Hamlet Plot Flashcards
1
Q
A1S1
A
- Marcellus and Bernardo have seen a ghost (who looks like Old Hamlet) on the castle battlements for the past two nights.
- Horatio comes to investigate —> ‘Tis but a fantasy’.
- Horatio explains how ambitious Fortinbras tried to conquer Denmark but was killed by Old Hamlet.
2
Q
A1S2
A
- King Claudius addresses court, discussing the death of his brother, Old Hamlet — he also toasts to his wife, Gertrude (Old Hamlet’s wife).
- He addresses political problems (talking about prince Fortinbras) and gives Laertes permission to return to his studies in France.
- They speak to Hamlet and tell him to stop grieving his father.
- Horatio, Hamlet’s friend, tells Hamlet he’s seen the ghost of his father.
3
Q
A1S3
A
- Before returning to France, Laertes encourages Ophelia not to take Hamlet’s wooing seriously.
- Polonius gives Laertes fatherly advice for when he is away and tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet.
4
Q
A1S4
A
- Hamlet meets Horatio at night to try and see the ghost for himself/
- Apparition beckons Hamlet to follow him.
5
Q
A1S5
A
- Ghost tells Hamlet how he was murdered by Claudius (poison poured into his ear), and how he seduced Gertrude.
- Encourages Hamlet to enact revenge on his behalf.
6
Q
Act One
A
- Sets up circumstances around Old Hamlet’s death and Hamlet’s need for revenge.
- Reveals how Hamlet feels about his mother’s new marriage.
- Promises Ghost he will avenge his father.
7
Q
A2S1
A
- Polonius employs a servant to travel to Paris and spy on his son, Laertes.
- Polonius learns Hamlet has been behaving oddly towards Ophelia and has been physically rough with her — he believes Hamlet is sick with love for his daughter and intends to report this to the king.
8
Q
A2S2
A
- Claudius invites Hamlet’s friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to Elsinore Castle to investigate Hamlet’s new strange behaviour (he figures this out).
- Hamlet’s love letter to Ophelia.
- Polonius suggests the king and queen spy on Hamlet.
- ‘Tragedians of the city’ arrive, cheering Hamlet up. He asks them to perform ‘The Murder of Gonzago’ for the king.
- He praises an actor for connecting his true emotions to his performance and criticises himself for being unable to express his inner feelings.
9
Q
Act 2
A
- Hamlet’s actions change, people around him start to observe mad behaviour.
- Antic disposition
10
Q
A3S1
A
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Claudius they do not know why Hamlet is behaving strangely.
- Claudius arranges a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia so that he and Polonius can hide and watch them (to confirm his motives).
- Famous soliloquy — to be or not to be.
- Hamlet shows Ophelia mixes signals.
- Claudius concludes that Hamlet is not in love with Ophelia.
11
Q
A3S2
A
- Hamlet talks to actor’s before performance, asking them to ‘hold a mirror up to nature’ (plot is very similar to the events leading up to his father’s death).
- Hamlet asks Horatio to observe his uncle’s reaction to the play, to see if he displays any guilt.
- Once the actor ‘poisons the player king’, Claudius calls for the play to be stopped (which Hamlet takes as a confirmation of his guilt).
- Hamlet talks of revenge.
12
Q
A3S3
A
- Claudius tells Reosencrantz and Guildenstern to get ready to to England with Hamlet.
- Claudius confesses to the murder of his brother while praying.
- Hamlet observes this but decides not to kill him while he is praying to God.
13
Q
A3S4
A
- Hamlet threatens his mother. He notices Polonius spying and kills him, causing his fury to blind him as he tells his mother of his disgust at her marriage.
- His father’s ghost tells him not to be so harsh on his mother (Gertrude either cannot see the spirit or pretends not to).
- Hamlet demands her to change her ways and not tells her not to tell Claudius of their meeting.
- Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet has gone completely mad.
14
Q
Act 3
A
- Confirms Claudius’s guilt.
- Hamlet learns of this.
15
Q
A4S1
A
- Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he will not listen to them.
- He tells them Claudius is using them like a ‘sponge’.
- He refuses to tell them where the body is, answering their questions in riddle.
