Hamlet By: Emily Henninger, Thurika Ganesh, Joseph Yu, Anna Pham, Daniel Farner

Act I, scene I Characters: Plot: Study Guide Questions: Barnardo Francisco Horatio The Ghost Marcellus Plot: The scene opens with two security guards asking who's there in the dark only to realize it has just Barnardo, and Francisco. Francisco then leaves and Barnardo is left to stand guard with Horatio and Marcellus. Barnardo begins to the tell the story of how him and Marcellus have been seeing a ghost that resembles the dead King Hamlet. Horatio initially didn't believe Marcellus and Barnardo but he saw the dead king for himself.  Horatio tries to get the ghost to speak but the ghost did not respond and he concludes that the ghosts presence is a bad omen for Denmark. Horatio decides to tell Prince Hamlet about the ghost.  Study Guide Questions: 1. How does Shakespeare being the play with an immediate sense of suspense? Shakespeare begins with Barnardo saying "who's there" which makes it seem like there's an intruder but it was actually just Francisco 2. What probably important exposition is revealed in this scene? The now-dead King Hamlet had killed Fortinbras the King of Norway and took his territories. Now the son of the King of Norway is also named Fortinbras and wants to take back his father's lands

Act l, Scene l Cont. 3. Why has Horatio been asked to join the soldiers in the night watch? What has he decided to do? He was asked to join in order for him to see the ghost for himself proving that it's not just a hallucination and to get the ghost to speak. He has decided to tell Prince Hamlet about the ghost. 4. How does the reader/audience know this ghost is not a hallucination? The ghost has been seen by multiple people, Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo and they all agree that it looks like the dead king.

Act I, Scene II Characters: Claudius, King of Denmark Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother Hamlet Polonius and Laertes, father and son Voltemand and Cornelius, the courtiers Plot: Although Claudius acknowledges that the kingdom should still be mourning the former king's death, he is excited to marry the Queen. Claudius then addresses the situation with Fortinbras, who has been trying to reconquer his land. The king sends Cornelius and Voltemand off to deliver a letter to Fortinbras's uncle. Because Fortinbras's troops are Norweigan, the uncle, as the leader or Norway, can put a stop to Fortinbras's plans. Laertes asks to return to France, and Claudius agrees. Gertrude and Claudius question why Hamlet is still mourning. Hamlet reveals that he is truly sad, but Claudius believes that Hamlet should move on.

Act I, Scene II 5. What important exposition is revealed at the beginning of the scene? The former king recently passed away. The new king, the former king's brother, married his sister-in-law. 6. What evidence of wrongdoing or corruption is evident in Claudius' opening speech? Despite acknowledging that the kingdom should still be in mourning for the king, Claudius has moved on and married the queen. 7. Compare Claudius' treatment of Laertes with his treatment of Hamlet. Claudius lets Laertes return to France but he does not allow Hamlet to return to Wittenberg. 8. Why did Hamlet not become King when his father died? Queen Gertrude inherited the throne from the King, and the court allowed Claudius to marry the Queen, making him King. 9. How is Hamlet physically and emotionally conspicuous in the public portion of this scene? When his mother asked why Hamlet is so sad about his father's death, his response is gloomy. He dresses in black even though the others have ceased mourning the king.

Act I, Scene II (continued) 10. What is the significance of Claudius' denying Hamlet permission to return to Wittenburg? To watch over Hamlet since he killed his father and also married his mother to become king. (lines 115-119) 11. What aspect of Hamlet's concept of death/desire for death is revealed in Hamlet's first soliloquy? He wishes suicide was not seen as a sin from God because he wants to die due to the world. (lines 129-159) 12. What aspect of Hamlet's problem seems to bother him the most? Hamlets mother married his Uncle. (lines 153-156) 13. What important metaphor is introduced in Hamlet's soliloquy that will be developed later in the play? Denmark is an unweeded garden. (lines 135-136) 14. Contrast Claudius' and Laertes' reasons for being in Denmark. Claudius was becoming king and Laertes was there for his coronation. WHEN YOUR UNCLE BECOMES YOUR FATHER

Act I, Scene III Characters: Hamlet (mentioned) Prince of Denmark,     in line to the throne Ophelia, proclaimed love of Hamlet Laertes,  Ophelia's brother.     Polonius, Ophelia's father Plot:  Ophelia's brother is leaving to France and as he bids his sister goodbye, he gives her a warning about Hamlet as his supposed proposal of his love for her. She takes his warning and while his father is rushing her brother away, he also warns Ophelia about Hamlet and his intentions. He warns her not to get involved with him and stay clear. 

Act I, Scene III 15. Explain the reasons that Laertes and Polonius give Ophelia to convince her not to trust Hamlet's love. Hamlet is simply flirting and as he grows up more, his priorities will change. He must obey the royal duties expected of him and so Ophelia is not always going to be his love in those plans. Her fate lies in what Denmark allows him to do. His infatuation may not last, and to accept that love and impassioned words so quickly may result in disastrous consequences. 16. What is comical about Polonius? He is very bluntly rude and has no restrain in his colorful insults of Hamlet and any woman who falls for Hamlet's tricks. He's also a little hypocritical in yelling at Laertes that he is going to be late and then proceeding to lecture and rant.

Act I, Scene IV Characters: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, in line to the throne Horatio, Hamlet's close friend Marcellus, guard of the castle  The ghost, an apparition of Hamlet's father, the late King Hamlet of Denmark Claudius (mentioned), Hamlet's uncle and the current King of Denmark Plot:  It's a little after midnight and Hamlet and Horatio are waiting for the ghost to appear. While they way, Hamlet remarks that the king is currently drinking and partying, a tradition that he doesn't approve of. He explains that this partying has made Denmark the butt of jokes and that no matter all they achieve, this hint of impurity tarnishes their image. After the ghost appears, it beckons Hamlet to follow him. He, Horatio, and Marcellus argue but Hamlet doesn't care about his life so he haphazardly follows the ghost. Knowing that Hamlet may get hurt due to his clueless, suicidal tendencies and reckless nature, they soon follow him to keep an eye on him.

Act I, Scene IV 17. Other than the fact of the ghost itself, why is this Ghost thought to be an evil omen? The ghost can be interpreted as an evil omen because of the time it comes, midnight, is very sinister in itself. Secrecy and evil happens at night so if the ghost had good intentions, then it would not be roaming around at night. Another reason is the relation to Hamlet. As his father who has died, that whom he is still not done mourning, he holds and influential place. Especially with the controversy of his death and how his wife married again so quickly. 18. Marcellus states, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." What does he mean? The notion of privately following the Ghost is absurd and dangerous on its own. There is no telling what the Ghost has in store for Hamlet and when Hamlet is so eager to leave with reckless abandon to follow, it's a natural feeling to be fearful and worried of what is to come. However, this also holds an alternative meaning that not only within the state of Denmark, something bad is to come, but that state or being of Denmark is also going to feel this foreboding effect.

Act I, Scene V Characters: Plot: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, in line to the throne The ghost, an apparition of Hamlet's father, the late King Hamlet of Denmark Horatio, Hamlet's close friend Marcellus, guard of the castle  Plot: In this act, Hamlet goes off to talk to the ghost. The ghost then confirms to Hamlet that he is the former king of Denmark, Hamlets father. The ghost then says that he is burning for being unnaturally murdered, and he wants Hamlet to get revenge. The killer is revealed to be Claudius, the current king of Denmark and Hamlet's uncle who killed the previous king by putting poison down his ear. The ghost then says for Hamlet not to mess with his mother before departing. Horatio and Marcellus then come to check on Hamlet and ask him what the ghost said. Hamlet makes them swear on his sword, with some help from the ghost, that they will never reveal what the say or heard tonight.    

Act I, Scene V 19. In what region of the universe does the Ghost reside? The ghost resides in purgatory as seen by his description of what his living condition is like. "When I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames Must render up myself" (Lines 3- 4). 20. What possible theme is introduced by the Ghost's afterlife? One possible theme that is introduced by the Ghost's afterlife is that people must work in order to get into heaven. The ghost is stuck in purgatory because he died an unnatural death, and his murder must pay for his sins. "Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged away" (Lines 16-17). This develops a possible theme that people must work to get into heaven and entry is not guaranteed.   

Act I, Scene V 21. What does the Ghost warn Hamlet about his mother? Why? The Ghost tells Hamlet that he should leave his mother out of any punishment. This is because the ghost stills loves his wife and is only seeking revenge on Claudius for killing his wife. "Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven" (Lines 85-86)   22. What does Hamlet mean when he says, "The time is out of joint"? Hamlet means that there is many strange things occurring which makes sense given that Hamlet just talked to his dead father about killing his murderous uncle in order to avenge his father.