Question

1. why is there debate surrounding the nature of ophelias funeral? 2. how long has the gravedigger been sexton, and when did he first become employed? 3. what joking insult to the english does shakespeare put into the gravediggers dialogue, regarding hamlets madness? 4. what cause does laertes ascribe to ophelias madness, which led to her death? 5. what prompts hamlets outburst at ophelias graveside? 6. what order did claudius letter, carried by guildenstern and rosencrantz, convey to the english regarding hamlets fate? 7. how does hamlet justify his counterfeit command that rosencrantz and guildenstern are to be murdered by the english? 8. what message does orsic convey to hamlet? 9. in his apology to laertes, what does hamlet mean when he says, i have shot my arrow oer the house and hurt my brother? 10. who first drinks the poisoned wine? 11. who is first wounded in the duel and what happens as a result? 12. what does hamlet tell claudius to do? 13. why does hamlet forbid horatio to drink the rest of the poisoned cup? 14. who will ascend to power as the new king of denmark?

Explanation:

1. Ophelia's death was likely a suicide, and in Elizabethan - Jacobean times, suicides were not supposed to receive a proper Christian burial, hence the debate.
2. The gravedigger has been sexton for 30 years as stated in the play.
3. Shakespeare has the gravedigger make a joking insult about English beer - loving in the context of Hamlet's madness.
4. Laertes ascribes Ophelia's madness to Hamlet's rejection and her father Polonius' death.
5. Hamlet's outburst at Ophelia's graveside is prompted by his love for her, grief, and anger at Laertes' display.
6. Claudius' letter commands the English to execute Hamlet.
7. Hamlet justifies his counterfeit command by believing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were part of Claudius' plot against him.
8. Orsic conveys a message about a fencing match invitation to Hamlet.
9. Hamlet means he acted impulsively and unintentionally hurt Laertes in his actions.
10. Claudius first drinks the poisoned wine and dies as a result.
11. Laertes is first wounded in the duel and then dies due to the poisoned blade.
12. Hamlet tells Claudius to drink the poisoned cup.
13. Hamlet forbids Horatio to drink the poisoned cup so that Horatio can tell his story.
14. Fortinbras will ascend to power as the new King of Denmark.

Answer:

1. Due to the possible nature of her suicide and burial customs.
2. 30 years.
3. Joking about English beer - loving.
4. Hamlet's rejection and Polonius' death.
5. Love, grief, and anger at Laertes.
6. Command to execute Hamlet.
7. Believing they were part of Claudius' plot.
8. A fencing match invitation.
9. Acting impulsively and unintentionally hurting Laertes.
10. Claudius, he dies.
11. Laertes, he dies.
12. Drink the poisoned cup.
13. So Horatio can tell his story.
14. Fortinbras.