'By indirections find directions out:
So by our former lecture and advice,
Shall you my son.'
Who says these words and what is the main plan?
Polonius instructs his servant Reynaldo to use indirect questions and minor accusations to find out about Laertes's behavior in Paris.
'My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;
No hat upon his head... pale as his shirt.'
How does Ophelia describe Hamlet's appearance when he visits her?
Ophelia describes Hamlet as looking very messy and unwell, with his clothes open (unbraced) and no hat.
'He took me by the wrist and held me hard;
Then goes he to the length of all his arm;
And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow,'
What does Hamlet do to Ophelia during this visit?
Hamlet grabs Ophelia's wrist, pulls back to look at her face in silence, and studies her closely without speaking.
'He raised a sigh so piteous and profound
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk
And end his being.'
What does this deep sigh suggest about Hamlet's emotional state?
The heavy, painful sigh indicates genuine emotional suffering and distress, pointing toward real heartbreak.
'That done, he lets me go:
And, with his head over his shoulder turned,
He seemed to find his way without his eyes;'
How does Hamlet leave the room?
Ophelia notes that Hamlet leaves without turning his back on her, keeping his eyes fixed on her the entire time.
'Mad for thy love?'
What is Polonius's immediate conclusion after hearing Ophelia's story?
Polonius immediately jumps to the conclusion that Hamlet's strange behavior is madness caused by his rejected love for Ophelia.
'Come, go with me: I will go seek the king.
This is the very ecstasy of love.'
Where does Polonius decide to go after hearing the news?
Polonius decides to immediately inform King Claudius that Hamlet's madness is caused by love.
'Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him;
As thus, "I know his father and his friends,
And in part him..."'
What instruction does Polonius give Reynaldo regarding how to talk to people in Paris?
Polonius tells Reynaldo to act as if he only slightly knows Laertes and his friends to trick people into revealing gossip.
'And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,
By indirections find directions out:'
What is the main theme of Polonius's speech to Reynaldo?
Polonius explains his philosophy of using clever tricks and indirect methods ('indirections') to find out what is really happening ('directions').
'Marry, well said; very well said. Look you, sir,
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;'
Who are the 'Danskers' that Polonius mentions?
'Danskers' refers to people from Denmark ('Danske') who are currently living or staying in Paris.
'Put on him what forgeries you please;
none so rank as may dishonour him;'
What kind of lies is Reynaldo allowed to tell about Laertes?
Polonius suggests using minor faults like gaming, fencing, or drinking as bait to see how people respond, as long as it does not dishonor him.
'Observe his inclination in yourself.'
What does Polonius want Reynaldo to watch closely?
Polonius wants Reynaldo to observe Laertes's personal habits and general inclination.
'And there put on him what forgeries you please...'
What does the word 'forgeries' mean in this context?
In this context, 'forgeries' means invented stories or fabricated behaviors used as traps to gather information.
'My lord, I did repent it:
But so did fear I what he would proceed,
I did repel his letters and denied
His access to me.'
Why did Ophelia stop talking to Hamlet?
Ophelia explains that she obeyed her father and rejected Hamlet's letters and visits.
'He seemed to find his way without his eyes;
For out o' doors he went without their helps,
And to the last bended their light on me.'
What does this strange action tell us about Hamlet's mental state in this scene?
Hamlet's inability to take his eyes off Ophelia even as he leaves shows his intense obsession and emotional turmoil.
'Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;
No hat upon his head... pale as his shirt;'
Which aspect of Hamlet's appearance shocks Ophelia the most?
Ophelia is shocked because a gentleman in Elizabethan times would normally be neatly dressed with his doublet laced and a hat on.
'At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:
Be you and I behind an arras then;'
What does Polonius plan to do later to prove his theory about Hamlet's madness?
Polonius plans to spy on Hamlet and Ophelia by hiding behind a wall hanging (arras) with King Claudius.
'Good my lord, what is it that you would speak?'
How does Ophelia react when Hamlet first enters her room?
Ophelia is frightened by his strange appearance and asks him what he wants to say.
'He falls to such perusal of my face
As he would draw it.'
What does 'perusal' mean in Ophelia's description?
'Perusal' means looking at something very closely and carefully, as if trying to memorize every detail.
'Come, go with me: I will go seek the king.'
What does this action show about Polonius's character?
Polonius is eager to share his theories with the King, showing his nosy and meddlesome nature.
Test your mastery of Shakespeare’s tragedy with our interactive AP Literature practice test on Hamlet Act 2, Scene 1. Discover how well you understand Reynaldo’s covert mission to Paris, Polonius’s Machiavellian statecraft, and Ophelia’s harrowing account of Hamlet’s silent, distraught visitation. Perfect for AP English Literature students aiming to ace exam-style multiple-choice questions on character psychology and dramatic structure.
Click Here to Read Detailed Study Notes
Key Themes & Analysis
Act 2, Scene 1 marks a critical transition in Hamlet, shifting from the supernatural realm of ghosts and oaths to the gritty, deceptive world of court espionage and psychological unraveling. Master this scene for the AP Literature exam by focusing on the following core concepts:
- Polonius’s Espionage and Methodology: Polonius dispatches his servant Reynaldo to Paris to spy on Laertes. Willing to use “gaming, drinking, fencing, swearing” as entrapments (“bait of falsehood”), Polonius demonstrates a cynical, manipulative worldview that prioritizes family surveillance and reputation over genuine trust.
- The “Mad” Visit to Ophelia: Ophelia enters in genuine terror, describing Hamlet’s silent, disheveled, and distraught entrance into her private chamber. Rather than a calculated act, many literary critics debate whether this scene captures Hamlet’s genuine psychological breakdown following his encounter with the Ghost.
- The Anatomy of Elizabethan Melancholy: Hamlet’s physical appearance—”as if he had been loosed out of hell”—and his silent, agonizing inspection of Ophelia reflect Renaissance medical understandings of profound melancholy and lovesickness, tying directly to the play’s broader motifs of madness and existential despair.
- Dramatic Irony and Character Motives: Polonius immediately misinterprets Hamlet’s behavior as “the very ecstasy of love” caused by Ophelia’s rejection. This hasty diagnosis drives the plot forward, showcasing Polonius’s hubris and setting the stage for Claudius and Gertrude to exploit his theories.