| Long live the King! | Barnardo to Franciscothe watchword(Act 1, Scene 1, Line 3) |
| You are the most immediate to our throne | King Claudius to HamletKing is telling Hamlet not to return to school(Act 1, Scene 2, Line 113) |
| O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into dew. | A soliloquy of HamletHe wishes he could cease to exist(Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 133-134) |
| Let me not think on’t; frailty, thy name is woman! | A soliloquy of HamletHe hates his mother and uncle’s marriageAct 1, Scene 2, Line 150) |
| Neither a borrower nor a lender be | Polonius to LaertesPolonius is giving advice to Laertes before he goes to France(Act 1, Scene 3, Line 81) |
| This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man | Polonius to LaertesIf you are true to yourself, you will be true to others. More advice to Laertes before he goes to France.(Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 84-86) |
| Something is rotten in the state of Denmark | Marcellus to HoratioSomething is wrong in Denmark; when Hamlet goes to speak to the ghost.(Act 1, Scene 4, Line 100) |
| As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on | Hamlet to HoratioThe next time Horatio sees Hamlet, Hamlet will be acting crazy |
| The time is out of joint. O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right. | Hamlet to HoratioHamlet’s world has been turned upside down.(Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 210-211 |
| Brevity is the soul of wit. | Polonius to King and QueenIronic because Polonius is never brief – says this before he tells them the reason for Hamlet’s madness(Act 2, Scene 2, Line 97) |
| Words, words, words. | Hamlet to PoloniusIn response to Polonius question about what Hamlet is reading.(Act 2, Scene 2, Line 210) |
| Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t. | Polonius (aside)What Hamlet is saying is crazy, but there is a reason for it.(Act 2, Scene 2, Line 221) |
| I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw. | Hamlet to GuildensternHamlet is only crazy when he wants to be; it is an act, and he is fully aware of what is going on.(Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 402-402) |
| More relative than this. The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King. | Hamlet’s soliloquyHamlet wants to prove the King’s guilt(Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 633-634) |
| Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. | Ophelia to HamletShe doesn’t want his gifts anymore because he is not who she thought he was.(Act 3, Scene 1, Line 111) |
| Madness in great ones must not (unwatched) go. | King Claudius to PoloniusThe King is worried for his own safety because of Hamlet’s madness.(Act 3, Scene 1, Line 202) |
| The lady doth protest too much, methinks. | Queen Gertrude to HamletSpeaking during the play; thinks the woman in the play should just marry the man and move on.(Act 3, Scene 2, Line 254) |
| Give me some light! Away! | King Claudius to gathered companyThis shows the King’s guilt which is provoked by the play.(Act 3, Scene 2, Line 295) |
| I will speak (daggers) to her, but use none. | Soliloquy of HamletHe plans to speak harshly with his mother.(Act 3, Scene 2, Line 429) |
| O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven. | King Claudius’ soliloquyHis crime is horrible; he says this when trying to pray.(Act 3, Scene 3, Line 40) |
| My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; words without thoughts never to heaven go. | King ClaudiusHe cannot pray for forgiveness because he isn’t sorry for what he has done.(Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 102-103) |
| That I essentially am not in madness, but mad in craft. | Hamlet to Queen GertrudeHe is trying to convince the Queen that he is only acting, and not really mad.(Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 209-210) |
| Whom I will trust as I will Adders fanged. | Hamlet to Queen GertrudeReferring to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern; doesn’t trust them.(Act 3, Scene 4, Line 226) |
| There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies that’s for thoughts. | Ophelia to LaertesDemonstrates Ophelia’s lack of touch with reality and developing insanity.(Act 4, Scene 5, Lines 199-201) |
| To cut his throat I’ th’ church. | Laertes to King ClaudiusShows Laertes’ desire to kill Hamlet(Act 4, Scene 7, Line 144) |
| Sweets to the sweet, farewell. | Queen Gertrude to dead OpheliaSweet flowers for a sweet girl(Act 5, Scene 1, Line 254) |
| The cat will mew, and the dog will have his day. | Hamlet to everyone, especially LaertesEverything will happen as it is supposed to; says this after he tell everyone he loves Ophelia |
| There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will. | Hamlet to HoratioOur destiny is fixed, no matter what(Act 5, Scene 2, Lines 11-12) |
| That I have shot my arrow o’er the house and hurt my brother. | Hamlet to LaertesHe says this to prove his innocence in killing Polonius; he is sick with madness, not his fault(Act 5, Scene 2, Lines 257-258) |
| But I do prophesy the election lights on Fortinbras; he has my dying voice. | Hamlet to everyoneSays Fortinbras will be the next king.(Act 5, Scene 2, Lines 392-393) |
| Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet Prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. | Horatio to HamletHis farewell to Hamlet(Act 5, Scene 2, Lines 396-397) |
| aside | words spoken to the audience so other characters cannot hear |
| anachronism | something or someone that is not in its historical or chronological place |
| blank verse | unrhymed iambic pentameter |
| soliloquy | monologue made by one character alone on stage; reveals true feelings |
| tragic hero | hero with a tragic flaw whose death affects the course of empire with a character weakness that leads to his downfall- Hamlet: his inability to act |
| Humor | some kind of comic relief- gravedigger scene |
| Conflicts (external and internal) | man against man, man against nature, man against himself- man against man: Laertes vs. Hamlet in the duel scene- man against himself: Hamlet struggles to get the courage to act |
| supernatural element | something extraordinary- the ghost |
| chance happening | something that occurs without planning that leads to a catastrophe- Hamlet kills Polonius |
| Revenge motive | character who wants to get back at someone- Hamlet wants revenge on King Claudius- Laertes wants revenge on Hamlet |
Hamlet Quote Test
July 5, 2019