Hamlet 1:1

1. Shakespeare uses the arguing of the guards to create humor and invoke interest in the play. Curiosity is also created by the appearance of the ghost of the king who is never given a chance to speak.

2. Despite the fact that the ghost doesn't speak, we are given some insight into the moment due to what he is wearing. the fact that he is dressed in his complete armor suggests at the impending attack from Norway and the decay of Denmark.

3. The reader becomes interested in the ghost when we find that it doesn't want to speak to the guards or the highly educated Horatio. This suggestion is made even more intriguing by his war clothes and how he disappears when he is attacked by the guards.

4. The mood is dark and cold, due to the presence of the ghost and the time of year. This plays into the theme of the fall of mankind.

5. The sentries are apprehensive, not only because their country is at war, but also because they have seen the ghost of their king who is dressed in full armor as if he is prepared for battle.

6. At first, Horatio suggests that the king has come to tell his people of treasure and how to get it, but he then realizes what the king is wearing and correctly assumes that he has come to warn his kingdom of the impending attack by Norway led by young Fortinbras.

7. Barnardo, Francisco, Marcellus, Horatio, and the ghost (?)

8. One thing that Horatio says about the old king is that he was a big enemy of King Fortinbras and they had a battle over lands, which King Hamlet won.

9. Young Fortinbras is the son of the king of Norway who is preparing to attack Denmark. (fits into the theme of the fall of mankind/ the fall of Denmark)
10. Horatio says that Rome was doomed after Julius Caesar was murdered. He says that the dead roamed the streets and there were many disasters ("The graves...with eclipse" ln. 118).

11. Horatio is set apart from the guards due to his educated status. His opinion is highly respected by Barnardo and Marcellus because of his education and they even go so far as to seek him out to interpret for them. Horatio is also set apart because he is so skeptical about the ghost. Once he realizes that it is real, he is the only one out of the three who can figure out what the ghost means/stands for.

12. Horatio was brought into the scene by the guards because of his educated status. They think will be able to interpret what the ghost wants, or that he can even talk to the ghost.

13. In scene one, we are given a partial back story to the feud that is going on between Denmark and Norway.