Hamlet
: Act Two
Wilson
English IV, Level 1
Act Two, Scene One
27. Who is Reynaldo? What does Polonius send him to do? What does this
say about his character?
Polonius is asking Reynaldo to spy on Laertes because he does not want him
to get into too much trouble. This shows that Polonius is suspicious and
manipulative.
28. Ophelia goes to her father in this scene; she is very upset. Why?
Hamlet came to her room acting crazy and looking disheveled.
29. What does Polonius think is the cause of Hamlet’s madness?
He thinks that Hamlet is upset about Ophelia rejecting him because he is so
in love with her.
30. Is Polonius correct about the cause of Hamlet’s “Distraction”? Why or
why not?
No, he thinks Hamlet is crazy because Ophelia rejected him. The audience
knows that Hamlet had planned to act crazy.
Act Two, Scene Two
31. Why have the king and queen supposedly sent for Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern?
They have supposedly been sent for to cheer Hamlet up. Claudius also
wants them to discover the cause of Hamlet’s madness.
34. What evidence does Polonius offer to prove his theory about Hamlet?
He reads from a love letter that Hamlet sent to Ophelia.
35. What is Polonius’ plan?
He and Claudius are going to set up a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia
and then hide behind the curtain to spy on them.
36. When Hamlet appears in this scene, how does he treat Polonius?
He makes fun of him.
