Hamlet Questions
Student Questions on Hamlet
1. What were the names of the three Greek plays we read last year and who wrote each one? Briefly (one sentence) tell what each was about.
2. Does Hamlet have anything in common with any of these plays?
3. Were any tragedies?
4. What is the easiest way to know if a play (especially a Shakespearian play) is a tragedy?
*5. According to Aristotle in Poetics what are the characteristics of a tragedy?
(1) Should arouse fear and pity in the audience by depicting a character moving from a
condition of prosperity to one of affliction.
(a)if character is good audience feels repulsion at the injustice but not fear and
pity”
(b)if character is evil who moves from prosperity to affliction audience would feel
that this was justice and not have fear and pity
(c)character can’t be simply good or simply evil but rather one who falls into
affliction because of a “certain fallibility”
(2) a fall story” about a character who falls from a high position because of hamartia.
In the Bible this word means sin. In Greek drama it can mean just a tragic error, a
mistake in judgment. Sometimes it is a moral wrong, often hubris (pride)
(3) tragic character must have some standing so that the fall will have a loud crash
(4) linked to the Greek idea of Fate: Oedipus did not make a moral choice to kill his
father and marry his mother; in fact he tried to avoid it. He had no freedom to
choose.
*6. How does a Shakespearian tragedy differ from Aristotle’s ideas?
His characters are not just “fallible”. They commit sin, deeds of moral evil. In his
world grace operates and repentance and redemption are possible even if not seized.
*7. Leithart says that the Bible serves as the Christian’s master story. Tragedy corresponds to “the fall story” one type of story found in the Bible. Therefore in tragedies we should look for forbidden fruit, temptation, serpents, sin, punishment, Adams and Eves. “From this angle, Shakespeare’s tragedies can be seen as sobering meditations on the origins and consequences of human sin.”
*8. Note: There are textural problems with Hamlet. There are three early texts that vary in length and detail. Even the most complete text seems to have glaring gaps and apparent contradictions.
9. What was incestuous about the marriage of Claudius and Gertrude? (1.2.157; 1.5.42) Had the relationship between Claudius and Gertrude been adulterous? (1.5.43-53)
10. How old was Hamlet? (1.3.10-16; 1.3.24; 5.1.152-160; 1.5.174-175)
11. What do the following characters have in common?
(a) Gertrude and Ophelia:
(b) Hamlet & Ophelia:
(c) Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras:
(d) Claudius, Polonius, King Hamlet:
12. Leithart says dead fathers and Fortinbras are both unifying points in the play. Does this makes sense to you?
(a) Dead fathers:
(b) Fortinbras:
13. Do you think this play supports or rejects the revenge ethic? Support your answer with examples.
14. What are some themes in the play?
15. What is the connection made between Julius Caesar and Hamlet (1.115-116)
16. Contrast King Hamlet and Claudius as leaders (1.2.125-128; 1.4.7-22)
17. Look at Claudius’s first speech. (1.2.1-128) What does he say about each of the three young men, Fortinbras, Laertes, Hamlet?
(a) Fortinbras:
(b) Laertes:
(c) Hamlet:
18. Why is Claudius on the throne and not Prince Hamlet (5.2.4-65)?
19. What do you think is the function of the ghost in this play? Remember there was also a ghost in Julius Caesar.
20. Leithart says a long standing question is one that never occurred to me as I read. The question is, “Where did the ghost of Hamlet come from?” Hamlet himself asked this question. (1.4.39-57) The ghost speaks to the issue (1.5.3-5, 9-23)
21. Leithart says that the ghost’s descriptions in 1.5 are full of Biblical illusions. Can you find any?
22. What was Hamlet’s “antic disposition” (1.5.181)
23. Was Hamlet eager to seek revenge for his father’s murder?
24.What plan does Hamlet come up with at the end of Act 2 to trap Claudius? Have the actors put on a play that re-enacts his father’s murder.
25.What do you think is the significance of 3.1.47-49 ( “that with devotion’s visage and pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself.”) and Claudius’s reaction to it—3.1.50-51(“O,’tis too true! How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!”)
26.What is the significance of Hamlet’s soliloquy in 3.1.57-91? What do you think he is saying?
27.Why do you think Hamlet is so harsh and cruel to Ophelia in 3.1.91f? Why does he tell her to “Get thee to a nunnery.”?
28. Act 3 Scene 1: Why would England owe tribute to Denmark?
29. Act 3, Scene 2: What point is Hamlet making when he tries to get Guildenstern to play the recorder even though he insists he doesn’t know how?
30. Act 3, Scene 3: At the end of this scene Hamlet draws his sword and contemplates killing the King who is alone praying. Why does he decide not to kill him?
31. In 5.2.224-242 who or what does Hamlet blame for Polonius’s death?
32. In the play The Mousetrap the king’s murderer is Lucianus. What is his relationship to the king in the play and what is the significance of this?
33.Why do you think the ghost of King Hamlet reappears to Prince Hamlet in 3.4?
34.Act 4 draws out the consequences of Hamlet’s murder of Polonius for Hamlet, for Laertes, and for Ophelia. What are they?
Hamlet:
Ophelia:
Laertes:
35. What happens to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Do you think Hamlet sinned in his part in this?
36. Compare Hamlet and Laertes.
37. How did each character die in the final scene?
38. What famous quotes did you recognize in Hamlet?
39. Did you find any parts of the play funny?
39. Is there anything else that you would like to discuss from this play?
1. What were the names of the three Greek plays we read last year and who wrote each one? Briefly (one sentence) tell what each was about.
2. Does Hamlet have anything in common with any of these plays?
3. Were any tragedies?
4. What is the easiest way to know if a play (especially a Shakespearian play) is a tragedy?
*5. According to Aristotle in Poetics what are the characteristics of a tragedy?
(1) Should arouse fear and pity in the audience by depicting a character moving from a
condition of prosperity to one of affliction.
(a)if character is good audience feels repulsion at the injustice but not fear and
pity”
(b)if character is evil who moves from prosperity to affliction audience would feel
that this was justice and not have fear and pity
(c)character can’t be simply good or simply evil but rather one who falls into
affliction because of a “certain fallibility”
(2) a fall story” about a character who falls from a high position because of hamartia.
In the Bible this word means sin. In Greek drama it can mean just a tragic error, a
mistake in judgment. Sometimes it is a moral wrong, often hubris (pride)
(3) tragic character must have some standing so that the fall will have a loud crash
(4) linked to the Greek idea of Fate: Oedipus did not make a moral choice to kill his
father and marry his mother; in fact he tried to avoid it. He had no freedom to
choose.
*6. How does a Shakespearian tragedy differ from Aristotle’s ideas?
His characters are not just “fallible”. They commit sin, deeds of moral evil. In his
world grace operates and repentance and redemption are possible even if not seized.
*7. Leithart says that the Bible serves as the Christian’s master story. Tragedy corresponds to “the fall story” one type of story found in the Bible. Therefore in tragedies we should look for forbidden fruit, temptation, serpents, sin, punishment, Adams and Eves. “From this angle, Shakespeare’s tragedies can be seen as sobering meditations on the origins and consequences of human sin.”
*8. Note: There are textural problems with Hamlet. There are three early texts that vary in length and detail. Even the most complete text seems to have glaring gaps and apparent contradictions.
9. What was incestuous about the marriage of Claudius and Gertrude? (1.2.157; 1.5.42) Had the relationship between Claudius and Gertrude been adulterous? (1.5.43-53)
10. How old was Hamlet? (1.3.10-16; 1.3.24; 5.1.152-160; 1.5.174-175)
11. What do the following characters have in common?
(a) Gertrude and Ophelia:
(b) Hamlet & Ophelia:
(c) Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras:
(d) Claudius, Polonius, King Hamlet:
12. Leithart says dead fathers and Fortinbras are both unifying points in the play. Does this makes sense to you?
(a) Dead fathers:
(b) Fortinbras:
13. Do you think this play supports or rejects the revenge ethic? Support your answer with examples.
14. What are some themes in the play?
15. What is the connection made between Julius Caesar and Hamlet (1.115-116)
16. Contrast King Hamlet and Claudius as leaders (1.2.125-128; 1.4.7-22)
17. Look at Claudius’s first speech. (1.2.1-128) What does he say about each of the three young men, Fortinbras, Laertes, Hamlet?
(a) Fortinbras:
(b) Laertes:
(c) Hamlet:
18. Why is Claudius on the throne and not Prince Hamlet (5.2.4-65)?
19. What do you think is the function of the ghost in this play? Remember there was also a ghost in Julius Caesar.
20. Leithart says a long standing question is one that never occurred to me as I read. The question is, “Where did the ghost of Hamlet come from?” Hamlet himself asked this question. (1.4.39-57) The ghost speaks to the issue (1.5.3-5, 9-23)
21. Leithart says that the ghost’s descriptions in 1.5 are full of Biblical illusions. Can you find any?
22. What was Hamlet’s “antic disposition” (1.5.181)
23. Was Hamlet eager to seek revenge for his father’s murder?
24.What plan does Hamlet come up with at the end of Act 2 to trap Claudius? Have the actors put on a play that re-enacts his father’s murder.
25.What do you think is the significance of 3.1.47-49 ( “that with devotion’s visage and pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself.”) and Claudius’s reaction to it—3.1.50-51(“O,’tis too true! How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!”)
26.What is the significance of Hamlet’s soliloquy in 3.1.57-91? What do you think he is saying?
27.Why do you think Hamlet is so harsh and cruel to Ophelia in 3.1.91f? Why does he tell her to “Get thee to a nunnery.”?
28. Act 3 Scene 1: Why would England owe tribute to Denmark?
29. Act 3, Scene 2: What point is Hamlet making when he tries to get Guildenstern to play the recorder even though he insists he doesn’t know how?
30. Act 3, Scene 3: At the end of this scene Hamlet draws his sword and contemplates killing the King who is alone praying. Why does he decide not to kill him?
31. In 5.2.224-242 who or what does Hamlet blame for Polonius’s death?
32. In the play The Mousetrap the king’s murderer is Lucianus. What is his relationship to the king in the play and what is the significance of this?
33.Why do you think the ghost of King Hamlet reappears to Prince Hamlet in 3.4?
34.Act 4 draws out the consequences of Hamlet’s murder of Polonius for Hamlet, for Laertes, and for Ophelia. What are they?
Hamlet:
Ophelia:
Laertes:
35. What happens to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Do you think Hamlet sinned in his part in this?
36. Compare Hamlet and Laertes.
37. How did each character die in the final scene?
38. What famous quotes did you recognize in Hamlet?
39. Did you find any parts of the play funny?
39. Is there anything else that you would like to discuss from this play?
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