2. What Evidence Is There on the Character of Polonius in This Scene?

Hamlet II.i.

1.  What might happen if Hamlet decided to tell everyone about the ghost –- and Horatio agreed to testify?

2.  What evidence is there on the character of Polonius in this scene?

3.  List 3 details of information that Reynaldo must acquire.

4.  Describe Ophelia’s description of Hamlet in this scene. List three details.

5.  Why didn’t Shakespeare actually include this scene of Hamlet acting crazy? What is the effect of Ophelia relaying it to Polonius/ the audience instead of us seeing it firsthand?

Hamlet II.ii.

1.  What detail in the opening 40 lines parallels II.i.? How are they different? What is the effect of having both scenes reflect the same idea?

2.  Describe Hamlet’s behavior toward Polonius (line 185-245, Polonius exits). Find moments of sarcasm and insult. What does Polonius actually conclude?

3.  Find evidence that proves Hamlet is definitely pretending to be mad thus far. What is the advantage for doing this? Why does he stop acting with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? What is the advantage here?

4.  Examine the 5 Themes and how each has been used thus far: Revenge, Appearance vs. Reality; Sanity vs. Insanity, Decay and Corruption, Sins of the Father.

5.  Examine the soliloquy at the end:

a.  What comparison does he make between actors and himself?

b.  What does he say the player/actor would do if he had Hamlet’s reason for grief?

c.  What insults does Hamlet bestow on himself? Why?

d.  What is his strategy moving forward? What final fear does he express?

Rosencrantz/Guildenstern and The Players

6.  Our next play for H. 12 Lit. is a satire on this one. It is told from R and G’s perspective, starting before they arrive in Denmark. Find the lines where Shakespeare indicates the following scenes that take place off screen for Shakespeare, (but onscreen for Tom Stoppard): R/G were previously summoned by the king and queen; R/G meet The Players before meeting Hamlet.

7.  Based on their dialogue in II.ii., characterize R and G. Do the same for The Players.

8.  Paraphrase specific lines from each that could be interpreted as humorous. What makes it funny?

9.  Analyze the meaning of the following quotes in the dialogue between R/G and Hamlet:

a.  as the indifferent children of the earth (245)

b.  happy in that we are not overhappy (246)

c.  none, my lord, but that world’s grown honest (255)

d.  then is the world one (263)

e.  your ambition makes it one… the beggars’ shadows (271-283)

f.  I have of late… you seem to say so (all 320-334)

g.  I am but mad…from a handshaw (403)