Hamlet - Study Guide

Hamlet "“ Study Guide Questions ACT II, SCENE 1 1.Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on his son, Laertes, in France and deliver him news about him. His philosophy is that if someone goes in one direction that is the path he or she will follow in his/her life. If the path is wrong, it makes them a bad person.

3.a) Ophelia is very weak character who obeys her father completely. She believes that Hamlet is really mad.

b) Polonius also believes Hamlet's madness, and wants to shoe everyone that he is right. He takes out his anger at Ophelia.

ACT II, SCENE 2 2.Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sent by Claudius and Polonius to find out if he is really mad. Hamlet keeps on pretending, he doesn't trust R & G and he is also trying to find out what is going on.

6.a) They are three theories stating why Hamlet is gone mad.

David Garrick in Hamlet, I, 4

Book signing and Hamlet Au's interview with Julian...

Hamlet

Polonius' theory is that Hamlet is mad because of Ophelia who is informed about Hamlet's advances. Gertrude, his mother, thinks that he is mad because of his father's death and her remarrying so quickly after King Hamlet's death to Claudius. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are saying that Hamlet is mad because he was denied the throne, political ambition.

b) Hamlet's madness is illustrated when Gertrude has conversation with Claudius, also in Hamlet's conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and as well as in his conversation with Ophelia and Polonius.

c) Hamlet's decision to put on an "˜antic disposition' is his way to find out about his fathers murder. He pretends to be mad just to get the confirmation that Claudius committed the crime. Hamlet insults the others, but everyone thinks he is just mad.

ACT II: SUMMARY 1. Laertes is very impulsive and...