As you read the first few lines of the opening scene, what do you see in your mind's eye?
Hear? Feel?
o :# Act 1 Scene 1
There are guards standing nervously outside of a gate keeping watch. They are nervous
because they just saw a ghost and are keeping watch because they are waiting for peopl...
Hamlet TEST Questions and Answers
As you read the first few lines of the opening scene, what do you see in your mind's eye?
Hear? Feel?
o :# Act 1 Scene 1
There are guards standing nervously outside of a gate keeping watch. They are nervous
because they just saw a ghost and are keeping watch because they are waiting for people
to attack and have to protect the castle
Why have Francisco and others been assigned to guard the palace? What might happen
to Elsinore if there were no guard?
o :# Act 1 Scene 1
Francisco and others have been assigned to guard the palace because Fortinbras Jr might
come and attack to avenge his father's death. If there were no guard, Fortinbras would be
able to come and attack Elsinore and take the throne of Denmark
What do Horatio's comments about Fortinbras' behavior right after his father's death tell
you about Fortinbras' character and personality?
o :# Act 1 Scene 1
, 2024/2025 2|Page
Horatio's comments tell us that Fortinbras' is a very vengeful person. He is going to
attack Denmark in order to protect the memory of his father and gain the land Norway
once lost
Why is Francisco uneasy?
o :# Act 1 Scene 1
Francisco is uneasy because he has just seen the ghost of what he believes to be the late
Hamlet Sr.
Those who have seen the ghost seem worried. How can you tell? What are they worried
about?
o :# Act 1 Scene 1
They keep trying to talk to the ghost and the ghost doesn't respond to them and ends up
getting scared off. They aren't receiving the info they want from it and are afraid it is a
signal that Norway is coming to attack because the ghost looks like Hamlet Sr and is
wearing what he was the day he died
After seeing the ghost, what decisions do Horatio and the others reach about what must
be done?
o :# Act 1 Scene 1
, 2024/2025 3|Page
Horatio and Marcellus decide to tell Hamlet Jr because the ghost looks like his father
Who is Laertes? What is he asking permission to do? Why does Claudius grant him this?
o :# Act 1 Scene 2
Laertes is Ophelia's brother and Polonius's son and a kingsmen from France who came
to Denmark for Claudius' coronation. He is asking permission to return to France to
finish school. He is granted this because he fulfilled his duty
How can you tell that Hamlet is depressed? Why?
o :# Act 1 Scene 2
You can tell because Hamlet is not talking very much when asked questions. He also
seems to be mad at Claudius and Gertrude
How do Claudius and Gertrude respond to Hamlet's melancholy? Are they being fair to
him?
o :# Act 1 Scene 2
They tell him to get over it and that plenty people die. They tell him that it is his turn to a
run a country
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