1. What new attitude toward life do you see in Hamlet in the beginning of Scene 2?
2. What sort of person is Osric? What message does he have for Hamlet? What seems to be the problem with his hat? What is the wager? (No one has been able to explain this speech in a way convincing to everyone.)
3. Hamlet clearly apologizes to Laertes. How does Laertes respond? Given what we know about the plans of Laertes and Claudius, how do you take Laertes' promise? Can we say he has any honour at all? Has he followed his father's precept?
4. Laertes and Hamlet prepare for their fencing match. What is the "union" Claudius promises to put in the cup of wine?: "The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath;/And in teh cup an union shall he throw,?Richer than that which four successive kings?In Denmark's crown have worn." How are Claudius's and Laertes's plans for revenge foiled during the fencing match?
5. Does the Hamlet Fortinbras describes sound like the Hamlet we have known? What will happen to the kingdom under Fortinbras? Does Fortinbras get his revenge?