Hamlet by William Shakespeare ACT 1 Scene i

SETTING: The guard platform in front of the Castle of Elsinore where the
late king of Denmark lived. It is now home to prince Hamlet.
TIME: Midnight
ATMOSPHERE: Mystery, fear and undefined evil
TONE: Uncertainty; watchful suspicion
CHARACTERS: Francisco: a sentry; he is sick at heart and nervous
Marcellus and Barnardo: officers in the Danish army; they are
typical military men with a strong sense of duty and friendship;
they show their ignorance of the state of affairs in Denmark.
Horatio: a student at the University of Wittenberg in Germany; he
is a friend of Prince Hamlet, the son of the late king of Denmark.

ACT I
SCENE i. Elsinore. A platform before the castle.
Francisco at his post. Enter Barnardo to him.
Barnardo, the officer, has come to
BARNARDO take the sentry’s place on duty.
Barnardo hears Francisco marching
Who’s there? up and down and fearfully asks him
FRANCISCO to identify himself.
As Francisco is on guard, it is his
Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself. identify yourself duty to challenge the newcomer to
identify himself.
BARNARDO The nervous Francisco is relieved
Long live the king! when Barnardo gives the password
for the night: “Long live the king”.
FRANCISCO
Barnardo?
BARNARDO
He.
FRANCISCO
You come most carefully upon your hour.
BARNARDO Francisco is pleased that Barnardo
’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco. has come so punctually on the
stroke of twelve.
FRANCISCO He is in a hurry to leave as it is very
cold and he is feeling sad.
For this relief much thanks. ’Tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart. I am sick at heart: This is the first of
many references in Hamlet to
BARNARDO sickness and corruption.
Have you had quiet guard?
FRANCISCO
Francisco reports that he has had a
Not a mouse stirring. very uneventful spell of guard duty.

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BARNARDO
Bidding Francisco good night,
Well, good night. Barnardo asks him to tell Marcellus
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, and Horatio who are also on duty
with him to hurry up.
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. fellow guards

FRANCISCO
I think I hear them. – Stand ho! Who is there?
Horatio and Marcellus arrive and
Enter Horatio and Marcellus answer Francisco by identifying
themselves; they give the
HORATIO assurance that they are friendly and
Friends to this ground. Denmark/the castle loyal subjects of the king of
Denmark.
MARCELLUS Dane: someone who comes from
Denmark
And liegemen to the Dane. loyal subjects; the Danish king
Danish: belonging to Denmark
FRANCISCO
Marcellus asks Francisco who has
Give you good night. taken his place for duty. Francisco
MARCELLUS tells him that it is Barnardo.

O farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved you?

FRANCISCO
Barnardo has my place.
Give you good night.
Marcellus greets Barnardo and
Exit Francisco wants to know if Horatio is with him.
MARCELLUS
Holla, Barnardo!
BARNARDO
Horatio quips that it is so cold that
Say – what, is Horatio there? his whole body is numb and he
feels as if only a part of him is
HORATIO present. Possibly he is sceptical;
A piece of him. because of a ghost, he has come
on duty half-heartedly/unwillingly.
BARNARDO
Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus.

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CHARACTER: The Ghost: The ghost’s presence creates an eerie atmosphere of
mystery, fear and suspense, especially because it looks like the
late king of Denmark and wears armour as if prepared to fight a
battle. All the characters who have seen it believe that it portends
misfortune for Denmark.

MARCELLUS
Marcellus asks anxiously if they
What, has this thing appeared again tonight? have seen the ghost again.
BARNARDO Barnardo answers that he has not
seen anything.
I have seen nothing.
MARCELLUS
Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy
Marcellus reveals that Horatio
And will not let belief take hold of him refuses to believe what they have
told him about the fearful ghost,
Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us. which they have already seen
Therefore I have entreated him along twice.
We now understand why the
With us to watch the minutes of this night, soldiers are nervous to stand duty;
they are afraid of the ghost.
That, if again this apparition come
According to Horatio, the ghost is
He may approve our eyes and speak to it. merely a figment of their
imagination.
HORATIO
Tush, tush, ’twill not appear. Horatio’s scepticism is an important
aspect of his character.
BARNARDO Because of Horatio’s scepticism,
they have persuaded him to share
Sit down awhile, their watch.
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story, resistant against

What we two nights have seen.

HORATIO
Well, sit we down,
And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.
BARNARDO
Last night of all, Polaris: North Star
When yon same star that’s westward from the pole Polaris When Horatio laughs at the idea of
a ghost appearing, Barnardo
Had made his course t’ illume that part of heaven describes once more what they
have seen for the past two nights.
Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,
The bell then beating one – one o’clock in the morning

Enter Ghost
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MARCELLUS While Barnardo is giving an
account of their frightening
Peace, break thee off! Look where it comes again. experience the night before,
BARNARDO Marcellus suddenly interrupts him
by exclaiming that the ghost is
In the same figure like the King that’s dead. approaching again.
Barnardo remarks that it looks
MARCELLUS [to Horatio] exactly like the late king of
Thou art a scholar. Speak to it, Horatio. Denmark.
His friends urge him, as a scholar
BARNARDO of Latin, to speak to the ghost.
Looks it not like the King? – Mark it, Horatio.
HORATIO
Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder. torments
Horatio shivers with fear.
BARNARDO
It was believed that a ghost would
It would be spoke to. not speak unless it was spoken to.
Note: Latin is the language used in
MARCELLUS the Middle Ages to speak to and
Question it, Horatio. drive out ghosts, evil spirits, etc.

HORATIO His friends urge him to question the

ghost.
What art thou that usurp’st this time of night, uses

Together with that fair and warlike form Horatio first asks the ghost what it
is and why it uses that time of the
In which the majesty of buried Denmark night; he asks it why it uses the
handsome and warlike form of the
Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee, speak. late king of Denmark. He orders the
MARCELLUS ghost in the name of heaven to
answer him.
It is offended.
The ghostly figure seems to be
BARNARDO
offended and walks away angrily,
See, it stalks away. despite Horatio’s frantic urgings for
it to stay and speak to him.
HORATIO
Stay! Speak! Speak! I charge thee, speak!
Exit Ghost

NOTE:
The character of a ghost originates in the plays of Senaca, a Greek writer of tragedies. In the
plays of Senaca, the ghost is introduced in the Prologue of the play to inform the audience
about and prepare them for the theme of revenge in the tragedy that is about to be
performed. To Shakespeare’s audience it would be very real; they were superstitious and
believed very strongly in ghosts, magic and other supernatural powers. It was generally
believed in Shakespeare’s time that ghosts were evil apparitions appearing in the shape of a
dead person to lead his relatives into evil. Therefore, it would fill the audience with a
superstitious fear.
MARCELLUS

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’Tis gone and will not answer.
Barnardo evidently enjoys seeing
BARNARDO Horatio pale and shaken. Horatio
How now, Horatio, you tremble and look pale. declares that he would not believe
this if he had not seen it himself.
Is not this something more than fantasy?
What think you on ’t?
HORATIO
Before my God, I might not this believe
Without the sensible and true avouch guarantee

Of mine own eyes.

MARCELLUS Marcellus speaks of the ghost
resembling the king and Horatio
Is it not like the King?
acknowledges that the ghost does
HORATIO look strangely like the late king –
the ghost was wearing exactly the
As thou art to thyself. same armour as that worn by
Such was the very armour he had on Hamlet senior, when he fought the
ambitious king of Norway. The
When he the ambitious Norway combated. ghost’s frowning face looks exactly
like that of Prince Hamlet’s late
So frowned he once when, in an angry parle, meeting
father when he defeated the Polish
He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. attacked/defeated military who were riding on sledges
on the ice.
’Tis strange. Polacks: from Poland
Marcellus explains again that the
MARCELLUS ghost has twice marched past their
Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, exactly guard post at exactly the same
time.
With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.
Horatio doesn’t know what this
HORATIO
means, but speaking generally it
In what particular thought to work I know not, seems as if the appearance of the
ghost forebodes that something
But in the gross and scope of my opinion terrible will happen to their country.
This bodes some strange eruption to our state.
Marcellus invites them to sit down
MARCELLUS and tell him why the people of
Denmark are forced to keep awake
Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, and work so hard at night under
Why this same strict and most observant watch such strict supervision. He also
wants to know why so many
So nightly toils the subject of the land, works hard weapons are imported from foreign
countries. Moreover, many
And why such daily cast of brazen cannon, shipwrights (carpenters who build
And foreign mart for implements of war, international market ships) have been forced into
service by government order and
Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task enforced they are so busy building ships that
they even work on Sundays.
Does not divide the Sunday from the week.
What is about to happen that
What might be toward, that this sweaty haste about to happen causes everybody to prepare so

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Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day? feverishly day and night without
stopping?
Who is ’t that can inform me? Horatio replies that he has only
HORATIO heard rumours. As they know, the
late king of Denmark, Prince
That can I. Hamlet’s father, whose ghost had
just appeared to them, was
At least, the whisper goes so: our last king, challenged by the late king of
Whose image even but now appeared to us, Norway (Fortinbras). The ambitious
king of Norway was jealous of the
Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, military victories won by King
Hamlet and tried to do as well as or
Thereto pricked on by a most emulate pride, incited; envious
better than him.
Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet The fearless king of Denmark, who
was justly famous all over the
(For so this side of our known world esteemed him) eastern hemisphere for his valour,
killed King Fortinbras. In addition,
Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact,
before the battle, King Fortinbras
Well ratified by law and heraldry, battles drew up a formal agreement, which
was perfectly legal and in
Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands accordance with the laws of
Which he stood seized of, to the conqueror. chivalry, that, if he were killed in the
battle, King Hamlet was to have all
Against the which a moiety competent an appropriate portion the land possessed by the
Norwegian king. The late king
Was gagèd by our King, which had returned pledged
Hamlet pledged an equal amount of
To the inheritance of Fortinbras land, which would have fallen into
the possession of King Fortinbras if
Had he been vanquisher, as, by the same covenant,bargain he had won the battle, according to
the agreement drawn up by the two
And carriage of the article designed, kings.
His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, The young Fortinbras, the son of
the late king of Norway, was a rash
Of unimprovèd mettle hot and full, uncontrolled (impulsive) youth whose courage
had not been tested. He gathered
Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there
an army of reckless and unlawful
Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes gathered indiscriminately men in the outlying districts of
Norway.
For food and diet to some enterprise They were recruited to undertake
That hath a stomach in ’t; which is no other an enterprise (adventure) requiring
great courage and would receive no
(As it doth well appear unto our state) pay, only food, drink and clothes. It
had now been proved that this
But to recover of us, by strong hand desperate undertaking planned by
And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands young Fortinbras was to get back
by force the land lost to Denmark
So by his father lost. And this, I take it, by his late father.
Horatio believes in the possibility of
Is the main motive of our preparations, an attack by young Fortinbras, the
The source of this our watch, and the chief head source reason why the Danes prepare
feverishly and maintain a constant
Of this post-haste and rummage in the land. hurry; commotion guard, and why there is a hurry and
bustle all over the land.
BARNARDO Barnardo agrees with Horatio and
also suggests that the appearance

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I think it be no other but e’en so. of the ominous and fearful figure,
which has marched past their guard
Well may it sort that this portentous figure post wearing armour is connected
Comes armèd through our watch so like the King with these preparations for war.

That was and is the question of these wars.

HORATIO
A mote it is to trouble the mind’s eye. Horatio is of the same opinion.
According to him, the appearance
In the most high and palmy state of Rome, triumphant of the ghost is a supernatural event
that is as disturbing to the mental
A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, vision as a speck of dust is to the
The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead eye: it is a sign of coming
evil/misfortune.
Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets; He recalls that similar supernatural
happenings occurred in the mighty
As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,
and prosperous state of Rome a
Disasters in the sun; and the moist star, moon short time before the great Julius
Caesar was murdered. Then
Upon whose influence Neptune’s empire stands, god of sea graves emptied and the dead, still
Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse. wrapped in their shrouds, walked
about uttering short, shrill and
And even the like precurse of feared events, foreshadowing sharp meaningless (gibber) sounds.
There were other omens of
As harbingers preceding still the fates approaching evil, such as comets
And prologue to the omen coming on, (‘stars with trains of fire’) streaking
across the sky and red dew on the
Have heaven and earth together demonstrated grass in the early morning.
There were also ominous signs in
Unto our climatures and countrymen. geographic regions
the sun, and the moon, which
But soft, behold! Lo, where it comes again! wait a minute controls the sea, underwent a
lengthy and almost complete
Re-enter Ghost eclipse.
Horatio now reveals that similar
I’ll cross it, though it blast me. Stay, illusion! destroy
omens of approaching disaster, like
If thou hast any sound or use of voice, messengers that always go before
the forces of destruction as the
Speak to me. prologue of coming evil, have been
If there be any good thing to be done shown by heaven and earth to the
people of their country.
That may to thee do ease and grace to me, He suddenly breaks off as the
ghost appears. Greatly daring,
Speak to me. Horatio decides to step directly in
Cock crows front of the ghost, even if it should
destroy him.
Horatio orders the ghost to stop
and answer him if it has the power
of speech. Then he invites the
ghost to inform him if there is
something good that he can do that
will comfort it and bring himself
divine mercy.
After a dramatic pause, Horatio
If thou art privy to thy country's fate, again inquires if the ghost has any

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Which happily foreknowing may avoid, secret knowledge of something evil
that is going to happen to Denmark,
O, speak! which may perhaps be prevented
Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life by a timely warning. When the
ghost does not react, Horatio asks
Extorted treasure in the womb of earth, if it has gathered treasure by force
and hidden it deep in the earth
For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, during his life.
Speak of it. As the ghost is about to speak, a
cock is heard crowing and the
Stay and speak! – Stop it, Marcellus. ghost begins to move away.
MARCELLUS
Shall I strike at it with my partisan?
HORATIO
Do, if it will not stand.
BARNARDO
’Tis here
HORATIO
’Tis here.
In spite of their efforts to force it to
Exit ghost remain by striking at it with their
MARCELLUS weapons, it fades.
After it has disappeared, Marcellus
’Tis gone! remarks that they have treated the
ghost unfairly by threatening it with
We do it wrong, being so majestical, their weapons. It was such a
To offer it the show of violence, majestic figure. It is as vulnerable
as the air and the blows they have
For it is as the air, invulnerable, struck at it were a disrespectful
mockery.
And our vain blows malicious mockery.
Barnardo says that the ghost was
BARNARDO about to speak when the cock
crowed.
It was about to speak when the cock crew.

NOTES
Act 5, Scene 1
The defeat of King Fortinbras of Norway by King Hamlet of Denmark happened on the day
young Hamlet was born (30 years previously).
Horatio is recounting a legendary event in Danish history – a heroic myth/story.

HORATIO Horatio says that the ghost started

(was surprised) like a person with a
And then it started like a guilty thing
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Upon a fearful summons. I have heard guilty conscience on hearing the
fearful call of the law. He has heard
The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, that the cock, the trumpet of the
Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat morning, awakes the god of day
with his majestic, shrill crowing.
Awake the god of day, and at his warning,
On hearing the cock’s warning
Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, crow, each spirit wandering about,
The extravagant and erring spirit hies hurries whether it is in the sea, in fire, in
the earth or in the air, hurries to the
To his confine, and of the truth herein place where it belongs. What they
have just seen is sufficient proof
This present object made probation. demonstrated
that this is indeed true.
MARCELLUS
It faded on the crowing of the cock. Marcellus agrees that the ghost
disappeared when the cock
Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes just before
crowed, adding that it is generally
Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, believed that when the Christmas
season approaches, the cock crows
This bird of dawning singeth all night long; all night long. Then no spirits dare
And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad, walk about and the nights are
healthful because they are
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, destroy undisturbed by ghosts. At that time,
the stars cannot exert an evil
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, puts under spell
influence on people’s lives, no fairy
So hallowed and so gracious is that time. can infect them with diseases and
no witch has power to cast an evil
HORATIO spell on them because Christmas is
such a holy and blessed season.
So have I heard and do in part believe it.
But look, the morn in russet mantle clad Horatio replies that he has heard
that too and is inclined to believe it.
Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill. He draws their attention to the first
red streak of dawn on a nearby hill
Break we our watch up, and by my advice
and suggests that they break up
Let us impart what we have seen tonight their watch. They should tell young
Hamlet what they have seen that
Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, night; he is very sure that the ghost
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. that refused to answer them will
speak to the young prince. He asks
Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it if they agree that their love for
Hamlet requires them to do it.
As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?
MARCELLUS
Let’s do ’t, I pray, and I this morning know
Where we shall find him most conveniently. Marcellus is of the same opinion
Exeunt and adds that he knows where
Hamlet is to be found.

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HAMLET Act 1 Scene I

Questions

1. Answer the following questions:

1.1. Where does Act 1 Scene i take place?

Act 1 Scene I takes place on the guard platform outside Elsinore Castle.

1.2. At what time does it take place?

It occurs from midnight until just before dawn.

1.3. Who is Barnardo, Francisco and Marcellus?

They are Danish soldiers/sentinels in the Danish army who stand guard at the castle.

1.4. Why does Barnardo challenge Francisco?

Francisco is the guard on duty. Barnardo has arrived to relieve Francisco of his duty.
It is dark. Barnardo is jumpy/scared. He fears seeing the ghost again. He asks
Francisco to identify himself.

1.5. What does Francisco reply?

Francisco is on duty. He doesn’t have to identify himself. Instead he asks Barnardo to
identify himself.

1.6. How does Barnardo react to Francisco’s question?

He gives the password/watchword, which is a phrase: Long live the king.

1.7. Explain the following sentence in your own words:

‘You come most carefully upon the hour’.
Barnardo has arrived on time.

1.8. For which TWO reasons is Francisco thankful to Barnardo?

Francisco says it is bitter cold and he is sick at heart (he is feeling sad).

1.9. What does Francisco report about his period of duty?

It has been an uneventful night. “Not a mouse stirring.”

1.10. Who are to share Barnardo’s watch?

Marcellus and Horatio share Barnardo’s watch.

1.11. Why does Barnardo seem to be unwilling to be alone?

He is afraid that the ghost (which he has seen twice) will appear again.

1.12. Explain the meaning of:

1.12.1. ‘this ground’ ‘This ground’ refers to the castle territory or Denmark.

1.12.2. ‘liegemen to the Dane’ The ‘liegemen to the Dane’ are friendly and loyal
subjects of the king of Denmark.

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1.13. What is your interpretation of Horatio’s quip:
‘a piece of him’.
Horatio is feeling cold and numb. He feels as if only part of his body is present.
Also, Horatio is sceptical of the ghost’s existence; he has come
half-heartedly/unwillingly.

1.14. What does Marcellus ask Barnardo about ‘this thing’?

Marcellus wants to know if the thing has been seen again.

1.15. To what does Marcellus refer?

Marcellus is referring to the ghost.

1.16. How many times have they seen it?

The ghost has appeared twice before them.

1.17. What, according to Marcellus, is Horatio’s attitude towards ‘this dreadful sight’?
Horatio refuses to believe what they have told him about the ghost.

1.18. Explain in detail why they have asked Horatio to share their watch.
Horatio says that the ghost is only a figment of their imagination. For this reason, they
ask him to share their watch. If the ghost appears again, Horatio can confirm what
they have seen.

1.19. The word ‘tush’ is an exclamation of disbelief, impatience, etc. Explain why Horatio
uses it in his answer to Marcellus.
Horatio’s university education has taught him to discredit anything that is not
reasonable or provable. A ghost is nothing more than a person’s fantasy. Horatio
laughs at his friends. He is sceptical.

1.20. What facet of Horatio’s character is revealed?

He is sceptical. He doesn’t believe in something until it is proven.

1.21. Why would Horatio be able to speak to the ghost?

As a university student, Horatio is able to speak and read Latin. It is the language
used for exorcising an evil spirit. Marcello and Barnardo are afraid that the ghost is
evil.

1.22. At what time did Marcellus and Barnardo see the ghost the previous night?
They saw the ghost at one o’clock in the morning.

1.23. For what reason does Marcellus interrupt Barnardo’s account?

The ghost appears to them for the first time that night.

1.24. What do both Marcellus and Barnardo stress about the ghost’s appearance?
It looks exactly like the late king of Denmark. It is dressed in armour.

1.25. What does Marcellus urge Horatio to do?

Marcellus urges Horatio to speak to the ghost and to question it.

1.26. What effect does the ghost have on Horatio?

Horatio is pale and shivers. He is filled with fear and wonder.
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1.27. Which TWO questions does Horatio ask the ghost?
Horatio asks the ghost what it is. He also asks it why it uses that time of the night to
appear as well as the handsome and warlike form of the late king of Denmark.

1.28. What does he ‘charge’ the ghost to do?

He orders the ghost in the name of heaven to answer him.

1.29. How does the ghost react to Horatio’s questioning?

The ghost seems offended, marches off and disappears.

1.30. What effect does the ghost have on Horatio according to

1.30.1. what he himself says?

According to Horatio, the ghost torments him with fear and wonder.

1.30.2. what Barnardo says?

According to Barnardo, the ghost has made Horatio scared; he is pale and
shivers.

1.31. What does the sceptical Horatio say about the visit of the ghost?
Horatio admits that he would never have believed in the ghost’s existence had his
own eyes not seen it.

1.32. What does he say about the appearance of the ghost?

Horatio acknowledges the ghost’s strange likeness to the late king. The ghost wears
exactly the same armour as that worn by the late king of Denmark, Hamlet, when he
fought the ambitious king of Norway, Fortinbras. The ghost’s frowning face resembles
King Hamlet’s face when he defeated the Poles riding on sledges on the snow.

1.33. What does Marcellus say about the previous visit of the ghost?
Marcellus says that the ghost marched past their guard post on two occasions at
exactly the same time.

1.34. What, according to Horatio, do these visits of the ghost mean?

Horatio thinks that the ghost forebodes (warns) that something terrible will happen to
their country.

1.35. Briefly summarize in your own words the questions asked by Marcellus.
Marcellus wants to know why the people of Denmark are forced to keep awake and
work so hard at night under such strict supervision. He also wants to know why so
many bronze cannon are cast daily and why so many weapons are imported from
foreign countries. Why have so many shipwrights (men who build ships) been forced
into service by the government to work hard at building ships – even on Sundays?
What is to happen that causes everyone to prepare so feverishly day and night
without stopping?

1.36. Why did the late king of Norway challenge Prince Hamlet’s father?
According to Horatio, the king of Norway, Fortinbras, was ambitious. He was jealous
of the military victories won by King Hamlet and tried to beat him. He wanted to be
better than Hamlet.

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1.37. Briefly summarize in your own words

1.37.1. the agreement made between the two kings.

King Fortinbras challenged King Hamlet to battle and drew up a formal
agreement, which was perfectly legal and in accordance with the laws of
chivalry: if he were killed in the battle, King Hamlet was to have all the land
possessed by the Norwegian king. In the agreement, the late king of
Denmark, Hamlet, pledged/promised an equal amount of land, which would
have fallen into the possession of King Fortinbras of Norway if he had won
the battle.

1.37.2. the outcome of the battle.

Hamlet, the fearless king of Denmark, who was justly famous all over the
eastern hemisphere for his valour, killed Fortinbras, the King of Norway, and
gained his land.

1.38. Briefly summarize in your own words:

1.38.1. the preparations being made by young Fortinbras.

Fortinbras, a rash young man, whose courage had never been tested,
gathered together an army of desperadoes in the outlying regions of
Norway. These men had no inheritance and had nothing to lose. They were
not afraid to break any laws.

1.38.2. what he is planning to do.

Young Fortinbras planned to get back by force the land that was lost to
Denmark by his late father.

1.39. What connection does Barnardo see between the Danish preparations for war and
the visits of the ghost?
He suggests that the appearance of the ominous and fearful ghost has something to
do with the preparations for war.

1.40. What is Horatio’s opinion in this regard?

He suggests that the appearance of the ghost is a supernatural event, which is as
disturbing to the mental vision as a speck of dust is to the eye. It is a sign of great
trouble.

1.41. Briefly describe the supernatural events that happened in Rome before Caesar’s
murder.
Graves emptied and the dead, still wrapped in their sheets, walked through the
streets of Rome squeaking and speaking in a meaningless way.

1.42. Which omens have been seen by the people of Denmark?

They saw
 comets streaking across the sky;
 red dew on the grass in the early morning;
 ominous signs in the sun; and
 the moon underwent a lengthy and almost complete eclipse.

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1.43. How does Horatio describe omens of approaching disaster?
Horatio says that similar omens (like messengers that go before the forces of
destruction as a sign of coming evil) have been shown by heaven and earth to the
people of Denmark.

1.44. What causes Horatio to stop speaking?

The ghost reappears and Horatio stops speaking.

1.45. What does Horatio decide to do to the ghost this time?

He decides to step directly in front of the ghost.

1.46. What risk does Horatio run by doing this?

The ghost can destroy him.

1.47. Describe each of Horatio’s FOUR invitations to the ghost to speak.

He orders the ghost to stop and answer him if it has the power of speech.
He invites the ghost to inform him if there is something good that he can do that will
comfort it and bring himself divine mercy.
He inquires if the ghost has any secret knowledge of something evil that is going to
happen to Denmark, which may perhaps be prevented by a timely warning.
Horatio asks the ghost if it has gathered a lot of treasure by extortion and hidden it
deep in the earth during his life.

1.48. What sound causes the ghost to vanish?

A cock crows and the ghost vanishes.

1.49. How do the three friends try to prevent the ghost from going away?
They strike at it with their weapons.

1.50. How did the ghost react to the crowing of the cock, according to Horatio?
It jumps like a person with a guilty conscience on hearing the fearful call of the law.

1.51. What theme does this introduce in the play?

The theme introduced is betrayal (this leads to a guilty conscience).

1.52. Briefly summarize in your own words Horatio’s explanation of the effect of a cock’s
crowing on ghosts.
According to Horatio, the cock, the trumpet of the morning, awakes the god of day
with its majestic, shrill crowing. On hearing the cock’s warning crow, each spirit
wandering about in the sea, in fire, in the earth or in the air, hurries to the place where
it belongs.

1.53. Briefly summarize Marcellus’ account of the cock’s crowing at Christmas time.
Marcellus says the cock crows all night long when the Christmas season approaches.
No spirits dare walk about and the nights are healthful because they are undisturbed
by ghosts. At that time the stars cannot exert an evil influence on people’s lives, no
fairy can infect them with diseases and no witchy has the power to cast an evil spell
on them because Christmas is such a holy and blessed season.

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1.54. Quote Horatio’s description of the new day breaking.
He draws their attention to the first red streak of dawn on a nearby hill. He says: “the
morn in russet mantle clad/Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill”.

1.55. What does Horatio suggest they do with the news of the ghost’s visits?
He says they should tell young Hamlet what they have seen that night.

1.56. Why does he propose to tell Prince Hamlet?

He is certain that the ghost, who refused to answer them, will speak to the young
prince.

1.57. What is his motive for wishing to tell Hamlet?

Their love for Hamlet requires them to do it.

1.58. What information does Marcellus give them?

Marcellus knows where Hamlet is to be found.

2. Relate each of the following quotations from Act 1 Scene i to its context.

2.1. “… he says ‘tis but our fantasy,

And will not let belief take hold of him
Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us.”

a) Who says these words? Marcellus

b) To whom are the words said? Barnardo
c) Of whom are the words said? Horatio
d) When and where are these words said? It is midnight/the dead of night. The scene
takes place on the guard’s platform at Elsinore Castle.
e) To what does ‘this dreaded sight’ refer? It refers to the appearance of a ghost.

2.2. “What are thou that usurpest this time of night,

Together with that fair and warlike form
In which the majesty of buried Denmark
Did sometimes march?”

a) Who says these words? Horatio

b) To whom are the words said? He speaks to the ghost.
c) What does the word ‘usurp’ mean? It means to use or to take advantage of (the
night).

2.3. “Before my God, I might not this believe

Without the sensible and true avouch
Of mine own eyes.”

(a) Who says these words? Horatio

(b) To what does the word ‘this’ refer? Horatio refers to the appearance of the ghost.
(c) What aspect of the speaker’s character is revealed? His sceptical nature is
revealed; he did not believe in ghosts. He is now pale, trembling and filled with
fear and wonder.
(d) What are the speaker’s feelings at this moment? He is pleased to see that Horatio
is shaken by what he has seen.
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2.4. “What might be toward, that this sweaty haste
Doth make the night joint-labourers with the day?”

a) Who says these words? Marcellus

b) Of whom are the words said? Marcellus is speaking about the people of Denmark.
He wants to know why they are forced to keep awake and work so hard at night
under such strict supervision.
c) To what does the speaker refer with the phrase ‘this sweaty haste’? He is referring
to the hurrying of hard work or working hard quickly and under pressure.

2.5. “…
Of unimproved mettle hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there
Sharked up a list of lawless resolute,
For food and diet, to some enterprise
That hath a stomach in it.”

a) Who says these words? Horatio

b) To whom are the words said? Marcellus
c) Of whom are the words said? Young Fortinbras, the son of the king of Norway
d) Why does the speaker say that the person spoken of is of ‘unimproved mettle’? He
never went to war; his military ambition is untested, perhaps uncontrolled – he
lacks military discipline – fights impulsively without planning or thinking of the
consequences.
e) Explain each of the following words as used in this context:
i) the skirts outlying regions/the outskirts of a place/border areas
ii) sharked gathered/recruited/persuaded
iii) lawless resolutes men with no inheritance (who easily break the law)
iv) for food and diet men are like food; the war needs food (men) to fill
its stomach
v) that hath a stomach in it courage
f) To what ‘enterprise’ does the speaker refer? War to get back by force the land that
the late king of Norway, Fortinbras, lost to Denmark.

2.6. “And even the like precurse of fierce events,

As harbingers preceding still the fates
And prologue to the omen coming on,
Have heaven and earth together demonstrated
Unto our climatures and countrymen.”

a) Who says these words? Horatio

b) To whom are the words said? Barnardo
c) Write the meaning of this sentence in your own words.
Similar omens of approaching disaster, like messengers (harbingers) always go
before the forces of destruction to introduce coming evil, have been shown by
heaven and earth to the people all over their country.
d) What important event happens immediately after this is said?
The ghost re-appears.

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2.7. “I’ll cross it, though it blast me.
Stay, illusion!
If thou hast any sound, or use of voice,
Speak to me.”

a) Who says these words? Horatio

b) Of whom are the words said? The ghost
c) What is the time? It is just before dawn, before the sun rises (when the cock
crows)
d) What do each of the following words mean in this context:
i) cross step in front of/cross the path of
ii) blast destroy
e) What happens when the illusion is about to speak? A cock crows
f) How does the illusion react to this sound? The ghost starts/jumps as if surprised;
it reacts the same as a person with a guilty conscience. It then leaves.
g) What does the speaker and the friends do to try and prevent this? They strike the
air to prevent it from leaving.

2.8. “We do it wrong, being so majestical,

To offer it the show of violence.”

a) Who says these words? Marcellus

b) To whom are the words said? Horatio and Barnardo
c) Of whom are the words said? The ghost
d) To what does the phrase ‘the show of violence’ refer? to threaten something
e) How does the speaker describe their ‘vain blows’? The ghost is invulnerable like
the air and cannot be affected by their weapons. It will not feel their blows.
f) Why are the blows they strike described as ‘vain’? They cannot use violence or
their weapons to prevent the ghost from leaving.

2.9. “Break we our watch up, and by my advice

Let us impart what we have seen tonight
Unto …”

a) Who says these words? Horatio

b) To whom are the words said? Marcellus and Barnardo
c) To whom does the speaker want to impart the news? Hamlet
d) To what ‘watch’ does the speaker refer? It is their guard duty outside the castle;
their planned duty together, which was done to prove to Horatio that they had seen
a ghost.
N.B. They guard the castle against attack; a surprise attack is imminent as Young
Fortinbras, the prince of Norway wants to get back by force the land that his father
lost to Hamlet, the late king of Denmark.
e) What have they seen that has made such a deep impression on them? They have
seen a ghost that looks like King Hamlet, dressed in armour.
f) Describe the TWO reasons why the speaker wants to impart the news to that
particular person. Their love for Hamlet requires them to tell him about the ghost.
Horatio believes the ghost will speak to young Hamlet.

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