’s has had this same experience would be able to draw upon it for his preference.
Hamlet asks himself if he’s a coward. Do you think he is? No he is waiting until the proper time to take action.
Why might hamlet think of himself as a villain? He may think that failing to revenge his fathers death is evil. Or He may feel like doing that — and committing murder — is evil.
Do you think it is possible to force someone to confess to a crime by showing them a re-enactment of it? It is possible because you could make them feel guilty by making them think about what they did.
Hamlet is afraid the ghost of his father may in fact be the devil in disguise. Do you think this is a possibility? Yes because a loving father wouldn’t ask his child to get revenge on his death.