| “To be or not be that is the question” (III.i.64). What is the meaning behind this question that Hamlet asks? | Hamlet questions living or dying, whether to kill himself or not. |
| Mad as the sea and wind when both contend which is mightier” (IV.i.7). Why does Gertrude compare Hamlet to the sea and wind? | Because Hamlet is unstable |
| True or false: if false, explain why:-Gertrude accidentally drinks a poisoned drink that was meant for Hamlet to drink-Fortinbras passes through Denmark and nothing occurs with the Danish and Norwegians. | -True-False, Fortinbras becomes king of Denmark. |
| Where was Ophelia found dead and how did she die? | In a river and she drowned |
| -How long has the gravedigger been a sexton in Denmark? | 30 years |
| “How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter.” (II.II.204) Explain why Polonius thinks that Hamlet is harping on his daughter and not worried about things about his father’s death. | Polonius thinks Hamlet is in love with his daughter because hamlet came into her room. |
| “What is he that builds stronger than either the mason the shipwright or the carpenter” (IV.I.41) What could the grave digger be meaning by this quote. | He means that people are entitled. |
| What do you think Shakespeare wanted to convey the audience by creating the plot the way he did. | He wanted to show the hardships and tragedies of the play. |
| How do you feel about the way the play ended, do you think that everyone should’ve died. | People should always live. |
| How did Hamlets demeanor changed through the entirety of the play compared to just the beginning? | He went from sad to insane. |
| How did Hamlet’s personality change after he killed Polonius. | He became crazy after killing Polonius. |
| “If you call me ‘jephtah,’ my lord I have a daughter that I love passing well.” (II.ii.435-436). Explain the significance of Hamlet alluding to Jephtah in this statement. | A: The reference is a biblical one, where God sacrificed Jephtah’s daughter because he supposedly “did not” love her. |
| “Alexander died… Alexander returneth to dust;dust is earth.” (V.i.216,217). What is Shakespeare emphasizing with this quote? Why does Hamlet seem out of touch in this scene? | A: Hamlet realizes all humans turn into dust when they die. He looks at life with less value because in the end everybody shares the same fate.Questions: |
| Explain the metaphoric reason behind Shakespeare’s graveyard scene. | A: He uses the graveyard scene to figuratively represent the benefits the wealthy have in society. |
| What theme could be behind the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? | A: The deaths behind R & G were inspired by the motive of betrayal. |
| Mystery Question: Hamlet is obsessed with revenge, yet he fails to avenge his father. What does this say about Hamlet? | … |
| Mystery Question:Do you think Hamlet’s reaction to his mother’s remarriage is justified? If you were in Hamlet’s shoes, would you react the same way? | … |
| Why did Hamlet not want Horatio to drink the poison? | … |
| Do you believe hamlet had a feeling his life was coming to an end at any part of the book if so explain? | … |
| “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy” | … |
| “Doubt thou the stars are fire;Doubt that the sun doth move;Doubt truth to be a liar;But never doubt I love.” | … |
| “To die, to sleep – To sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub,For in this sleep of death what dreams may come…” | … |
Hamlet Act V
August 18, 2019