Act II

Who is who? Prince HamletGhost (Old King Hamlet I) King ClaudiusQueen Gertrude PoloniusReynaldoOphelia Cornelius and Voltemand Rosencrantz and Guildenstern The Players

“And there put on him what forgeries you please – marry, none so rank as may dishonor him, take heed of that....” Polonius

“…or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarreling, drabbing – you may go so far.” Polonius

“Your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth...and… by indirections find directions out.” Polonius

“O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!.” Ophelia

“…as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, no hat upon his head, his stockings fouled, ungartered, and down-gyved to his ankle, pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, and with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loose’d out of hell… ” Ophelia

“He took me by the wrist and held me hard…he falls to such perusal of my face as he would draw it.” Ophelia

“This is the very ecstasy of love.” Polonius

“I did repel his letters and denied his access to me.” “That hath made him mad.” OpheliaPolonius

“Thanks Guildenstern, and gentle Rosencrantz. And I beseech you instantly to visit my too much change’d son.” Queen Gertrude

“…of Hamlet’s transformation, so call it, sith nor the’ exterior nor the inward man resembles that it was. What it should be…” Claudius

“Your visitation will receive such thanks as fits a king’s remembrance.” Queen Gertrude

“Most fair return of greetings and desires. Upon our first, he sent out to suppress his nephew’s levies, which to him, appeared to be preparation ‘gainst the Polacks…” Voltemand

“Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star…” Polonius

“I’ll loose my daughter on him. Be you and I behind an arras then…” Polonius

“You are a fishmonger.” Prince Hamlet

“Let her not walk in the sun…” Prince Hamlet

“Words, words, words.” Prince Hamlet

“Though this be madness, there is method in it.” Polonius

“I have found the very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.” Polonius

“He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found the head and source of all your son’s distemper.” Claudius

“I doubt it is no other but the main – His father’s death and our (o’erhasty) marriage.” Queen Gertrude

“Faith, her privates we.” “In the secret parts of Fortune? O, most true! She is a strumpet. Guildenstern Prince Hamlet

“Denmark’s a prison.” Prince Hamlet

“…for there is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison.” Prince Hamlet

“Why then, your ambition makes it one.” Rosencrantz

“My lord, we were sent for.” Guildenstern

“I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the King and Queen molt no feather.” Hamlet

“What (a) piece of work is man... yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me, (no,) nor women neither…” Prince Hamlet

“But there is, sire, an aerie of children, little eyases, that cry out on top of question...” Rosencrantz

“…their writers do them wrong to make them exclaim against their own succession?” Prince Hamlet

“…for my uncle is King of Denmark, and those that would make mouths at him while my father lived give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats apiece for his picture in little.” Prince Hamlet

“Can you play ‘The Murder of Gonzago’?” Prince Hamlet

“Now I am alone. O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” Prince Hamlet

“I’ll observe his looks; I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench, I know my course.” Prince Hamlet

“The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.” Prince Hamlet

Why does Polonius send Reynaldo to France? (Appearance vs. Reality) What might Laertes be doing to hurt his reputation?

What are the outward signs of Hamlet’s madness when he approaches Ophelia in her closet? (Appearance vs. Reality) What does Polonius blame for Hamlet’s madness?

What did Old Norway “think” Young Fortinbras was doing? What was he doing? (Appearance vs. Reality) What request does Old Norway make of Claudius in his return letter?

What are the instances of “spying” so far? (Appearance vs. Reality) Explain three instances in which one person spies on another, and explain what the purpose – what information is the spy hoping to gain?

Shakespeare uses many figures of speech, such as metaphors, similes, puns, and allusions. In his plays, Shakespeare often pokes fun at himself and includes references to the time in which he lived.

Hamlet as a tragic hero: A tragic hero has a tragic flaw… What is Hamlet’s tragic flaw? It needs to encompass all his “flaws.”