Scene 1:
1. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to Polonius?
They tell the King that there is something wrong with Hamlet, but he won't tell them what. He probably wouldn't tell them because he knew that they were spying on him.
2. How does Claudius react when Polonius says, "…with devotion's visage, And pious action we do sugar o'er/ The devil himself"?
He begins to feel really guilty because he realizes that he is always covering up his massive sin (murdering his brother) with his thoughts and words, just as Polonius is saying people usually do when pretending to believe in God.
3. What plan do Polonius, Claudius and Ophelia now put into action?
Ophelia is going to talk to Hamlet and try and figure out what is wrong with him while Claudius and Polonius spy on them.
4. What is the nature of Hamlet's soliloquy, lines 57-91?
It's very dark. He casually talks about taking action, suicide, and the afterlife. He is upset that his mother married his uncle, and he is upset with Ophelia because she is pretending not to love him though he knows she does.
5. What is Hamlet's main argument against suicide?
We don't know what happens after death. He doesn't know if death will be greater than life or worse than life, which is why he isn't willing to take his life.
6. Why does Hamlet treat Ophelia as cruelly as he does? What has changed him?
He knew that Polonius was using Ophelia to spy on him so he didn't want to get to close to her because of his plan of revenge on the King. He is also mad at her because she betrayed him.
7. What thinly veiled threat to Claudius does Hamlet voice, after he becomes of his hidden presence? (lines 148-150)
He says that all people, except one (Claudius), that are already married shall live.
8. At the end of this scene, what does the King decide to do with Hamlet?
He wants to send Hamlet to England.
Scene 2:
9. What qualities in Horatio cause Hamlet to enlist his assistance?
Horatio hasn't given Hamlet a reason not to trust him. He understands what Hamlet is trying to do. Horatio is the only person that Hamlet trusts.
10. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do?
He asks him to observe King Claudius's reactions to the play. If he noticed the King getting nervous or acting strange, Hamlet will know that he is guilty of killing Old Hamlet and will have the proof he needs to be able to take action against him.
11. Summarize what happens in the play-within-a-play.
The play-within-a-play basically tells the story of Old Hamlet's murder. There is a little scene that acts out the story, sort of like a teaser (or a movie trailer). Then the actual play starts with a king an queen being all lovey-dovey to each other. Some words are exchanged, the queen leaves and the king falls asleep. Then, the king's nephew enters and puts poison in the king's ear killing him.
12. Why, in line 233, does Hamlet refer to the play-within-a-play as "The Mouse-trap"?
Because Hamlet has set a trap for King Claudius. Depending on the King's reaction will determine if he killed Old Hamlet.
13. What is the King's reaction to the play?
He brings the house lights and storms out of the theater making everyone leave. He basically confessed to the murder.
14. In lines 354-363, to what object does Hamlet compare himself? Why?
He compares himself to a recorder that people 'play'. He feels that even though people are trying to 'play' him, he will not stand for it. (he is much to smart for that and always a step ahead of everyone.
15. As Hamlet goes to his mother at the end of this scene, what does he admonish himself to
do?
He has pretty much lost all faith in her. He hates her, but he isn't going to kill her. He just wishes that she weren't alive anymore.
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