Hamlet Final Exam

HAMLET FINAL EXAM 2024- 2025 Where does this play take place? - ANSWER Denmark (Castle Elsinore) As the play opens, Horatio joins Marcellus and Bernardo at their night watch. Wh y has Horatio joined them? - ANSWER To see the apparition. How does Horatio interpret the appearance of the ghost? - ANSWER He looks like the late King Hamlet What three questions does Marcellus raise? - ANSWER 1)Why the guards are extra active. 2) Why so many cannons are being manufactured and so many weapons being imported and 3) if something is about to happen. In a long speech, Horatio answers Marcellus. Summarize as briefly as you can the events that have led to preparations for war. - ANSWER The late King Hamlet was dared to do battle by the Norwegian King Fortinbras with the stake of life and territory. Hamlet triumphed, but now Fortinbras' son is assembling a th ug group to pillage and reclaim the lost territory. What three reasons does Horatio list for the superstition of a ghost's returning from the grave? - ANSWER 1) Precursors of feared events, 2) Harbingers preceding fated events and 3) As prologue to the coming omens Why do Horatio and Marcellus decide to tell Hamlet? - ANSWER They feel obligated to do so out of honor, duty and love. What news does King Claudius announce at the opening of scene two? - ANSWE R He has married Queen Gertrude, his late brother's wife. Why does Claudius send Cornelius and Voltimand to Norway? - ANSWER To deliver the letter he's written to Fortinbras' uncle to stop his nephew 's siege. What bothers Claudius and Gertrude about Hamlet's dress? - ANSWER They're black, indicating he's still mourning his father; they feel he should have moved on by now due to the commonality in cycle of a patriarchal death. Why does Claudius want Hamlet to remain in at court? - ANSWER He's closest to the throne, thus he wants to keep him close due to his status as competiti on therefore. About how long has Hamlet's father been dead? - ANSWER Less than tw o months. Explain why Hamlet says, "Frailty, thy name is woman!" - ANSWER He's remarking upon the weakness in character of women, based of of how quickly his mother remarried after the death of his father, whom he idolized, and to his own brother no less. At the end of scene two, what is Hamlet's plan? - ANSWER He plans to stand guard with Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo in hopes of seeing his father's ghost. Why does Laertes warn his sister Ophelia not to place too much hope in Hamlet's attentions to her? - ANSWER Laertes claims that she's too young and tha t their love is nothing more an a youthful infatuation which will fade over ti me. Laertes maintains that Hamlet only wants to sleep with her. What does Laertes say must govern Hamlet's marriage choice? - ANSWER Laertes notes that due to the nobility of his birthright, he cannot make selfish or personal decisions and instead must act for the betterment of the kingdom. What advice does Ophelia in turn give to Laertes? - ANSWER She advises h im to not be a hypocrite. Polonius gives a great deal of advice to his son Laertes. In your own words, exp lain what "Give thy thoughts no tongue, /Nor any unproportioned thought this act." mean? - ANSWER Keep your thoughts private and don't act impulsively. Polonius gives a great deal of advice to his son Laertes. In your own words, exp lain what "Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice." mean? - ANSWER Listen to the opinions of others but keep your own to yourself. What are Polonius' instructions to Ophelia about Hamlet? - ANSWER H e advises that she not heed his declarations of love as he just wants to have sex with her. Therefore, she shouldn't waste her time. Polonius gives a great deal of advice to his son Laertes. In your own words, exp lain what, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be; /For loan oft loses both itself and friend..." mean? - ANSWER Never borrow from nor lend to a friend as the loan usually ends up unpaid and the friendship is ruined. What is happening at the court while Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus are on the platform? - ANSWER King Claudius is having a celebration in honor of his marriage to Queen Gertrude. Why does Hamlet denounce the custom of drunken celebration? - ANSWER He feels it besmirches the kingdom, giving the Danish the reputation of drunkenn ess and also distracting from their achievements. What happens at the end of scene four? - ANSWER The Ghost appears and beckons Hamlet to follow him as he departs, to which Hamlet concedes. This prompts Marcellus and Horatio to join him. What does the Ghost reveal about the manner of his death? - ANSWER The King Hamlet was in fact murdered by his brother Claudius for the crown by pouring poison in his ear as he slept, the act blamed on the poisonous bite of a snake. What does the Ghost tell Hamlet about his mother? - ANSWER That she lustfull y pursued Claudius, who seduced her. What tasks does the Ghost tell Hamlet to undertake? - ANSWER To take his revenge for his mother and put an end to Claudius and Gertrude's incestuous relationship without hurting his mother or becoming corrupt. What does Hamlet imply he may decide to do? - ANSWER Kill King Claudius At the opening of Act 2, Scene I, to where is Polonius sending Reynaldo? - ANSWER Paris Why does Polonius send Reynaldo on his journey? - ANSWER First to in quire the Danish population therein and their identities and affiliations , but also whether or not they know Laertes. If so, Reynaldo must find out how much they do know. By what trick is Reynaldo supposed to get information about Laertes? - A NSWER If anyone knows Laertes, Reynaldo is to feign vague acquaintance with him to find out more.