Rick Reads The Life's Work of an English Teacher

Hamlet

Hamlet Study Guide

Study questions for every scene of Hamlet, to answer before each class.

By Rick Reed

Shakespeare Hamlet Drama Study guide

ENGLISH 11AP/Literature and Composition

Study Guide - Hamlet

Mr. Reed

Use the following questions to guide you through this reading of Hamlet. In each case identify the lines that support your response. Each of you is responsible for a brief written response to each question.

Act I, Scene i

  1. What tone does the first scene establish?
  2. What contrasts do you observe in the characters in this scene?
  3. Why is Horatio in this scene—from the point of view of the other characters? From the point of view of the playwright? How does Horatio interpret the appearance of the ghost?
  4. What exposition is provided concerning Fortinbras? Why?
  5. What is the tone of Bernardo’s speech in lines 63-64?

Act I, Scene ii

  1. What tone(s) does this scene establish? How does Shakespeare use Hamlet’s clothing (80-81) to help establish tone?
  2. What does Hamlet reveal about his character when he says, “I know not ‘seems’” (79)?
  3. What is Claudius’s response to Hamlet’s mourning? Why does he not want Hamlet to return to his studies in Wittenberg? How long ago did Hamlet’s father die?
  4. What is Hamlet’s attitude and state of mind as reflected in lines 133-164?
  5. Which statement by Hamlet connects his thoughts to Scene i, even though he knows nothing about the events of that scene? What attitude do lines 265-267 reveal in Hamlet?

Act I, Scene iii

  1. What is Laertes’ advice to his sister? What does his advice reveal about him? What is Ophelia’s response? What does her response reveal about her?
  2. What is Polonius’s advice to Laertes? What does his advice reveal about him?
  3. What is Polonius’s advice to Ophelia? What does his advice reveal about him? What does Ophelia’s response reveal about her?

Act I, Scene iv

  1. What about Claudius does Hamlet criticize? What does the criticism reveal about him?
  2. To what generalization about humanity does his complaint against Claudius lead? What may be Hamlet’s particular fault?
  3. What does line 73 reveal about Hamlet’s character? How may you link it to 1.2.133-164?
  4. With what dilemma does the appearance of the ghost present Hamlet?

Act I, Scene v

  1. What important information concerning the ghost comes from lines 5-7 and 14-18, aside from its identity?
  2. What significant exposition does the ghost provide in lines 46-98? Is that information trustworthy? Be sure you can defend your answer.
  3. What is the ghost’s request (command) of Hamlet? What prohibition does he lay upon Hamlet? What is the significance of line 112?
  4. Why does Hamlet resolve to “put an antic disposition on” (192)?
  5. What is the significance of lines 153-154 in determining Hamlet’s state of mind? How does it measure up against lines 210-212?

Overview of Act I

  1. What parallels can you find in the following lines from this act: 2.139-141, 3.42-43, 4.100, and 5.39-40? What idea or emotion may Shakespeare be trying to evoke?
  2. Compare the word strange in 1.75, 2.233, 5.34, and 5.185.

Act II, Scene i

  1. What does Polonius’s conversation with Reynaldo reveal about the old man’s character?
  2. Explain line 70.

Act II, Scene ii

  1. What is the tone of Claudius’s first speech?
  2. What do lines 59-60 reveal about Gertrude?
  3. How does Shakespeare add to the Hamlet-Fortinbras dynamic of the plot?
  4. How are lines 97-99 ironic?
  5. Locate and explain the effect of the example of anadiplosis in one of Polonius’s speeches on p. 89.
  6. What does his love letter reveal about Hamlet?
  7. On what comparison does Polonius base his conclusion that Hamlet is mad with love?
  8. What tone(s) dominate(s) and what is the significance of most of Hamlet’s speeches between 240 and 444?
  9. Why is Hamlet’s allusion to Jephthah appropriate in reference to Polonius?
  10. What is the tone of Hamlet’s conversation with the players? What is the significance of that exchange?
  11. What are the tone and meaning of Hamlet’s soliloquy at the conclusion of this act?

Act III, Scene i

  1. What can you determine about Gertrude’s attitude toward Ophelia from lines 41-46?
  2. What is the tone of Hamlet’s soliloquy (64-98)? What does Hamlet mean by lines 91-93? Do you agree or disagree?
  3. Contrast the tone of Hamlet’s remarks with Ophelia’s responses (99-175). In lines 134-136, Hamlet asserts that he is “very proud, revengeful, ambitious.” Why does he make this remark? Is it accurate?
  4. What different conclusions do Claudius and Polonius reach regarding their observation of Hamlet and Ophelia? Who is correct in his inference?

Act III, Scene ii

  1. How does this scene present and comment on the conflict between appearance and reality?
  2. Why is it significant that Horatio—and he alone—meets Hamlet’s standard of conduct? Contrast 1.4.26-31 to 3.2.72-79.
  3. According to Ophelia, how much time has passed since Hamlet’s father’s death? How much time, then, has passed since 1.1?
  4. When Gertrude says “The lady doth protest too much methinks,” (254) does she speak from self-knowledge, or are her words merely unconscious irony?
  5. Why is the title of the play-within-a-play appropriate?

Act III, Scene iii

  1. What is the tone of Claudius’ opening speech? What is the tone of his speech in lines 40-76?
  2. Why does Hamlet not take Claudius’ life when he has the chance?

Act III, Scene iv

  1. How does Shakespeare use parallelism to build dramatic tension in lines 12-13?
  2. What is the dramatic significance of lines 99-100?
  3. Why, in your opinion, does Shakespeare make the ghost invisible to Gertrude?
  4. What does Hamlet mean in line 199? Is his assertion believable?

Act IV, Scene i

  1. What insight into Claudius’ character may we infer from line 14?

Act IV, Scene ii

  1. What is the tone of Hamlet’s lines in this scene?

Act IV, Scene iii

  1. Why has Claudius been slow to simply punish or get rid of Hamlet?
  2. What is the tone of Hamlet’s lines in this scene? Of Claudius’ words in lines 67-77?

Act IV, Scene iv

  1. Why does Fortinbras command his captain to “[g]o softly on”? (9)
  2. What is Hamlet actually saying in his soliloquy (34-69)? What is the tone of his soliloquy?

Act IV, Scene v

  1. Why has Ophelia gone mad? [Beware of offering too simplistic an answer.]
  2. What do you make of the fact that Laertes has returned from France secretly? What new threat does Laertes pose to Claudius?
  3. What is the meaning and tone of Claudius’ words in lines 137-140?
  4. How do lines 150-151 reveal Laertes’ will to vengeance?
  5. What attitude underlies Claudius’ challenge to Laertes in lines 227-236?

Act IV, Scene vi

  1. How do you explain Hamlet’s adventure with the pirates?

Act IV, Scene vii

  1. What reasons does Claudius offer Laertes to explain his failure to prosecute Hamlet for Polonius’s death? How does his tone help to convince Laertes?
  2. How do you explain Laertes’ acceptance of the plot to kill Hamlet? To which of Laertes’ personal traits does Claudius appeal?
  3. What is the tone of Claudius’ speech following Gertrude’s account of Ophelia’s death?

Act V, Scene i

  1. The first portion of this scene is a classic example of comic relief. What if anything do you—as a modern reader—find humorous about it?
  2. How old is Hamlet? Explain by interpreting the lines rather than by quoting the commentary.
  3. Does Hamlet refer to Gertrude or to Ophelia in lines 199-202?
  4. What is the tone of the priests? What is the tone of Laertes’ response?

Act V, Scene ii

  1. What is the tone of Hamlet’s recounting of his recent adventure to Horatio?
  2. Why do many readers find the exchange between Hamlet and Osric very difficult to read?
  3. Do you see anything humorously ironic in lines 168-169?
  4. How do you feel about the quickness of the conclusion? Why might Shakespeare have handled it in this manner?
  5. What is the meaning of lines 431-433? What conclusion may you draw from the fact that Shakespeare gives Fortinbras the final words of the play?