Post your Act I reading response assignment here--then use the horizontal line to divide your section.
Summary
Act one, Scene one
Characters introduced:
Francisco- soldier
Marcellus-soldier
Bernardo- soldier
Horatio- friend of Hamlet
Hamlet- Danish prince
Ghost- Hamlet’s father or bad omen from Prince Fortinbras
Prince Fortinbras- King of Norway, has been threatening to attack Denmark
Marcellus and Bernardo tell Horatio about a ghost that they saw. Horatio is skeptical at first, but after the ghost appears for all of them to see, he loses all doubt. Believing that the ghost could either be a bad omen in regards to Prince Fortinbras’ threats of war or an apparition of Hamlet’s recently deceased father, Horatio decides to tell Hamlet about the ghost.
Act one, Scene two
Characters introduced:
Claudius- Recently appointed king of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle
Gertrude- Queen of Denmark, Claudius’ new wife, Hamlet’s mother
Laertes- Polonius’s son, wants to leave for France
Polonius- King's advisor
Claudius explains that he married his dead brother’s wife and that Prince Fortinbras’ of Norway wants to attack Denmark. Laertes asks for permission from Claudius to go to France and Claudius grants it. Hamlet is really peeved that his mom married his uncle so soon after his father’s death. Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus tell Hamlet about the ghost. Hamlet hopes to see the ghost himself.
Act one, Scene three
Characters introduced:
Ophelia- Laertes’ sister, Polonius’ daughter, Hamlet’s girlfriend
As Laertes prepares for his trip to France, he tells Ophelia that he worries about her relationship with Hamlet. When Laertes leaves, Polonius tells Ophelia not to see Hamlet anymore. As a good daughter, she agrees to obey his wishes.
Act one, Scene four
While keeping watch with Marcellus and Horatio, Hamlet complains about the Dane’s foolish drinking. While he reflects on the traditions and on his own role in them, the ghost appears. The ghost tells Hamlet to follow him and he is willing to, but Marcellus and Horatio don’t want him to. Hamlet goes anyway and his crew begrudgingly follows.
Act one, Scene five
The ghost finally speaks to Hamlet and tells him that he is his father. He tells Hamlet that Claudius poisoned him and that Hamlet must seek revenge. Hamlet agrees and tells Horatio and Marcellus that they have to keep everything they know a secret. They swear to keep their silence on a sword—which makes it really official.
Preguntas:
1) In scene four, Hamlet reflects on the frivolities of the court, implying that he does not really fit within the confines of the noble lifestyle. Why would Hamlet be critical of a lifestyle that he was raised in?
2) Ophelia agrees to stop seeing Hamlet with little to no argument simply because “her father said so.” This should come as no surprise because at the time, a daughter’s only responsibility was to follow her father’s wishes. However, in Romeo and Juliet, the young lovers completely disobey their family’s wishes. Why wouldn’t Shakespeare have Ophelia go against her father’s requests as well?
Worth Quoting:
“They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phase/ Soil our addition; and indeed it takes From our achievements, though perform’d at height,/ the pith and marrow of our attribute./ So, oft it chances in particular men,/ That for some vicious mole of nature in them,/ As, in their birth, --wherein they are not guilty,/ since nature cannot choose his origin…” (1.4.19-26)
The dialogue has shifted here from general comments about plot to more reflective conversation about human nature. Hamlet realizes that the noble people often justify their actions by hiding behind their family name or birth, “wherein they are not guilty, since nature cannot choose his origin,” (1.4.25). Hamlet also exhibits concern about foreign affairs and the opinion of other countries. He knows that even though the Danes have accomplished many great feats, other countries still view them as “drunkards” and “with swinish phase.” In his harsh criticisms of his own people’s traditions, Hamlet reveals the beginnings of a significantly complex character.
Scene 1: On the Battlements of the castle Elsinore in Denmark the soldier Francisco keeps watch. Two soldiers Bernardo and Marcellus arrive with a scholar and personal friend to the prince Hamlet: Horatio. Horatio has been told about the appearance of the ghost of the former king of Denmark, in armor, on the castle battlements; but he is wary. The ghost then appears and the men watch in amazed fright as he crosses gracefully their field of view. Horatio attempts to speak with the apparition, but before the phantom can utter a word, the rooster crows and morning comes; thus the ghost quickly departs. The trio of men then vows to relate their experience to prince Hamlet.
Scene 2: The scene opens in the Danish royal court where the new king Claudius makes a speech regarding his dead brother and the state of the country. He proclaims his lands will not fall to the upstart prince Fortinbras and sends the heralds Voltimand and Cornelius to make an ally of king Norway—who is Fortinbras’s uncle. Laertes, son of the royal vizier Polonius, then begs leave of the king to return to his affairs in France. The king accepts the request after consulting Polonius for his permission. Claudius now addresses his nephew and stepson prince Hamlet who coolly spurns the king’s attempt at flattery. Queen Gertrude then pleads with her son to liven up and relieve himself of his grief and to recognize death as natural and right; but Hamlet, taking her words as insult, retorts in proclaiming his countenance as absolutely genuine. Claudius clears the air by commending Hamlet for his devotion to his father’s memory, and then reminds him that death is inevitable for everyone. The king then turns the subject to Hamlet’s past request to return to Wittenberg school in England; both the king and queen request that the prince remain in Denmark which he grudgingly accepts. The king and queen leave the hall and Hamlet begins to muse on his depression. He resents his inability to commit suicide due to his religion before cursing his mother for her hasty remarriage to Hamlet’s uncle. The prince is forced to stop as Bernardo, Marcellus, and Horatio enter the hall to tell him their strange tale. At hearing of his father’s ghost Hamlet resigns to keep watch with the three men on the net midnight watch.
Scene 3: In Polonius’s house, Laertes bids farewell to Ophelia his sister, and advises her to abstain from serious relations with the prince Hamlet. Polonius enters the room and hurries Laertes along to his waiting ship. He gives son a brief lecture on how to conduct himself intelligently and with honor before sending him off. Polonius then turns to Ophelia and requests that she not remain emotionally entangled with Hamlet; however, Ophelia defends her love of the melancholy prince. Polonius angrily lays down an ultimatum citing Hamlet’s lack of reliability and Ophelia’s naivety. Ophelia reluctantly vows to obey her father’s wishes.
Scene 4: Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus stand upon the castle battlements shortly after midnight and wait for the ghost of the king to appear. Below the group of men a flourish of music is heard and Horatio inquires as to the nature of the sounds. Hamlet explains that the music is part of a custom in which the king drinks a rouse and music honors his drinking ability. After musing on the hate he maintains for his uncle Hamlet’s attention is brought to the newly appeared ghost of his father by Horatio. Hamlet addresses the spirit and queries as to its reasons for appearing. The ghost beckons the prince who consents to follow against the counsel of his companions. Horatio and Marcellus decide to follow for Hamlet’s safety.
Scene 5: Away from the others Hamlet bids the apparition to speak which it does and requests that Hamlet listen to its tale. The ghost tells that he is the dead king doomed to walk the earth until his time to enter hell. He also relates how his brother—the new king—murdered him as he slept in his orchards by pouring poison into his ear. Before leaving the ghost advises Hamlet not to lay blame on his mother and to seek revenge. After the ghost has departed Hamlet reflects on what he has learned and devotes himself towards avenging his father’s death. Horatio and Marcellus enter and bid Hamlet tell them what has occurred. Hamlet remains secretive but promises to tell them the truth as long as they swear not to even hint at knowledge of Hamlet’s secret. The men—upon hamlet’s and the ghost’s urging—swear upon Hamlets sword to remain silent. The three men then leave the battlements.
2. A. Is the ghost real, or is this spirit just a device Shakespeare uses to conceal the real source of the information Hamlet receives?
In scene four we see that the Danes still value drinking in Hamlet’s time. How much else do you believe has survived from the age of Beowulf?
B. Is Hamlet’s anger with his mother appropriate or too strong?
Is the prince overly depressed to the point of melodrama?
3. “…Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d His cannon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world,” (Hamlet i, ii, 131-134).
4. This passage characterizes Price Hamlet as an extensively melancholy and possibly self destructive individual. He lives underneath a great weight of depression which he cannot escape. The loss of his father has driven Hamlet to considering suicide; however, being a Christian prince, Hamlet cannot commit the act which he so longs to. Hamlet would rather remain in constant grief than risk self damnation. The apostrophe used to address God emphasizes the only force in the world to which Hamlet still clings: his faith.
Post your Act I reading response assignment here--then use the horizontal line to divide your section.
Summary
Act one, Scene one
Characters introduced:
Francisco- soldier
Marcellus-soldier
Bernardo- soldier
Horatio- friend of Hamlet
Hamlet- Danish prince
Ghost- Hamlet’s father or bad omen from Prince Fortinbras
Prince Fortinbras- King of Norway, has been threatening to attack Denmark
Marcellus and Bernardo tell Horatio about a ghost that they saw. Horatio is skeptical at first, but after the ghost appears for all of them to see, he loses all doubt. Believing that the ghost could either be a bad omen in regards to Prince Fortinbras’ threats of war or an apparition of Hamlet’s recently deceased father, Horatio decides to tell Hamlet about the ghost.
Act one, Scene two
Characters introduced:
Claudius- Recently appointed king of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle
Gertrude- Queen of Denmark, Claudius’ new wife, Hamlet’s mother
Laertes- Polonius’s son, wants to leave for France
Polonius- King's advisor
Claudius explains that he married his dead brother’s wife and that Prince Fortinbras’ of Norway wants to attack Denmark. Laertes asks for permission from Claudius to go to France and Claudius grants it. Hamlet is really peeved that his mom married his uncle so soon after his father’s death. Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus tell Hamlet about the ghost. Hamlet hopes to see the ghost himself.
Act one, Scene three
Characters introduced:
Ophelia- Laertes’ sister, Polonius’ daughter, Hamlet’s girlfriend
As Laertes prepares for his trip to France, he tells Ophelia that he worries about her relationship with Hamlet. When Laertes leaves, Polonius tells Ophelia not to see Hamlet anymore. As a good daughter, she agrees to obey his wishes.
Act one, Scene four
While keeping watch with Marcellus and Horatio, Hamlet complains about the Dane’s foolish drinking. While he reflects on the traditions and on his own role in them, the ghost appears. The ghost tells Hamlet to follow him and he is willing to, but Marcellus and Horatio don’t want him to. Hamlet goes anyway and his crew begrudgingly follows.
Act one, Scene five
The ghost finally speaks to Hamlet and tells him that he is his father. He tells Hamlet that Claudius poisoned him and that Hamlet must seek revenge. Hamlet agrees and tells Horatio and Marcellus that they have to keep everything they know a secret. They swear to keep their silence on a sword—which makes it really official.
Preguntas:
1) In scene four, Hamlet reflects on the frivolities of the court, implying that he does not really fit within the confines of the noble lifestyle. Why would Hamlet be critical of a lifestyle that he was raised in?
2) Ophelia agrees to stop seeing Hamlet with little to no argument simply because “her father said so.” This should come as no surprise because at the time, a daughter’s only responsibility was to follow her father’s wishes. However, in Romeo and Juliet, the young lovers completely disobey their family’s wishes. Why wouldn’t Shakespeare have Ophelia go against her father’s requests as well?
Worth Quoting:
“They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phase/ Soil our addition; and indeed it takes From our achievements, though perform’d at height,/ the pith and marrow of our attribute./ So, oft it chances in particular men,/ That for some vicious mole of nature in them,/ As, in their birth, --wherein they are not guilty,/ since nature cannot choose his origin…” (1.4.19-26)
The dialogue has shifted here from general comments about plot to more reflective conversation about human nature. Hamlet realizes that the noble people often justify their actions by hiding behind their family name or birth, “wherein they are not guilty, since nature cannot choose his origin,” (1.4.25). Hamlet also exhibits concern about foreign affairs and the opinion of other countries. He knows that even though the Danes have accomplished many great feats, other countries still view them as “drunkards” and “with swinish phase.” In his harsh criticisms of his own people’s traditions, Hamlet reveals the beginnings of a significantly complex character.
Scene 1: On the Battlements of the castle Elsinore in Denmark the soldier Francisco keeps watch. Two soldiers Bernardo and Marcellus arrive with a scholar and personal friend to the prince Hamlet: Horatio. Horatio has been told about the appearance of the ghost of the former king of Denmark, in armor, on the castle battlements; but he is wary. The ghost then appears and the men watch in amazed fright as he crosses gracefully their field of view. Horatio attempts to speak with the apparition, but before the phantom can utter a word, the rooster crows and morning comes; thus the ghost quickly departs. The trio of men then vows to relate their experience to prince Hamlet.
Scene 2: The scene opens in the Danish royal court where the new king Claudius makes a speech regarding his dead brother and the state of the country. He proclaims his lands will not fall to the upstart prince Fortinbras and sends the heralds Voltimand and Cornelius to make an ally of king Norway—who is Fortinbras’s uncle. Laertes, son of the royal vizier Polonius, then begs leave of the king to return to his affairs in France. The king accepts the request after consulting Polonius for his permission. Claudius now addresses his nephew and stepson prince Hamlet who coolly spurns the king’s attempt at flattery. Queen Gertrude then pleads with her son to liven up and relieve himself of his grief and to recognize death as natural and right; but Hamlet, taking her words as insult, retorts in proclaiming his countenance as absolutely genuine. Claudius clears the air by commending Hamlet for his devotion to his father’s memory, and then reminds him that death is inevitable for everyone. The king then turns the subject to Hamlet’s past request to return to Wittenberg school in England; both the king and queen request that the prince remain in Denmark which he grudgingly accepts. The king and queen leave the hall and Hamlet begins to muse on his depression. He resents his inability to commit suicide due to his religion before cursing his mother for her hasty remarriage to Hamlet’s uncle. The prince is forced to stop as Bernardo, Marcellus, and Horatio enter the hall to tell him their strange tale. At hearing of his father’s ghost Hamlet resigns to keep watch with the three men on the net midnight watch.
Scene 3: In Polonius’s house, Laertes bids farewell to Ophelia his sister, and advises her to abstain from serious relations with the prince Hamlet. Polonius enters the room and hurries Laertes along to his waiting ship. He gives son a brief lecture on how to conduct himself intelligently and with honor before sending him off. Polonius then turns to Ophelia and requests that she not remain emotionally entangled with Hamlet; however, Ophelia defends her love of the melancholy prince. Polonius angrily lays down an ultimatum citing Hamlet’s lack of reliability and Ophelia’s naivety. Ophelia reluctantly vows to obey her father’s wishes.
Scene 4: Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus stand upon the castle battlements shortly after midnight and wait for the ghost of the king to appear. Below the group of men a flourish of music is heard and Horatio inquires as to the nature of the sounds. Hamlet explains that the music is part of a custom in which the king drinks a rouse and music honors his drinking ability. After musing on the hate he maintains for his uncle Hamlet’s attention is brought to the newly appeared ghost of his father by Horatio. Hamlet addresses the spirit and queries as to its reasons for appearing. The ghost beckons the prince who consents to follow against the counsel of his companions. Horatio and Marcellus decide to follow for Hamlet’s safety.
Scene 5: Away from the others Hamlet bids the apparition to speak which it does and requests that Hamlet listen to its tale. The ghost tells that he is the dead king doomed to walk the earth until his time to enter hell. He also relates how his brother—the new king—murdered him as he slept in his orchards by pouring poison into his ear. Before leaving the ghost advises Hamlet not to lay blame on his mother and to seek revenge. After the ghost has departed Hamlet reflects on what he has learned and devotes himself towards avenging his father’s death. Horatio and Marcellus enter and bid Hamlet tell them what has occurred. Hamlet remains secretive but promises to tell them the truth as long as they swear not to even hint at knowledge of Hamlet’s secret. The men—upon hamlet’s and the ghost’s urging—swear upon Hamlets sword to remain silent. The three men then leave the battlements.
2. A. Is the ghost real, or is this spirit just a device Shakespeare uses to conceal the real source of the information Hamlet receives?
In scene four we see that the Danes still value drinking in Hamlet’s time. How much else do you believe has survived from the age of Beowulf?
B. Is Hamlet’s anger with his mother appropriate or too strong?
Is the prince overly depressed to the point of melodrama?
3. “…Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d His cannon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world,” (Hamlet i, ii, 131-134).
4. This passage characterizes Price Hamlet as an extensively melancholy and possibly self destructive individual. He lives underneath a great weight of depression which he cannot escape. The loss of his father has driven Hamlet to considering suicide; however, being a Christian prince, Hamlet cannot commit the act which he so longs to. Hamlet would rather remain in constant grief than risk self damnation. The apostrophe used to address God emphasizes the only force in the world to which Hamlet still clings: his faith.