STUDY GUIDE: Hamlet, Act I
English IV AP / Mrs. Ramos

DIRECTIONS: Use this study guide three ways:

• Before reading a scene, read the summary points. Then, read the text of the play in your workbook. By reading the summary points prior to the text, you will have an idea about what to look for when you read.
• Use the summary points to annotate the left margin of your text (while reading). Mark where you encounter key plot elements. For example, when you run across the spot in the text of the play where Marcellus reports having seen the Ghost (2, below), it will be written in Shakespearean language. Mark something like “Marcellus reports seeing the Ghost” in the left margin. Also remember to mark other elements that you notice or that puzzle you.
• Fill in the blanks in the study guide. Summary points in bold are followed by space in order for you to write in details about that point. For example, point 5 below states, “why there are so many preparations for war.” Based on the text, you should figure out why and write details about it in the space that follows.

scene 1

• Midnight. Francisco is on sentry duty. Barnardo comes to relieve him. Horatio and Marcellus arrive to join Barnardo.
• Marcellus reports that he and Barnardo have seen the Ghost twice.
• Horatio doesn’t believe them, but is struck with fear and amazement when the Ghost of Hamlet’s father appears.
• Horatio agrees that the Ghost is the exact image of the dead King Hamlet. He thinks it foretells disasters for Denmark.
• Horatio begins to explain why there are so many preparations for war.

• The Ghost’s appearance predicts violence, just as Caesar’s death was foretold by ominous events.
• Horatio demands of the reappearing Ghost to say why it comes.
• The cock crows and the Ghost vanishes without a reply.
• Horatio says it behaved like a criminal summoned to justice.
• Marcellus claims that the cockerel crows all night long at Christmas, a time when no harm can be done.
• Horatio seems to agree. He makes a proposal about their encounter with the ghost.

scene 2

• Claudius announces to the court that, although he grieves for his dead brother, he has, with joy, married Gertrude.
• He turns his attention to the political situation.

• Claudius sends messengers to the King of Norway to prevent Fortinbras from attacking Denmark.
• He asks Laertes to state his request.

• Polonius says he has reluctantly agreed.
• Claudius grants Laertes’ request.
• Claudius asks Hamlet why he is so melancholy.
• Gertrude urges Hamlet to cease grieving for the death of his father.
• Hamlet replies that he cannot because

• Claudius criticizes Hamlet’s continued grief and declares him next in line to the throne.
• Claudius refuses Hamlet’s request.

• Gertrude wants Hamlet to stay in Denmark.
• Hamlet agrees to obey her request.
• Hamlet longs for death but knows that suicide is forbidden by God. He is disgusted with his mother because

• Hamlet greets Horatio and Marcellus.
• Hamlet does not believe Horatio returned to Denmark as a truant or to attend King Hamlet’s funeral, but to see Gertrude’s marriage.
• Horatio makes a report to Hamlet.

• Hamlet is troubled by Horatio’s report. He closely questions Marcellus and Barnardo.
• Hamlet makes plans for that evening.

• Hamlet tells the others not to talk about what they’ve seen.

scene 3

• Laertes warns Ophelia against Hamlet’s love, saying it would never work out because

• Ophelia reminds Laertes to follow his own advice.
• Polonius urges Laertes to leave.
• Polonius gives Laertes fatherly advice on speech, friendship, quarrelling, judgment, dress, money and consistency. He questions Ophelia about

• Polonius orders Ophelia not to believe Hamlet when it comes to love.
• Polonius orders Ophelia to give up seeing Hamlet because

scene 4

• Just after midnight, trumpets and gun reports are heard. Hamlet condemns the drunkenness of the Danes and reflects that some men have a particular character flaw.

• The Ghost appears, interrupting Hamlet’s reflections on human nature.
• Hamlet addresses the Ghost as his dead father, asking why it has returned from the grave.
• Marcellus and Horatio tell Hamlet not to follow the Ghost.
• Hamlet is determined to follow the Ghost.

scene 5

• The Ghost says it must shortly return to its suffering and cannot tell mortals about the horrors it has seen.
• The Ghost gives a commandment to Hamlet.

• The Ghost reveals how he was killed.

• The Ghost also expresses disgust over Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius.
• The Ghost reveals that he died without the chance to confess his sins.
• The Ghost leaves Hamlet with a haunting request.

• Hamlet determines to remember what his father’s ghost has told him.
• Marcellus and Horatio want to know what Hamlet and the Ghost discussed, but Hamlet avoids telling them.
• Hamlet makes Horatio and Marcellus promise that they will not reveal to anyone what has happened that night or any reasons for any future strange behavior Hamlet might show.

Predict Future Events

After reading Act I, you should be able to make some predictions about the following:

• Possible actions Hamlet may take
• External conflicts that may begin to take shape
• Internal conflicts Hamlet may face
• How Hamlet will interact with his mother and uncle
• Whether or not Hamlet will do as the Ghost requested

Prepare for Next Class

The next time class meets, we will 1) discuss questions / elements of Act I that confused you, and 2) compare Hamlet’s two soliloquies in Act I (scene 2 and scene 5).