Hamlet - acting and performance

Question 1

King Claudius’ Deceit

Answer 1

‘Bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom to be contracted in one brow of woe.’

‘Impious stubbornness, tis unmanly grief’ (Alternatively, Hamlet the only character in black)

Question 2

Hamlet’s response to Gertrude’s comment on his grief in A1 S2

Answer 2

“Seems, madam! Nay, it is; I know not ‘seems’.”
- initial rejection that his grief is a mere performance

Question 3

Hamlet’s reaction to the players

Answer 3

“What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, / That he should weep for her?”
disgusted that players can display more emotion than he can, performance can seem more real than reality

Question 4

Performance used as a means of exposure

Answer 4

“The play’s the thing / Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

“Suit the action to the word, the word to the action.” (Act 3, Scene 2)

Question 5

Polonius using acting to find things out when he sends reynaldo

Answer 5

“By indirections find directions out.”

Question 6

KC Deceives (AO5)

Answer 6

Hytner, National Theatre 2010 - National Broadcast, plethora of servants, makeup artists, countdown. Portrait with lilies.

Question 6

Polonius telling ophelia to act

Answer 6

“Read on this book, / That show of such an exercise may colour / Your loneliness.” (Act 3, Scene 1)

Question 7

Good vs. Bad Kings (critic)

Answer 7

Mumford Jones: “Hamlet is tender minded, Claudius is tough minded’

Question 8

Mad Hamlet Seeks Attention (AO5)

Answer 8

Icke 2017: Hamlet screams / slaps his own face, looks around, camera zooms out to show his madness talking to himself.

Question 9

Lusty Gertrude (Critic)

Answer 9

•Smith: “pleasing men is Gertrude’s main interest”

Question 10

The Moustrap & Hamlet’s Reaction

Answer 10

The Sleeper Betrayed ‘pours poison in the sleepers ear.’ ‘Frighted with false fire?’ ‘O good Horatio, I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound’

Question 11

Foul Poision vs. Foul Murderer (AO5)

Answer 11

[2025 TNT - entire bucket of black liquid] 2010 TNT Camera zooms on into Claudius during Serpent scene

Question 12

Claudius as Evil (Critic)

Answer 12

Stockton: ‘clearly the antagonist’