2) Clarification Questions & 3) Key Passages

Act 1:

2. ) Clarification Questions
Why do you think the ghost would not talk to the watchmen when they confronted him?
Why do you think Claudius believes everyone approves of his marriage to his ex- sister in law Gertrude?
In Act 1, Scene 2, why do you think Claudius is so quick to scold Hamlet for mourning his father?
Why do you think Hamlet suspects the armor on his fathers ghost suggests foul play?
In Act 1, Scene 3, Why are Laertes and Polonius so insistent that Ophelia stay away from Hamlet?
Do you believe that Gertrude was an accomplice in the kings murder?

3.) Key Passages
Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 72-123

• In this passage Hamlet is confronted by both his mother and uncle and bluntly told that he should get over the death of his father and just accept the fact that his uncle is now his dad. When Hamlet tries to explain that he is going through a mourning process, he is made to feel weak and less manly by his uncle/dad and eventually agrees to stop sulking around.

Act 1 Scene 3 Lines 14-47

• In this passage Laertus urges Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet and to not accept any of his advances. He says that anything Hamlet says to her is meaningless, because he is just a boy whose mind is misguided by desires and the country will never allow him to have an actual relationship.

Act 1 Scene 5 Lines 49-86

• In this passage the Kings ghost reveals the true nature of his death to his son and acts him to exact revenge upon his murderer.

Personal Reflection:
I enjoyed the first act once I finally realized what the characters were actually saying. I don't trust the Ghost at all though, the fact that it would only talk to Hamlet and that it's only purpose is to seek revenge seems unsettling since the King is described by the characters as a pretty good guy. I think that Laertus and Polonius know something about the kings murder and that's why they don't want Ophelia getting close to Hamlet. I think that one of the watchmen will end up letting something slip about the ghost, so that's only going to end badly. But from what I can tell, this is going to be one of the better Shakespeare works that I have read, and hopefully it wont bore me to death like some of the others i've read.