Please choose two questions from ACT I to respond to in at least a 150 word post. Please state the scene and the question. (ex. ACT I Scene 2 - What problems does Claudius address in this passage?) Be sure you provide textual evidence to support your claims. You must respond to two of your peers as well.
54 Comments
Kristen Rogers
12/12/2015 06:34:52 am
What hint do we get that Claudius may be under obligation to Polonius?
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Kaitlyn Denny
12/12/2015 08:01:24 pm
I would have to agree with both of your responses, as well as use the exact quote for the first question's response. The the king's need of another man's decision to make his own may show his lack of ability to make his own decisions. Could this possible foreshadow something in the future? I could also see Ophelia as one of the only positive things left in Hamlet's life. Hopefully she will disobey her father and decide to keep Hamlet in her life.
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Elizabeth
12/13/2015 07:05:51 am
I most definitely agree with Nicole in that if Ophelia follows her father's command, Hamlet's mental state will become even more unstable. As an already grief-stricken individual with no one to turn to, except maybe Horatio and Marcellus, Hamlet needs all the support he can get. I mean, his own mother won't let him grieve! Additionally, if Ophelia spurns Hamlet's romantic approaches, he might loose confidence in himself and completely loose his trust in women in general.
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Holmes
12/14/2015 09:44:24 am
Nicely put. I especially appreciate your insight into Hamlet's trust in women.
Hannah Ross
12/13/2015 04:15:28 pm
I agree with your observations about the king. However, I am forced to question why the King, who obviously has no problem making decisions judging by how he married his sister in law, is under Polonius' command. I feel that will be revealed in the coming acts, but I question if there are any hints in this one?
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Lauren Collins
12/13/2015 06:16:00 pm
Your responses are very well articulated. I agree with your first response, in respect that Claudius is asking about someone below him of his opinion. Normally, a king is the highest ruler under very little command but his own. The question now is why is he under obligation?
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Jenny Glidewell
12/13/2015 08:28:02 pm
I completely agree that if Ophelia follows her father's advice and stays away from Hamlet, that it will crush him. I believe he really does love her and he needs someone he knows he can trust right now in his life. Especially after he finds out that he can no longer trust Claudius or even his own mother!
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Holmes
12/14/2015 09:46:12 am
Do you think Hamlet ever trusted Claudius?
Holmes
12/14/2015 09:42:44 am
Under your first question, you provide the hint, now infer as to why please!
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Kristen Rogers
12/21/2015 07:06:29 pm
I feel like this inference comes partly from the reading we completed prior to reading Act I. I infer that Polonius helped Claudius to the throne or killed King Hamlet.
Kaitlyn Denny
12/12/2015 07:52:25 pm
Act 1, Scene 1 What is the mood of the opening scene? How is it established?
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Alyssa Hagerman
12/14/2015 05:48:58 am
Act 1, Scene 4
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Holmes
12/14/2015 09:49:53 am
Good to bring up Hamlet's sensitive disposition. He is in a fragile state, and surely his friends would be concerned for his mental well-being.
Holmes
12/14/2015 09:48:58 am
Tense is one adjective. What is another that could be used to describe the tone? (Think ghost, something's rotten....)
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Elizabeth
12/13/2015 07:35:59 am
What is the mood of the opening scene? How is it established?
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Kaitlyn Denny
12/13/2015 04:13:46 pm
I also thought that the first scene was full of apprehension, but I could not think of that word in my own response. I agree that the questioning adds to the apprehension and also adds a sense of disbelief almost. Your second response is also correct. I am wondering if this is the reason that the king appears as an apparition or if it may be to warn his son of something else or of a person. Typically ghosts have unfinished business and also bode horrible events and can warn people about them.
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Holmes
12/14/2015 09:54:24 am
Glad to see you reevaluated your own work!
Lauren Collins
12/13/2015 06:03:57 pm
I agree with both your responses. For the opening scene, I did sense an ominous and disbelieving mood, as well as a curious and stressed mood. They ask a lot of questions, especially about the appearance of the apparition as the king. Therefore, I think the men are curious to have the ghost's identity officially revealed. However, the primary mood seems to be stressed and a little frightened, as described by Horatio, "It harrows me with fear and wonder" (Shakespeare 16).
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Nora Skinner
12/13/2015 07:11:09 pm
You are right about the strict watch outside the castle. It is a direct result of King Fortinbras and King Hamlet's challenge. It's ironic that now both Young Hamlet and Young Fortinbras are attempting to avenge their father's deaths.
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Holmes
12/14/2015 09:57:32 am
Nora, is it ironic? What possible purpose could Shakespeare have in setting up this situation?
Holmes
12/14/2015 09:53:37 am
Very astute. I am pleased you added this: "[Y]oung Fortinbras, holding a weak supposal of our worth, or thinking by our late dear brother's death our state to be disjoint and out of frame" into your explanation. Is there anything in Young Fortinbras supposition that Denmark is "disjoint[ed] and out of frame"?
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Elizabeth
12/26/2015 10:07:36 am
I think that Fortinbras perceives Denmark's situation correctly. Somehow, he has seen the scramble for power following King Hamlet's death and knows that the kingdom is much more unstable than before the unexpected transition of power.
Kaitlyn Denny
12/13/2015 04:02:53 pm
Act 1, Scene 1 What is the mood of the opening scene? How is it established?
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Hannah Ross
12/13/2015 04:08:05 pm
What is the mood of the opening scene? How is it established?
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Kristen Denny
12/13/2015 06:44:58 pm
I agree with the stated mood and reasons given. However, it may also be due to the characters not understanding why this ghost keeps appearing and why it appears to be the recently deceased King Hamlet. Fear of the unknown is being portrayed with the reactions of the characters upon the ghost's appearances.
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Holmes
12/14/2015 10:02:45 am
Ooh! I like that you state the "fear of the unknown is being portrayed ..." Can you expand upon this idea?
Holmes
12/14/2015 10:01:19 am
"Lose" the one thing... :) Do you think Hamlet is being put to a test?
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Hannah Ross
12/16/2015 07:29:43 am
Hamlet is being put to a test, but isn't everyone? Life is a test that everyone must go through, more heavily at some times that others. In this instance, Hamlet is going through one of life's most difficult tests, loosing a parent and being betrayed by one you love. Another test he is being put through is the presentation of the supernatural. All these tests combine to form the perfect storm that Hamlet must go through, and come out of dead or alive.
Nicole Rogers
12/21/2015 07:16:14 pm
I agree with you wholeheartedly that Hamlet would be crushed and probably kill himself if Ophelia denied him. I also agree that the syntax sets up a tense mood but I also think the depressing diction associated with Hamlet and the loss of his father results in a depressing mood.
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Lauren Collins
12/13/2015 05:41:15 pm
Act 1, Scene 3 – What advice does Laertes give Ophelia about Hamlet? What reason does he give?
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Elizabeth
12/13/2015 06:12:41 pm
While brotherly love may be the reason for Laertes giving relationship advice to Ophelia, I can't help but wonder if he has been influenced by Polonius and Polonius's relationship with the crown. Obviously, he has power in the castle, and it's possible he does not like the royal family or Hamlet. Also, based on the fact that Polonius himself does not approve of Ophelia's affections for Hamlet, it is possible that Laertes is just echoing his father's commands.
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Sarah
12/13/2015 08:42:47 pm
Lauren, I agree that Laertes is being your typical "overprotective brother," and even though he mostly likely has been influenced by his father's views on Hamlet, I don't like to say that he is an echo of them like you say, Elizabeth. Polonius asks Ophelia what Laertes advised her on, which would lead me to conclude that he was unaware of some of the discussions the siblings had as well as what Laertes opinions were. I know in my own relationship with my siblings, we often will discuss things with each other that we wouldn't with our parents--or at least not in the same manner. Laertes recognizes that Hamlet is not fully free to make decisions on his own since he his royalty, but doesn't fully denounce the love that he may have for his sister.
Kristen Denny
12/13/2015 06:55:04 pm
I agree and now see the "big brother" perspective. As for the second question, the deceased king refers to Claudius as the serpent. This is fitting as they are deceitful and, as the one in the Bible, bring forth corruption. Claudius has brought forth much corruption in Denmark such as incest, murder, and other portrayals of deceit.
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Jenny Glidewell
12/13/2015 08:24:38 pm
I like that you said it set a mood of revenge, incest, and distrust! I completely agree with that! From the beginning I never thought Hamlet liked Claudius. I also thought it was strange that Claudius and his mother got married so fast and that they are both urging Prince Hamlet to quit grieving his father. Both of these acts are very suspicious. I believe there was a mood all along of distrust and suspicion towards Claudius that could have helped us to predict that Claudius was the cause for Hamlet's fathers death.
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Holmes
12/14/2015 10:11:25 am
Do you think Hamlet's mother was complicit in the murder?
Holmes
12/14/2015 10:07:20 am
Well done and thank you for the new questions! Does Laertes think of Hamlet as most young men in their late teens? Does Laertes think Hamlet is just out to use Ophelia?
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Kristen Denny
12/13/2015 06:37:44 pm
Why do Hamlet’s friends try to prevent him from following the ghost? Act I Scene 4
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Nora Skinner
12/13/2015 07:05:21 pm
I agree with your answers! I do think that Hamlet's friends believe that he is desperate enough to kill himself if the ghost tempted him, so they do not want to give him that opportunity.
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Holmes
12/14/2015 10:14:05 am
Nice. Would society approve of Ophelia? Is she in an appropriate social class? Has royalty ever married "beneath" their class? Find an example and share please!
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Nora Skinner
12/13/2015 07:00:15 pm
Act I Scene I
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Sarah
12/13/2015 08:35:05 pm
I believe you are exactly right.It's the whole "they walls have ears," principle, where you must be very careful what you say and to whom since word typically travels quickly.
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Holmes
12/14/2015 10:10:25 am
Sarah,
Holmes
12/14/2015 10:15:55 am
Good to notice the necessary layers in the swearing!
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Alyssa Hagerman
12/13/2015 07:25:30 pm
Act 1, Scene 1: Why is Horatio being included in the next watch?
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Holmes
12/14/2015 10:17:39 am
Just wait until you read Act II. When done, revisit this post please!
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Hannah Ross
12/16/2015 07:20:51 am
Why wouldn't Polonius want his daughter to be courted by the prince/future king of Denmark? Wouldn't that be a raise in title for her and Polonius? Maybe Polonius knows that something bad will happen to Hamlet and he doesn't want his daughter involved.
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Nicole Rogers
12/21/2015 07:12:54 pm
Why do you think Polonius does not want Ophelia to be with Hamlet? Is it because Polonius has seen Hamlet so distraught over his father's death, and thus Polonius sees Hamlet as weak? Could it be that Polonius knows something on Hamlet that the reader does not? I feel that Polonius is part of the reason Claudius has the crown, and with that much power, Polonius could be planning on something happening to young Hamlet as well.
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Jenny Glidewell
12/13/2015 08:16:57 pm
Act I Scene 3- What advice does Laertes give Ophelia about Hamlet? What reason does he give?
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Holmes
12/14/2015 10:22:31 am
"serious" should be seriously
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Sarah
12/13/2015 08:32:38 pm
Act 1 Scene 2: What hint do we get that Claudius may be under obligation to Polonius?
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Alyssa Hagerman
12/14/2015 06:00:52 am
At this point in the story, the reader or viewer would have no idea how Hamlet actually felt about Ophelia. Polonius and his son both warned Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet, and the son actually said that Hamlet was probably talking to other women. We do not know his character well enough to rule this out, so the argument that he wants to place his trust onto Ophelia is too early to tell. On the other hand, your idea that his trust in Polonius would plummet even further is a great thought.
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Holmes
12/14/2015 10:30:13 am
And why does Hamlet not "like" Polonius?
Holmes
12/14/2015 10:28:37 am
An interesting line of text you bring in to show a potential obligation. Is there an obligation to Polonius or could Claudius simply be trying to learn how to act like a father to Hamlet? (I am not saying you are incorrect; I am simply posing a question.)
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