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Hamlet
Includes questions specifically asking about this Shakespeare play. Questions about the movie version should be placed under "Movies." Questions about Shakespeare should be placed under his category under Authors and Poets.
2,117 Questions
In what year did Shakespeare write hamlet?
The exact year Hamelt was written is not clear, but it was at some point between 1599 and 1603. This is based on scholarly research of allusions and references Hamlet allegedly contains to other contemporary works of the time. In Shakespearean times, probably around 1599.
The genre of Hamlet is a revenge tragedy. In this play, the ghost of Hamlet's father returns to get vengeance.
What is a clandestine marriage in Shakespearean tragedy?
Most likely this is referring to the marriage of Romeo and Juliet.
What does it mean when the king ask Hamlet how is it that the clouds still hang on you?
Why is Hamlet still mourning his father's death after a wedding
What is a key question of the theme in Hamlet?
How do you balance your honor and ideals with your own personal desires?
The theme of Hamlet is revenge and its costs. For Hamlet, it means the loss of his love, Ophelia, and eventually his own life, when he finally resolves to avenge his father.
Who is last charter to die in play Hamlet?
Hamlet is the last person to actually die in the play. However, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are the last people to have been mentioned dead--by Fortinbras I believe.
What events in act 3 might be considered turning points?
Hamlet not killing King Claudius, Gertrude believing the Claudius killed Hamlet's father.
Hamlet's father is dead. His uncle (Claudius) marries his mother. Hamlet sees his father's ghost and the ghost tells him that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet seeks revenge and kills Claudius. Hamlet also dies. There are many others plots in Hamlet but that is the main one
From Hamlet what does when sorrows come they come not single spies but in battalions mean?
Spies come one at a time. When you are attacked by a battalion of soldiers a whole bunch come at once.
Claudius means that their troubles are crowding in on them. He lists, if you continue reading this passage, five troubles that they have at this point. Some scholars think he is also thinking of a sixth--that Gertrude is not as affectionate to him as she used to be, because of what Hamlet said in the closet scene.
Why does polonius think Hamlet is mad?
Yes and no. Hamlet claims that he is faking his madness, but there are times where the reader can't truly tell whether hamlet is mad or not. It is up to interpretation. Whether his madness was truly fake or not is up to the kind of interpretation the reader/actor puts into it.
How does hamlet feel about seeing his old friends?
He seems very happy to see both Horatio in Act 1 and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Act 2, although he soon figures out that R&G had to have some reason for being at Elsinore and that the King was likely behind it.
What is the image of Hamlet holding a skull supposed to represent?
Hamlet holding YoricK's skull represents his closeness to death and realization of the true physical aspects of death. It also represents confusion in the to be or not to be speech. He is deciding whether it is better to be alive or dead or to have not existed at all. He mourns the fact that all that live must die and realizes that once dead, station and rank mean nothing and a king is as good as a beggar.
Why did Hamlet tell ophelia to join a nunnery?
Nuns cannot marry so Hamlet wanted Ophelia to stay away from him and he did'nt want to be married to her. Another possibility was Ophelia could have been pregnant. During this time women who became pregnant went to nunneries when they started to show. They didnt want anyone to know they were pregnant.
How many members of the Danish royal family are alive at the end of the play in Hamlet?
All the members of the family that we know of are dead.
What is the kings plan to get rid of Hamlet?
Claudius plans to send Hamlet to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bearing a secret death warrant.
What is the main point of Hamlet's soliloquy Now is the very witching time of night...?
No, it's not to tell us that he's a vampire, even though he says he could drink hot blood. Mostly it's to tell us what he has in mind for his upcoming visit to his mother--he's going to talk mean to her but not going to hurt her physically. At the beginning he expresses his bloodthirsty (figuratively, not literally) mood but he is less bloodthirsty as the soliloquy progresses.
John William Waterhouse painted the Blue Ophelia.=John William Waterhouse painted the Blue Ophelia.=
What act in Hamlet is it when Hamlet and polonius are in the library?
Scene 2 Act 2 line 170 Polonius leaves at line 215
