Hamlet Act 1 Scenes 3/4

1) Laertes advices Ophelia not to fall in love with Hamlet. He says that he is above her class socially and that he cannot love her fully when he is thinking about Denmark.

2)The canker is sex and the infants are young woman. Femanist could go crazy on this as it is saying that woman are ruined after they are "deflowered" and that they are in a sense a garden. When they are wilted or "deflowered" they are a decaying garden.

3) She says that she will take his word into consideration and watch what she does. She doesn't really believe in this greatly however and points out that he has been going around and having his way with many woman. Her analogy is that many pastors tell their students how to get to heaven and how to behave, when they themselves do not follow any of their preachings.

4) List five of the “few precepts” that Polonius gives to Laertes.

1: Dont say what you think, dont act upon any unthought out thoughts.

2:Dont get into fights, but if you are ever in one remeber that the other guy might be scared of you.

3:Listen to everyone who speaks, but speak little to others.

4:Take each persons judgment, but judge others little.

5:Dont lend or borrow items or money.

5) In lines 105-109, what is the metaphor that Polonius uses to describe Hamlet’s words of love?

Polonius asks Ophelia what would happen if she took payment like it was sterling silver, even though it was not. He points out that you would have nothing and be ruined. ....I really dont understand what he is saying fielding...help?

6) List and explain one metaphor found in the lines 115-135.

"Giving more light than heat...you must not take for fire" This is kinda funny because its almost as if Polonious is comparing Ophelia to dumb bugs. He is saying that while the light (hamlet) is attractive as light normally leads to a source of heat. However this light leads to nothing and are just quick blazes that don't warm you.

7) Polonius commands that Ophelia does not look to fall in love with Hamlet and that she not talk to him and stay away completely so that she doesn't cause any harm to her or mostly his reputation.

8) In scene 4, what is Hamlet talking about in lines 13-38?

Hamlet is saying that the King is shooting off his guns and drinking while celebrating. He says that it is embarrasing and will cause them to be laughed at by other nations even though they are highly achieving and honored. He wishes that the king would not get drunk and shoot off the cannon because they are civilized folk and normally act so.

9) Why doesn’t Horatio want Hamlet to follow the ghost?

Horatio is affriad that the Ghost is going to lead Hamlet off into the water and drown or off of a cliff. He think it will transform into another form such as a monster and take away his sanity and cause him to become crazy.

10) Hamlet tells the Guards to let him go and that he is going to follow the Ghost. He then says he's going to kill them if they dont let him go and for them to not follow.