Make a copy of this template.

Fill in the boxes as we parse the play.

You will be expected to parse Act 5 by yourself. This is graded.
All Acts need to be parsed in order to earn the Act 5 points.

For each Act, find one vocabulary word. Define and cite act.scene.and line (For example: I.ii.37)

Vocabulary
*Mandatory
Act I Pretentious and fastidious

Act II. Guileless and surreptitious

Act III. Genuflect and ameliorate

Act IV. Gaiety and melancholy

Act V. Succumbed and jutted

Awry 3.1 95

Termagant 3.2 .14

Shent 3.2 . 431

Equivocate

Germane V.ii.171

Rendezvous IV.iv.91.

Plot summary

I.i The guards see the ghost and try to tell hamlet.1.i.91-101 Horatio answers
Marcellus but he doesn’t say it directly.1

1.ii Claudius and Gertrude advise Hamlet to lighten up.

I.iii Polonius gives his kids advice.

I.iv Hamlet learns about his fathers ghost from Horatio

I.v Hamlet meets his dad as a ghost

II.1 Polonius sends spies on Laertes in Paris.

II. 2 Claudius asks Rosencratz

Do II 187

First impressions
*Mandatory

i.ii *King Claudius King Claudius seems to be very arrogant and kind of a
narcissist. He wants to surpass the king and become
praised by everyone even more.

1.ii *Hamlet Hamlet seems to be holding a grudge towards his family

but overall he seems like a generally nice and honest
prince. In the second scene in the first act he tries his
best to keep his feelings to himself and remain calm.

I.iii *Laertes Laertes seems like he is a very violent and angry man
and he will use violence and aggression to get anything
and everything he wants.

*Ophelia Ophelia seems like she is very willing to follow the orders
of the men in power such as her father and her boyfriend
hamlet. She seems a little naive, but very loyal to her
father and brother.
 *Polonius Polonius seems like a very controlling but loving father
who is not humble. He is the father of Ophelia and
Laertes. He also seems to be a very proud father who
wants to watch over his children, he advises Ophelia to
stay away from hamlet.

Classic Lines You Should Know

1.ii.150 frailty thy name is women (hamlet)

1.iii.81 let thy own self be true (polonius)

1.V.33 murder most foul (ghost)

brevity is the soul of wit (Polonius)

How to Read Shakespeare

Act 1
1 “When yond same star…” (1.i.43)
contractions/omiss “...Had made his course t’illume that part of heaven…” (1.1.44)
ion
2 archaic “Peace, break thee off!” (1.1.47)
language “Thou art a scholar.” (1.1 49)

3 foreign words “So frowned he once when in angry parle” (1.1.73)

4 “Lets not follow. ‘Tis not fit us to obey him” 1.5.98

modifiers/adjective The disobedience of marcellus against hamlet and tis which is, it is.
s

5 inverted syntax Thus twice before, and jump at the dead hour/With Martial stalk hath he
gone by our watch.” 1.i.76-77)

6 additive Marcellusx xxx wants someone to tell him why Denmark

is so tense. In these 10 lines, he wonders about the 1 observant watch 2
why is the canon constantly going off and 3 why are the ship builders so
busy building boats. (81-90)

7 parenthetical 1.i.91-101 Horatio answers Marcellus. But he doesn’t say it directly; he

phrases adds several descriptive phrases - I’ll call them parenthetical phrases.
They add detail, and we learn more about what is happening. For
example “...by Fortinbras of Norway,” (1.i.94)

8 figurative 1.i.107-112 Fortinbras...Hath in the skirts of Norway here and

languages: there/Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes/For food and diet to some
metaphors,
simileds metaphors, simileds
enterprise/That hath a stomach in ‘t:”
Shakespeare is using culinary language to describe how the shark-like
Fortinbras is hungry (for land).

9 allusions 1.i. 125-128 “In the most high and palmy state of Rome/A little ere the
mightiest Julius fell”
Horatio views the approaching Fortinbras as an omen, just as the stars
in ancient Rome presaged the death of Julius Cesar. Nothing good came
of that. This would be a classic case of foreshadowing

10 long passages 1.ii. 1-39

packed with ideas Here's our first glimpse of the new King Claudius. It’s like his first talk to
his court. I count 10 different topics he touches upon. Shakespeare does
this, again, to reveal everything from plot to, in this case, the psychology
and nature of Claudius.

11 puns 1.ii.67 Hamlet: “A little more than kin and less than kind.” Shakespeare
loves puns. They offer characters to make comments - usually in the
spirit of speaking truth to power

12 soliloquies 1.iv.99 Hamlet “O all you host of heaven! O’ Earth! What else? And shall
 I couple hell?....” The ghost exits and Hamlet is writing to his uncles.

Act II

1 contractions Polonius 2.2.123 “That hath made him mad.” “Tis true, tis true, tis pity”
2.2.105

2 archaic Polonius 2.2.416-417 “Thee actors are come hither, my lord” Hamlet
language 2.2.616 “A Stallion. Fie, upon ‘t. Foh!”

3 foreign words Hamlet 2.2.525-526 “Prithee say on. He’s for a jig or a tale of bawdry”
Prithee, jig and bawdy.

4 First player 2.2.516 “With less remorse then pyrusses bleeding sword”
modifiers/adjective The metaphor of remorse depicted through the bleeding of a sword, past
s resurfacing, therefore a sword bleeding the blood it has drawn.

5 inverted syntax “You could for a need, study a speech of some dozen, or sixteen lines”
For a need, equates to if you need, and its placement after the word
could rather than before. Subject “you” verb “study”

6 additive 2.2.622-625 Hamlet “For murder, though it has no tongue, will speak with
most miraculous organ. I'll have these players play something like the
murder of my father before mine uncle.” In these lines hamlet is
interjecting a method of foreshadowing in regards to the fate of his uncle.
And includes his own thoughts of his uncle killing his father.

7 parenthetical 2.2.403-404 Hamlet “i am but mad north north west. When the wind is
phrases southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.” Hamlet here is referring to his
uncle father and aunt mother and at times the deception and questioning
of them is a current, this is like a warning sign, expressed through
seasonal winds.

8 figurative 2.2.449 Hamlet “ Lady your ladyship is nearer to heaven then when I
languages: saw you last by the altitude of a chopine.” ladyship is her body and
metaphors, femaleness and the term closer to heaven refers to aging and getting
simileds closer to death.
2.2.486 Hamlet “roasted in wrath and fire , and thus oer’sized with
coagulate gore” this is referring to the death of there lord and its effects,
comparing to a fire coagulating flesh and charring up what is, alluding to
a dark fate because of the lords death.

9 allusions 2.2.564 “dou thou old friend can you play the “Murder of Gonzalo”
Hamlet requests a playh for tomorrow as a classic case of
foreshadowing. 1 in terms of the upcoming play (upcoming actions) and
the idea of murder in refernce to his father.
 10 long passages 2.2.493-521 Hamlet long passage about Pyrrhus and his story. WIth tons
packed with ideas ( i counted 18) of metaphors and similes between hamlet's situation and
the story as well as an aspect of insights and what hamlet should do. I
assume foreshadowing a possible encounter with Claudius.

11 puns 2.2.555-557 Hamlet “Use every man after his desert and who shall
‘scape whipping”

12 soliloquies 2.2.575-634 Hamlet is self reflecting and even starts with “what a rogue
peasant I am” in reference to the players on what he heard and what he
should do.

Act III

1 contractions 3.2.56 Hamlet “Horatio, thou art e’en as just a man”

2 archaic 3.1.122 Hamlet “What it is to a bawd then the force of honesty”

language

3 foreign words 3.1.84 Hamlet: “With a bare bodkin, who would fardels bear”

4 Rosencrantz 3.2.354 “Then thus she says: your behavior hath struck her
modifiers/adjective into amazement and admiration.” the modifiers/adj. are (amazement,
s admiration) and this is describing Hamlet from the pov of his mother,
spoken by rosencrantz.

5 inverted syntax 3.2.131 “For look you how cheerfully my mother looks”
inverted /for you look/for look at you. /You look cheerful like my mother/

6 additive 3.2.339 “ The Queen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath
sent me to you”
These are parenthetical phrases that add detail into the relationship/tone
of the queen, it states in phrases, who the queen is to hamlet, who
hamlet's mother is (the queen), and her emotions towards hamlet (great
affliction) and when.

7 parenthetical 3.1.80 Hamlet “The pangs that despised love, the law's delay, the
phrases insolence of office and the spurns”

8 figurative 3.1.92 “A sickle o’er with the pale cast of thought”

languages: Hamlet is speaking to Ophelia and uses figurative language to depict an
metaphors, empty brain with soft ideas, uses “pale cast” to describe his thoughts,
simileds and I think it alludes to his feelings for ophelia and how his mind is
“calm” when together.
 9 allusions 3.2.109 Polonius “I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i’ th’ capitol.
Brutus killed me.” Before the start of the play this was in the
conversation with Hamlet, it alludes to the story of Julius Caesar and the
events to his death, and in this instance is foreshadowing.

10 long passages 3.1.163-175 Ophelia speaks of her love, feelings, and relationship with
packed with ideas Hamlet and uses several comparisons like /the courtiers, soldiers,
scholars, eye, tongue, sword. She uses subjects that are to be wielded
and to have a wielder, like a soldier uses his sword the way a courtier
uses their eyes. Ophelia goes about to relate this to her and Hamlet, as
she is the eye tongue sword to his courtier, soldier, scholar. Very
interesting concepts of love and what that means personally to ophelia.

11 puns "I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear" (4.2.23-24),
Hamlet replies after he has insulted Rosencrantz, and Rosencrantz has
said "I understand you not, my lord." Hamlet means that Rosencrantz is
too stupid to understand that he's been insulted for being stupid.

12 soliloquies 3.1.56-89 “to be or not to be” Hamlet also questions whether it is better
to act or not to act, to be a passive stoic like Horatio or to meet events
head on, even if by taking up arms this will lead to one’s own death,
since they are not to be overcome.

Act IV

1 contractions 4.3.55 King “So is it if thou know'st our purpose” this is a contraction for
knew-est or know the most.
4.5.166 “I'll open my arms, and like that kind life, rend’ring pelican,repast
hem with my blood”

2 archaic 4.5.99 King “Wherein necessity”

language 4.4.49 “Sith i have cause and will and strength”

3 foreign words 4.5.91 King “in hugger-mugger to inter him” hugger mugger means
hastily.
4.5.106 King “Where are my Switzers let them guard the door.” The term
switzers is apparently what swiss bodyguards are called.

4 4.5.96 “Feeds on his wonders, keeps himself in the clouds, and wants
modifiers/adjective not buggars to infect his ear” this is referring to Hamlet and keeping his
s sights, aspirations high so he isn't held back or persuaded from outside
influence.
4.4.65 Hamlet “Go for their graves like beds, fight for a plot whereon the
numbers cannot try the cause” this is hamlet comparing the soldiers
fighting in battle as fighting for their graves because there death is
inevitable, also the part the numbers cannot try the cause means that
 the number of men killed or dying doesnt bring honor or help anything at
all, ie “the cause”.

5 inverted syntax 4.5.121 Laertes “Where is this king?-- Sirs, stand you all without” Subject
is the king and the verb is to stand.

6 additive 4.4.1 Fortinbras enters with his army, and Hamlet asks who commands
the army allowing the captain to explain about the fate of norway.

7 parenthetical 4.3.16 “Without, My lord: guarded, to know your pleasure.''

phrases The parenthetical phrases here, allude to a lack of: in subject to the lord,
and guarded, to know your pleasure, this shows a fascination with the
king and dependency. Shows how society perceives and Rosencrantz
looks at the king.

8 figurative 4.5.215 Laertes “I'll not be juggled with. To hell. Allegiance! Vows, to the
languages: blackest devil” A form of figurative language and is about being devoted
metaphors, to do anything even if it leads you to hell. And vows to the blackest devil
simileds as in the most harsh or severe actions.
4.5.174 King “it shall as level to your judgment ‘pear, as day does to your
eye”
The first quote uses metaphors to describe severity. In that quote laertes
is speaking about being so devoted and committed until the very end
and no matter the outcome. And in this case that means death, and he
/vows to the blackest devil/ in terms of his commitment is strong that he
vows to the one of the most powerful feared entities that it will be done.
And the second is about what we are able to see and understand. It says
/as level to your judgment/ and as day does to your eye/ this alludes to
the concept that your judgments are based off of what you see, and
oftentimes you don't see everything, like your eyes in the night.

9 allusions 4.2.13-
Hamlet refers to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern both as sponges for the
King. A sponge is a tool used for cleaning up messes, as well as soaking
up material and expunging the material once again.

10 long passages 4.5.91-103 The passage is spoken by the king and has 11 major points
packed with ideas regarding ophelia and hamlet. Like distancing himself and not allowing
any outside influence. And ophelia's dilemma within herself about fair
judgement and emotions.

11 puns 4.5.25 “So full of artless jealousy is guilt, it spills itself in fearing to be
spilt.” a pun about irony by the queen.

12 soliloquies 4.4.34-65 Hamlets, and it contains several ideas about self reflection like
“what is a man if not sleep and feed, a beast no more” and he carries on
to speak about gifts that go unused, (self reflecting)

Act V
 1 contractions

2 archaic
language

3 foreign words

4
modifiers/adjective
s

5 inverted syntax 5.2.286 King “Set me the stoups of wine upon that table”
Set the stoups of wine upon that table for me, a change in the placement
of the subject “me” and object “wine”

6 additive

7 parenthetical 5.2.360, 370

phrases Hamlet “I had but time (as this fell sergeant, Death, is strict in his arrest),
O, I could tell you—But let it be.”

8 figurative
languages:
metaphors,
simileds

9 allusions 5.2.230 235 on faith 5.2.176

10 long passages
packed with ideas

11 puns

12 soliloquies

For each of the following, identify the subject, verb and object (if one is there). Also, identify
which represent conventional syntax and which represent inverted syntax.

1.ii.187-88
The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish the marriage tables.
Subject is funeral baked meats, the verb is furnish, and the object is the marriage tables.

1.iv.49
I will speak to thee.
The subject is I, the verb is speak, the object is thee

II.ii.633
The play’s the thing…
The subject is the play, the object is the thing

IV.VII.27
And so have I a noble father lost.
The subject is I, the verb is lost, and the object is father

III.i.148-9
Get thee to a nunnery.
The subject is thee, the verb is get, and the object is a nunnery