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NSC Hamlet question and answers
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2017-2019 NSC HAMLET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSin order of acts
Act 1, Scene 2 JUNE 2018
21.1 Refer to line 2: 'A little more than kin, and less than kind.' Account for Hamlet's reaction
to Claudius's greeting. (3)
● Hamlet is being disrespectful toward Claudius.
● He is resentful of Claudius's calling him 'my son' because he feels that Claudius has
no right to usurp his father's role.
● He disapproves of Claudius's marriage to his mother.
● He is indignant and tries to distance himself from Claudius's familiarity.
21.2 Refer to lines 5–10: 'Good Hamlet, cast … nature to eternity.' Suggest what motivates
Gertrude to utter these words in the above lines. (3)
● Gertrude displays motherly concern for Hamlet's well-being.
● She wants him to come to terms with his father's death.
● She is distressed by the animosity Hamlet feels toward Claudius.
● She might also feel guilty for having contributed to his melancholic state of mind with
her hasty marriage to Claudius and she urges him to accept her marriage.
● She appears to be supportive of Claudius as he attempts to engage Hamlet.
21.3 Refer to lines 30–32: 'But to persever … 'tis unmanly grief'. In the light of later events,
comment on whether Claudius is being sincere. (3)
● Claudius is insincere.
● He appears to be concerned and attempts to persuade Hamlet that his behaviour,
though understandable, is unreasonable.
● His words are also patronising and merely an attempt to win Hamlet over.
● He also subtly insults Hamlet by referring to his grief as 'unmanly'.
● He sees Hamlet as a threat and uses his words to undermine him.
● Later Claudius has Hamlet spied upon and plots his death.
21.4 Refer to line 33: 'It shows a will most incorrect to heaven'. Discuss the irony in this line
in the context of the play. (3)
● Claudius is saying that Hamlet's excessive mourning is against the will of heaven.
● However, Claudius's murder of his brother and marriage to his brother's wife are far
greater sins against heaven.
● The murder violates the divine right of kings and the marriage would have been
regarded as incestuous.
● His immoral plots to murder Hamlet are also 'incorrect to heaven'.
, Act 1, Scene 2 JUNE 2019
11.1 Refer to lines 4–5: 'I prithee thee … my mother's wedding.' Account for Hamlet's
attitude toward his mother's marriage. (3)
● Hamlet's assumption that Horatio is mocking him stems from his anger because of his
mother's hasty marriage to her brother-in-law.
● He is scornful and resents his mother because she has betrayed his father's memory.
● Hamlet is horrified by his mother's incestuous relationship with Claudius.
● He is bitter since Claudius has usurped the throne of Denmark, which is rightfully his.
11.2 Compare Horatio's relationship with Hamlet with the relationship Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern have with him (Hamlet). (3)
● Horatio is Hamlet's close friend and confidant.
● It is he who brings Hamlet the news of the appearance of King Hamlet's ghost.
● He is also completely trustworthy and loyal to Hamlet, keeping his secrets and helping
Hamlet in his quest to avenge his father's murder.
● After Hamlet's death, his loyalty to Hamlet endures as he takes responsibility for
restoring Hamlet's reputation.
● Although Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are old school friends of Hamlet’s and claim
to be loyal to him, they betray him and allow themselves to become Claudius's spies
in return for material gain and favour.
11.3 Refer to line 14: 'he was a goodly king.' Using your knowledge of the play as a whole,
comment on whether the same can be said about the current king, Claudius. (3)
● Claudius is not a 'goodly king' because he is power-hungry, lustful and ruthless. He
murders his brother, usurps the throne of Denmark and marries his sister-in-law.
● Claudius is devious in achieving his ends.
● He wickedly plots Hamlet's death and cowardly uses others to do his despicable
bidding.
● His desire to repent his deeds is a sham as he is not prepared to give up the throne or
Gertrude.
● Although he tells Gertrude not to drink from the cup, his selfishness overpowers his
love for her.
11.4 Refer to line 36: 'My father's spirit in arms!' Discuss the significance of King Hamlet's
ghost appearing dressed in armour. (3)
● The armour identifies the ghost as being that of King Hamlet.
● The soldiers remember his being dressed identically when he fought against the King
of Norway.
● The ghost's appearance in armour suggests that it is troubled, seeks revenge and serves
as a warning of corruption and impending doom in Denmark.
● The king's appearance in armour is regarded as an omen of grave danger to the state.
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