Act 1 Scene 2

1. This scene opens with the king discussing to his countrymen that he has married his brothers wife. He claims it is both a sad and happy time with the recent funeral and wedding. The king states that they will not be afraid of the young Fortinbras who is plotting against them as they speak. Instead the king has a letter sent to his uncle to tell the uncle what Fortinbras is up to. Next, Laertes appears before the king and the king allows him to go back to school. After this we meet Hamlet for the first time, but he is still moaning his father's death and is upset that his uncle is marrying his mother. The king attempts to cheer him up but Hamlet stays in his melodramatic mood. The king and the queen decide that Hamlet is not to go back to school even though he would like to. Finally, Horatio, Hamlet's good friend, enters with Marcellus and Bernardo. The three of them tell Hamlet that they have seen his father's ghost while on watch and Hamlet decides that he must come see it.

2. The significance of this scene is to introduce the protagonist Hamlet and provide more exposition and rising action, as the audience finds out about the kings marriage, Fortinbras' plotting, and Hamlet's reaction to the ghost.

4. One striking line in the play comes from Hamlet when he says "I doubt some foul play." The word doubt here means that he is suspicious. What Hamlet is saying is that he suspects that something might be peculiar about his father's death. This line is foreshadowing that keeps the audience on edge. Maybe there really is something unusual about Hamlet's father's death. In the next line Hamlet goes on to say "foul deeds will rise." This is even more foreshadowing that thickens the developing plot.