1) What do you feel is the point of the gravedigger’s riddles and song? How does it fit into the play?
The points of the riddles is to show comedy in this dark time of the play because its ironic that they are telling jokes and trying to be happy in a graveyard.
2) In what ways do Hamlet’s reactions to the skulls in the graveyard seem to suggest a change in his outlook? Compare Hamlet’s attitude towards Yoric to Hamlet’s attitude to Ophelia or even his father? How is it different? How is it similar?
To Yoric he is more calm and sad, because he brings up the good memories he had with him, when he was alive as a jester. Hamlet's attitude towards Ophelia is the same because he loves her and likes her just like he liked Yoric the only problem is the past where she spied on Hamlet.
3) How old is Hamlet? How do you know this?
The Gravedigger says that he has been in Denmark ever since Hamlet was born, the Gravedigger says later that he was there for thirty years.
4) What does the violent argument between Hamlet and Laertes add to the play?
It adds more tension between the two sons who want to avenge there father's deaths and how they both love the dead Ophelia.
5) What developments in Hamlet’s character are presented through the story of what happened on the boat? (V.ii 1-62). How has Hamlet changed?
He has calmed down he is more mellow then before and doesn't lose his sanity.
6) How do Hamlet’s motives in killing Claudius seem to have shifted according to his speech beginning “Does it not, think thee…” (V.ii.63)
It changes because now he wants to do something before when he was first in Denmark he didn't act on it.
7) What concerns of the play are reinforced in the Osric episode? (V.ii.80-170)
Osric tries to impress Hamlet with big words and talks a lot. Hamlet however confuses him with more intellectual words.
8) Why does Hamlet ‘defy augury’? (V.ii.192)
Because he knows he is going into a trap, he defy's fate by going at this head on, if he doesn't die now however then he will just die later.
9) What does Laertes say is his motive in still resenting Hamlet? How has already lost this? How does this contribute to the presentation of revenge in the play? (V.ii216-223)
He wants to hold onto his last bit of honor because the rest of his life has gone, through death and despair.
10) How might the dying lines of Gertrude, Claudius and Laertes be viewed as typical of the way their characters have been presented throughout the play?
Claudius wants his "friends" to help him but they actually do not like him.
Laertes realizes that he has become as crazy as Hamlet did when his father and sister died
Gertrude may have known about the poisin but I believe she didn't and then realized that she tried to save her son from drinking it.
11) Who “wins” in Hamlet? How and why do you think this?
Fortinbras, does because he rules over Denmark in the end.
