Read 1.1 and 1.2 (Act.Scene) and answer the following questions:

1. Who can vouch for the existence of the ghost?

2.  How does Claudius treat Hamlet in public?

Readings for 10/17/08: 2nd Period (1.1, 1.2, 1.3-up to line 81); 3rd Period (1.1, 1.2, 1.3- up to line 128)

2nd period: Read 1.3.82- 1.5 (entire act)

3rd Period: Read 1.3.128-1.5.55

Answer Scene 3 questions on handout; read 1.3,1.4, 1.5 and answer following questions:

1. Scan the text for one word to describe each of these characters: Polonius,

Laertes, and Ophelia. How would you describe the relationships within

this family?

2. What do you perceive the relationship between Hamlet and his father to

be?

3. Does Hamlet trust Horatio?

4. What do Horatio and the guards think of Hamlet?

5. What’s an “antic disposition”?

Read 2.1. Figure out:

• What Polonius is asking Reynaldo to do.

• What Hamlet did to Ophelia in her closet.

• What assumptions Polonius jumps to concerning the cause of Hamlet’s

madness?