vocabulary check answer key

---

“Easy Reading Old World Literature”

Hamlet LEVEL 4

Series Designer Philip J. Solimene

Editor Laura Algiere, M.Ed.

EDCON PUBLISHING New York

Story Adapter Linda Wirkner Author William Shakespeare

Copyright © 2014 Edcon Publishing Group, Inc.

Hamlet www.edconpublishing.com

EWSC403 ePDF ISBN 0-8481-0833-7 ePDF ISBN 978-0-8481-0833-5

CONTENTS Interdisciplinary Suggestions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Words Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

NO.

TITLE

SYNOPSIS

PAGE

21

The Ghost Appears

The ghost of King Hamlet appears before two men on night watch. Later, the ghost urges Prince Hamlet to revenge his father’s killing.

6

22

Mad for Love?

Queen Gertrude and King Claudius worry about Hamlet’s 12 strange behavior. Polonius thinks that Hamlet is lovesick.

23

Actors at Elsinore

Hamlet suspects that his old schoolmates have been told to keep an eye on him. But the Prince is excited to hear that actors are coming to perform a play at the castle.

24

Deeper into Madness

Now, Hamlet has a plan to find who killed his father. 24 The Prince asks the actors to perform a play about killing a king. Claudius and Polonius have a plan, too. They will watch Hamlet and Ophelia to see if they’re in love.

25

The Play’s the Thing!

Excited, Hamlet tells Horatio about his plan. During the play, when the King is poisoned, Claudius becomes very uneasy. He commands the actors to stop performing.

30

26

Another Death

Hamlet chances upon King Claudius praying. Should Hamlet take revenge? Later, Hamlet scolds his mother. The Queen is puzzled by Hamlet’s behavior.

36

27

A Look of Dismay

Hearing Hamlet speak to the ghost, the Queen decides that he is crazy. Claudius sends the Prince to England.

42

28

Planning Revenge

Ophelia’s brother returns to Denmark to find his father dead and his sister gone mad. When Hamlet appears, saved from England by pirates, Laertes plans revenge.

48

29

Dreadful Happenings

Ophelia’s madness leads her to danger. Hamlet and her brother fight at her grave. The King offers to have a fencing match to settle their differences.

54

30

Death at Elsinore

The fencing match quickly turns to an angry, deadly fight. 60 Revenge has its day. Horatio offers to tell the story to Fortinbras, who has just returned from Poland.

18

Comprehension Check Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Vocabulary Check Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 3

About the Author William Shakespeare was born in 1564. He lived in Stratford-on-Avon, a city in England. His mother’s name was Mary Arden. His father, John, was a wealthy businessman. Very little is known about Shakespeare’s early life. Some think he went to a free school near his home. There, children learned about God, studied Latin, and practiced speaking. When he was 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. They had a daughter and a set of twins. Shakespeare moved to London. He was well-known as an actor. He also was famous for writing plays. He and his group of actors opened the Globe Theatre in 1599. They performed plays there in the summer. Later, they worked under King James I and were called “The King’s Men.” Then, they bought the Blackfriars Theatre for performing in winter. A fire destroyed the Globe in 1613. By the time a new Globe was built, Shakespeare had stopped writing. He died in his hometown of Stratford on April 23, 1616. No other writer’s plays have been acted so many times, in so many countries.

Interdisciplinary Teaching Suggestions Language Arts: Create Front-Page News: Divide the class into groups, assigning one chapter of the story to each group. Each student writes a news or feature article about one character or event in that chapter, and creates a headline for the article. Dramatize a Legend: As in Hamlet, many Shakespearean plays adapted material from old legends. Have your class select a legend from any culture they choose, and rewrite the legend as a play. Students plan costumes, stage set, and props, and perform the play. Math: Create Graphs: Have students list all the characters in Hamlet. Then, students vote for their favorite character, and draw various kinds of graphs showing the results of the poll. Science: Research Information: Three characters in Hamlet die from poison. Ask students to create a list of poisons, their effects, and first-aid treatments for each of them. Study and Apply a Scientific Principle: One of Shakespeare’s characters drowns in a brook where a tree branch and flower garlands are floating. Assign students to research the principle of specific gravity and give their reasons why some objects float in water and others do not. Then, list five objects in each category. Social Studies: Evaluate Entertainment Industry Practices: Have your class read about and discuss the pros and cons of using child actors in Elizabethan times and why adult actors opposed this practice. Guide students in comparing their findings with the contemporary use of child actors in the entertainment industry. Geography: Read a Map: Supply each student with a small-scale copy of a map of Europe, as it looked in Elizabethan times. Have students color the five countries mentioned in Hamlet and approximate the distances that characters traveled from Denmark to each of those countries. General: Focus on Perspectives: The pirates in Hamlet save one character’s life. Guide students to research other examples in history of good things done by pirates. Then, draw an illustration of each event and write an accompanying caption. Plan a New Experience: Shakespearean characters often engage in fencing matches. Expose students to information about fencing and its continued practice by inviting a member of a fencing team to give a demonstration to the class. 4

WORDS USED Story 21

Story 22

Story 23

Story 24

Story 25

fade hesitate meanwhile persuade speech suffer

blame cheerful gasp mutter protest stumble

KEY WORDS figure mood poison prince silence urge

appearance disturb doubt news uneasy upset

gloomy insist murmur perform prison rage

NECESSARY WORDS armor foul ghost grieve revenge rotten

behavior castle liar Majesty nephew obey

actors admit guilty pleasure suspect

agree dangerous honest honesty owe

balance command conversation punish widow

Story 26

Story 27

Story 28

Story 29

Story 30

difficult dreadful groan horrify shriek wail

anger fought nervous pearl realize succeed

KEY WORDS encourage knee natural scold scowl throne

disgust dismay forever glare remind responsible

court mumble pain pirate plunge skill

NECESSARY WORDS ashamed cruel deed offend pray soul sword thrust

actions crazy demand marriage seal

comfort death nonsense rumor

casket challenge control grave gravedigger settle shame

battle pierce soldier wine

5

SC 403-21

The Ghost Appears PREPARATION Key Words figure

(fig´y ∂ r)

the form or shape of something or someone In the shadows, Ray saw a figure cross the road.

mood

(müd)

a state of mind or feeling Juan was in an awful mood because his car broke down.

poison

(poi´zn)

something used to kill or cause great harm to a living body Harry put poison on the mouse traps.

prince

(prins)

a son of a king or queen; or the son of a king’s or queen’s son Because the United States is led by a president, not a king, we have no prince.

silence

(si´ lens)

1. an order to be quiet, to keep still “Silence!” ordered the judge. 2. a state of quiet, with no sound or noise There was silence in the room as the movie began.

urge

(erj)

6

•

to ask strongly or press someone to do something Susan’s mother had to urge her to clean up her room.

SC 403-21

The Ghost Appears Necessary Words armor

(är´m ∂ r)

a covering worn to help keep one safe during fighting. It is often made of metal. The knight put on his armor before joining the fight.

foul

(foul)

something terrible or awful Leaving the kittens by the side of the road was a foul thing to do.

ghost

(gost)

the spirit of one who is dead Jason wondered if the old house had a ghost.

grieve

(grev)

to feel deep sadness; to be very sad Kate could not help but grieve when her dog died.

revenge

(ri venj´)

to do harm in return for a wrong done to oneself or another When John lost his job, he wanted to take revenge on the man who fired him.

rotten

(rot´ n)

bad; not good; wrong After playing a rotten trick, both boys felt unhappy.

People Bernardo

one of the king’s men

Horatio

a good friend of Prince Hamlet’s

King Claudius

the King of Denmark and brother of the late King Hamlet. He is also Prince Hamlet’s uncle.

Marcellus

one of the king’s men

old Fortinbras

the late King of Norway

Prince Hamlet

the son of the late King Hamlet

Places Denmark

a country in Europe between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

Norway

a country in Europe, north of Denmark 7

SC 403-21

The Ghost Appears

The ghost turned and disappeared in silence. Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentences under the picture. Read the first seven paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that the ghost looks like _____ a. Marcellus. _____ b. Horatio. _____ c. Bernardo. _____ d. the dead King of Denmark. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 10 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read to find out why the ghost appears.

8

SC 403-21

The Ghost Appears “So, has this thing appeared again tonight?” Horatio asked the two men on watch. Marcellus shook his head and said, “I have seen nothing.” “Last night --,” Bernardo began. “Silence!” Marcellus said. “Look, here it comes again!” “And, just as before, looking like the dead King of Denmark,” Bernardo added. “Speak! Tell us who are you!” Horatio called out. But the ghost turned and disappeared in silence. “What do you think now, Horatio?” Bernardo asked. “Did we only imagine this ghost?” “You’re right. It looked exactly like the King. It even had on the armor he wore when he went to war against old Fortinbras of Norway. We must tell young Prince Hamlet about this.” Before Horatio could find the Prince, Hamlet’s mother questioned him in front of the King. “Why are you still in such a black mood? You cannot continue to grieve for your dead father. Everything that lives must die. You must understand that.” “I do understand,” Hamlet said. “But I will not hide my feelings.” “You are a good son to grieve for your father,” King Claudius said, “but now it is time to put your dark mood aside and be of good cheer with us.” Hamlet stared at his mother and uncle as they left the room. How could she do this rotten thing? He moaned softly. My father has been dead less than two months and my mother has married his brother. Claudius is not half the man my father was. How could she be so weak? I cannot bear to think of it!

At that moment, Horatio and Bernardo entered the room. Hamlet’s black mood lifted when he saw his friends. After they’d spoken for a few minutes, Horatio said, “My friend, I think I saw your father last night.” Hamlet’s eyes grew wide. “My father, the King?” Horatio nodded and told the Prince how the ghost had appeared. “I’ll stand watch with you tonight,” Hamlet said. “If the ghost walks again, I will speak to it. All is not well when a dead man’s ghost appears. I fear he lost his life because of foul play.” That night Hamlet joined Horatio and Marcellus at their post. It wasn’t long before Horatio grabbed Hamlet’s arm and pointed. “Look! It comes!” Hamlet stared at the ghostly figure in armor, not daring to believe his eyes. “Tell us, father, King Hamlet, why have you come?” The ghost raised one hand and waved for Hamlet to follow him. “Don’t go!” Horatio said quickly. “I must. He will not speak here,” Hamlet said. He followed the figure into the fog, leaving Horatio and Marcellus behind. “Let’s follow him,” Marcellus said. “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Horatio shook his head. “I think it’s out of our hands.” Suddenly, along the way, the ghost stopped. It turned to Hamlet. “I don’t have much time. Daylight will soon be upon us. You must listen to what I have to say.” “Speak then,” Hamlet said. “You must revenge the killing of your father,” the ghost told him. “Killing?”

“A killing most foul!” the ghost said. “The story told is that I was sleeping in my garden when a snake bit me. All of Denmark believes this. But know this: the snake that took my life now wears my crown.” “My uncle?” “Yes. My brother took my life and my wife as well.” The ghost looked around and drew closer to Hamlet. “Morning is near. I must tell you my story quickly,” it whispered. “As I took my afternoon nap, your uncle crept into the garden carrying a bottle of poison. He poured the poison in my ear. A deep, stinging hurt filled my body at once. It was terrible! If you have any love for me yet, Hamlet, I urge you to take revenge for this awful act. But, do no harm to your mother. Let heaven take care of her. Now, I must go. Remember me!” The ghostly figure disappeared and Hamlet stared, amazed at what he’d just been told. Remember you? Hamlet thought. Of course I will take revenge as you urge! At that moment, Horatio and Marcellus came toward him. “What happened?” Horatio asked. “You would not believe what I’ve learned,” Hamlet said. “Tell us,” his friend urged. “I cannot,” Hamlet said. “And you must promise never to tell anyone what you have seen here tonight.” “We won’t,” answered both men together. Hamlet raised his blade. “Promise that even if I act a bit mad at times, you will keep silence about this night.” Horatio and Marcellus were alarmed at Hamlet’s strange words, but gave their promise.

9

SC 403-21

The Ghost Appears COMPREHENSION CHECK

Preview Answer: d. the dead King of Denmark.

Choose the best answer. 1. Who saw the ghost the first night? ___a. Horatio ___b. Hamlet ___c. Marcellus and Bernardo ___d. King Claudius

6. Hamlet followed the ghost because ___a. it waved for him to come. ___b. it called him. ___c. Horatio told him to follow it. ___d. it grabbed his arm.

2. Why is Prince Hamlet in a sad mood? ___a. He has no friends. ___b. His father died. ___c. His uncle poisoned him. ___d. His mother questioned him.

7. The ghost must hurry to tell its story to Hamlet before morning dawns, because ___a. ghosts cannot appear in daylight. ___b. something is rotten in Denmark. ___c. Hamlet must leave. ___d. Horatio and Bernardo will see the ____ ghost if it stays.

3. Hamlet’s mother married her husband’s brother ___a. before the war against old ____ Fortinbras. ___b. after the ghost appeared. ___c. less than two months before her husband’s death. ___d. less than two months after her husband’s death. 4. Prince Hamlet learned about the ghost from ___a. Marcellus. ___b. Horatio. ___c. King Claudius. ___d. Bernardo. 5. When Hamlet hears of the ghost, he worries that ___a. his friends are lying. ___b. his mother will question it. ___c. something awful caused his father’s death. ___d. the ghost will kill him.

8. Prince Hamlet calls the ghost ___a. his uncle. ___b. King Claudius. ___c. King Hamlet. ___d. his brother. 9. Another name for this story could be ___a. “A Black Mood.” ___b. “The Plan for Revenge.” ___c. “The Promise of Silence.” ___d. “A Sign of Foul Play.” 10. This story is mainly about ___a. King Claudius marrying Hamlet’s mother. ___b. the dead King’s ghost asking for revenge. ___c. Hamlet’s friends imagining they see a ghost. ___d. Hamlet’s promise to act mad.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

10

SC 403-21

The Ghost Appears VOCABULARY CHECK figure

mood

poison

prince

silence

urge

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. The king and queen were joyful when their new ____________________ was born. 2. When the tall ____________________ stepped out of the shadows, I saw it was only my brother. 3. “ ____________________ your friends to start eating,” said Mom, “or the pizza will get cold.” 4. Tess put the cleaner on a shelf high above the children when she saw the word, “____________________ ” on the bottle. 5. There was complete ___________________ in the room, as everyone waited to hear the winner’s name. 6. Jan’s family was in a happy ___________________ when the new baby arrived home. II. Matching Write the letter of the correct meaning from Column B next to the key word in Column A. Column A

Column B

_____1. urge

a. a state of mind or feeling

_____2. figure

b. an order to keep still; a state of quiet

_____3. silence

c. a king’s or queen’s son or grandson

_____4. poison

d. the form or shape of a person or thing

_____5. mood

e. to press someone to do something

_____6. prince

f. something used to harm or kill a living body Check your answers with the key on page 69. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

11

SC 403-22

Mad for Love? PREPARATION Key Words appearance

(∂ pir´∂ ns)

disturb

(dis terb´)

to worry or trouble Hearing about the war will disturb my brother.

doubt

(dout)

to feel uncertain about; to not be sure of I doubt that Anya will be on time for supper.

news

(nüz)

the latest story about someone or something Jason told Ben the news about his new job.

uneasy

(un e´ ze)

worried; troubled Susan was uneasy being alone in the house at night.

upset

(up set´)

1. to greatly disturb; to put out of order His horse’s death upset Ray so much that he wouldn’t talk about it for months. 2. very worried or troubled Carol always becomes upset when she sees blood.

12

•

the way someone looks on the outside Warren’s appearance startled Jen because all his clothes were purple.

SC 403-22

Mad for Love? Necessary Words behavior

(bi ha´ vy r)

a way of acting The young child’s behavior showed how angry she felt.

castle

(kas´ ∂ l)

a large building or group of buildings with thick walls to make it safe from attack The castle was built on top of a steep mountain.

liar

(li´∂ r)

a person who says what is not true When Adam said he didn’t take the book, Sandy called him a liar.

Majesty

(Maj´ ∂ ste)

a special name used to address a king or queen The man bowed to the king and said, “Your Majesty, I need your help.”

nephew

(nef´ yü)

the son of one’s brother or sister; the son of one’s brother-in-law or sister-in-law My nephew calls me Aunt Momo.

obey

(o ba´)

to follow orders; to do what you are told to do Kenny did not obey his older sister when she told him to finish his math.

People Fortinbras

the Prince of Norway, nephew of the King, and son of old Fortinbras, the late King

Guildenstern

a friend of Hamlet from his young school days in Denmark

Laertes

the son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia

Ophelia

the daughter of Polonius and sister of Laertes

Polonius

the King’s right-hand man; father of Laertes and Ophelia

Queen Gertrude

Prince Hamlet’s mother; widow of the late King Hamlet and the new wife of King Claudius of Denmark

Rosencrantz

a friend of Hamlet from his young school days in Denmark

Voltimand

one of the King’s men 13

SC 403-22

Mad for Love?

Ophelia hurried to her father’s room. “Oh, Father, I have had such a scare!” Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentences under the picture. Read the first thirteen paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that ____a. ____b. ____c. ____d.

Hamlet’s love is a passing fancy. Ophelia will not listen to Laertes. Ophelia will obey Polonius. Laertes has shown sweet feelings for Ophelia.

Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 16 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read on to find out what Ophelia’s lover will do.

14

SC 403-22

Mad for Love? Before Laertes left for his studies, he warned his sister to be careful. “I fear Hamlet’s interest in you will not last. It is but a passing moment’s fancy.” “Is it nothing more than that?” Ophelia spoke with alarm. “He will only hurt you. Do not fall for his sweet talk.” Laertes’ words were clear. “I will take your words to heart, dear brother,” Ophelia said. After Laertes left, Polonius asked Ophelia what her brother had told her. “He spoke of Prince Hamlet,” Ophelia said. “I’ve noticed Hamlet visits you often lately,” Polonius said. “What is between you? Tell me the truth.” “He has shown sweet feelings for me,” Ophelia said softly. “Feelings!” Polonius said. “You are but a child when it comes to feelings and love. Do not believe him when he speaks of love.” “But, Father,” Ophelia said, “Hamlet is not a liar. He has acted only with honor.” “He is toying with you,” Polonius said. “From now on, do not waste your time with him.” Ophelia bowed her head. “I will obey you, Father.” Many days later, Ophelia hurried to her father ’s room. “Oh, Father, I have had such a scare!” “What is it?” Polonius asked. “Prince Hamlet came to visit. His careless appearance did greatly disturb me. His shirt was unbuttoned. His clothing was dirty and far from neat. His face had a wild look upon it that truly upset me.” “Have you spoken sharply to him of late?” Polonius asked. “No, Father. I’ve scarcely spoken to him at all. I have refused

to let him visit me as you ordered.” “Has he then gone mad for your love?” Polonius asked. “I do not know. But his appearance and behavior make me uneasy,” Ophelia said. “He grabbed my arm and, with wild eyes, stared into my face for a long time. Then he nodded his head three times and sighed deeply.” “And, then what did he do?” Polonius asked, eager to hear the rest of the story. “He simply turned and left the room,” Ophelia said. Polonius shook his head. “I was mistaken about his feelings for you. He is lovesick after all. His love for you has made him mad,” Polonius said. “I must tell the King.” In the castle, King Claudius and Queen Gertrude received Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. “We sent for you,” King Claudius said. We are worried about Hamlet’s dark mood these days. Something more than his father’s death disturbs him. You’ve known him since you were all children. We’d like you to stay here in the castle. Spend some time with Hamlet. Perhaps you can cheer him up, or find out what it is that has made him so upset. Discover what causes his foul mood.” Rosencrantz bowed his head. “We will be happy to obey, Your Majesty.” Guildenstern added, “We offer ourselves to do as you wish. We hope our closeness will help Hamlet.” After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern left, Polonius entered the room. “I have news,” he said. “Voltimand has returned from Norway.” “Bring him in at once,”

Claudius said, waving his hand toward the door. Voltimand entered the room and bowed to the King. “I bring good news, Your Majesty. The old King of Norway has ordered his nephew, Fortinbras, not to march against you. The King wants only to have your word that his nephew may pass through Denmark.” “I’m pleased to hear that,” Claudius said, nodding his head. “I thank you for a job well done.” After Voltimand left, Polonius stepped forward. “I have yet more news. I know the cause of Hamlet’s strange behavior.” “Tell us,” Claudius urged, leaning forward. “We have been uneasy about him.” Polonius pulled out a letter that Ophelia had shown him. “Hamlet wrote this to my daughter, Ophelia.” Polonius waved the letter in the air. “Listen to his words. ‘Doubt that the stars are on fire. Doubt that the sun does move. Doubt truth to be a liar,but never doubt I love.’ ” “And how has Ophelia replied to his love?” Claudius asked. “I told her Hamlet was a prince, a man above her. I urged her to return his gifts and letters. I ordered her not to see him from now on. Of course, Hamlet is upset that she refuses his visits. He’s fallen into this deep sadness that has made him quite mad.” “How can we prove that love is the cause of his strange behavior?” Claudius asked. “I have a plan,” Polonius said. “I will have Ophelia sit in the hall, reading. You and I will wait and listen behind the curtain. When Hamlet comes by, we can hear the words he speaks to her.” The King nodded. “We will try it.”

15

SC 403- 22

Mad for Love? COMPREHENSION CHECK

Preview Answer: c. Ophelia will obey Polonius.

Choose the best answer. 1. Laertes warns Ophelia to be careful of ___a. Hamlet’s sickness. ___b. Hamlet’s dark mood. ___c. Polonius’ feelings. ___d. Hamlet’s interest in her.

6. Who brought King Claudius news from Norway? ___a. Voltimand ___b. Fortinbras ___c. The King of Norway ___d. Polonius

2. Polonius reads Hamlet’s letter to Ophelia ___a. while Laertes speaks with Ophelia. ___b. before the King sends for ____ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. ___c. after Ophelia refuses Hamlet’s ____ visits. ___d. after Polonius explains his plan to ____King Claudius.

7. King Claudius is happy to know that ___a. Ophelia returned Hamlet’s gifts and ____ letters. ___b. Laertes will go to France. ___c. Fortinbras will not attack Denmark. ___d. Polonius has a plan to discover the ____ reason for Hamlet’s foul mood.

3. Ophelia obeys Polonius ___a. because she thinks Polonius is right. ___b. even though she trusts Hamlet. ___c. because Laertes’ words were clear. ___d. because Hamlet is a liar. 4. Ophelia felt uneasy when Hamlet visited her because ___a. Hamlet spoke sharply to her. ___b. Hamlet was in a foul mood. ___c. she doubted Hamlet’s love. ___d. Hamlet’s appearance and behavior ____ were strange. 5. Who are invited to the castle to keep an eye on Prince Hamlet? ___a. Guildenstern and Voltimand ___b. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ___c. Laertes and Rosencrantz ___d.Fortinbras and Voltimand

8. How will Hamlet’s lovesickness be proved? ___a. Ophelia will answer Hamlet’s letter. ___b. Polonius and the King will hide and ____ listen to Hamlet speak with ____ Ophelia. ___c. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will ____ hide and listen to Hamlet speak ____ with Ophelia. ___d. The King of Norway’s nephew will ____ pass through Denmark. 9. Another name for this story could be ___a. “Is Hamlet Lovesick?” ___b. “A Strange Plan” ___c. “Visitors in the Castle” ___d. “Ophelia’s Strange Behavior” 10. This story is mainly about ___a. Laertes’ and Polonius’ warnings to ____ Ophelia. ___b. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ____ refusing to obey the King. ___c. Hamlet’s letters to Ophelia. ___d. trying to find the reason for ____ Hamlet’s behavior.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

16

SC 403-22

Mad for Love? VOCABULARY CHECK appearance

disturb

doubt

news

uneasy

upset

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1.

“Do not ____________________ your father,” said Mom. “He’s sleeping.”

2.

When the lights suddenly went out, Tina felt ____________________ .

3.

The ghost’s ____________________ was frightening.

4.

The village men were very ____________________ to hear that their boat sank in the storm.

5.

“I have no ___________________ that you can win this game,” said the coach.

6.

____________________ of the car sale reached Bobbi too late.

II. Word Search All the words from the box above are hidden in the puzzle below. They may be written from left to right, up and down, or on an angle. As you find each word, put a circle around it. One word, that is not a key word, has been done for you. A R D I S T U R B O

B E P I I P O B O B HM L R I D A S R U

H N O E C S U P I P

A C I Y A U N E W S

V E S Z S R E Q L E

I O MO O N H A T L G E A S U N E N T W

D O U B T N Y A C E

F D I G U R E S E E

Check your answers with the key on page 69. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

17

SC 403-23

Actors at Elsinore PREPARATION Key Words gloomy

(glü´ me)

sad; in low spirits John felt gloomy after his friends left.

insist

(in sist´)

to say that something must be done; to take a stand and not give in “I insist that you go home now!” said Hector.

murmur

(mer´ m ∂ r)

1. to speak in a soft, low voice “I can’t hear you if you murmur,” Paul said. 2. to complain under one’s breath “He always takes the best ones,” murmured Lisa, as she watched her brother reach for the cookies.

perform

(p ∂ r fôrm´)

to act, play, sing or do tricks for a group of people Amy wants to perform in the school play.

prison

(priz´ n)

any place where a person or animal is shut up against their will When Andy has to stay indoors he feels as if he’s in prison.

rage

(raj)

very strong, angry feelings Carmen’s voice shook with rage as she told how the robber escaped.

18

•

SC 403-23

Actors at Elsinore Necessary Words actors

(ak´ t ∂ rz)

people who act in a play or on television Jabez and his cousin wanted to be famous actors some day.

admit

(ad mit ´)

to say something is true or real Tony found it hard to admit that he felt upset.

guilty

(gil´ te)

1. having done wrong Jason was not guilty of stealing the bicycle. 2. knowing or showing that you have done wrong Karen’s guilty look caused her mother to ask what she had done.

pleasure

(plezh´ ∂ r)

enjoyment Mrs. Green takes great pleasure in her garden.

suspect

(s ∂ spekt´)

to imagine to be so; to suppose I suspect the water is too cold for swimming.

Places Elsinore

a place on the coast of an island belonging to Denmark. The story of Hamlet happens in the King’s castle there.

19

SC 403-23

Actors at Elsinore

“Just tell the truth.” Hamlet folded his arms across his chest. “You both look guilty.” Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentences under the picture. Read the first sixteen paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern _____ a. are acting gloomy and strange. _____ b. think that Denmark is like a prison. _____ c. think that Hamlet is acting strangely. _____ d. are good friends of the King and Queen. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 22 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read on to find out how Hamlet will handle his visitors.

20

SC 403-23

Actors at Elsinore Rosencrantz and Guildenstern found Hamlet walking along the hall, reading a book. "My good friends!" Hamlet said. "How are you both?" Rosencrantz glanced at Guildenstern. Then he said, "We can't complain." "So, what has brought you to this prison?" Hamlet asked. Guildenstern stared at Hamlet. He repeated, "Prison?" "Denmark's a prison," Hamlet said. "Then all the world's one, too," Rosencrantz said. Hamlet nodded. "But Denmark is worse than most places." Rosencrantz looked at his old friend, studying his face before he answered. "We don't think so." Hamlet sighed. "Then, it isn't one to you. Things aren't either good or bad. They are what you think they are. To me, Denmark is a prison." Rosencrantz and Guildenstern traded glances. The King was right to suspect something was wrong with Hamlet. He was acting gloomy and strange. "But enough of that," Hamlet said. Then, with more cheer, he added,"Tell me, what are you doing at Elsinore?" "We came to visit you," Guildenstern said. "I thank you." Hamlet narrowed his eyes and questioned, "Were you sent for, perhaps? Have you really come because you wanted to? Or is there another reason? Come, come, tell me the truth." "What do you want us to say?" Guildenstern asked. "Just tell me the truth." Hamlet folded his arms across his chest. "You both look guilty. I suspect the good King and Queen have sent for you. Admit it." "Why would they send for us?" Rosencrantz asked.

"That you must tell me. We are long-time friends and I insist you admit the truth. Were you, or were you not, sent for?" Guildenstern bowed his head and murmured, "We were sent for." Hamlet nodded, satisfied with the reply. "You need not break your promise to the King and Queen. I'll tell you why they sent for you. Lately, I have lost my good spirits. I find no joy in life; the beauty of the earth and the sky no longer fills me with happiness. Man no longer gives me pleasure; nor does woman." Hamlet saw Rosencrantz smiling. He stopped speaking and asked, "Why do you laugh?" "If you get no pleasure from man or woman, then what will you say to the actors who are on their way to Elsinore?" said Rosencrantz, still smiling. "Which actors are they?" Hamlet asked, showing some interest. "...the ones you like so much, the players from the city. We met them on our way here, and they said they were coming to offer to perform a play for you." "Good, good," Hamlet said to his two old friends. "But first I must tell you my uncle-father and my aunt-mother are mistaken." "How so?" Guildenstern wanted to know. "I'm only mad part of the time." Hamlet smiled at their startled looks. At that moment the sound of horns signaled that the actors had arrived. When the actors entered the room, Hamlet welcomed them warmly. " I'm glad to see you well." He turned to Polonius who had come in with them. "Please, see that they have a comfortable place to stay." Hamlet turned back to the actors. "Follow Polonius now, friends. We'll hear a play

tomorrow." Then Hamlet sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern away, saying, “I’ll see you later this evening.” When he was alone, Hamlet thought about how actors show their feelings in a play. For example, actors pretend to feel rage. "And, I have real cause for rage, yet do nothing about my own feelings,” he murmured. “I am good for nothing. I am unable to say a word to help my father who was killed. Am I a coward? Why do I do nothing to revenge my father?" Hamlet wandered up and down the room. He squeezed his hands tightly together, as he became more disturbed by his thoughts. Then his hands opened and hung loosely at his side. "I must think," he murmured, feeling more and more gloomy. Hamlet stopped suddenly. The play! I've heard it said that guilty people, while watching a play, have been amazed by how real the story seems to be. And, they have been so disturbed by what they see that they admit having done some foul act. He began walking up and down the room again. This time he moved more quickly as his excitement grew. I'll insist the actors perform something that shows the story of my father's killing. I can watch my uncle's face to see how he acts. If he acts in a guilty way, then I'll know the ghost was real and that the words he spoke were true. Hamlet nodded his head slowly. Yes! The play's the thing that will help me find the truth about the behavior of the King.

21

SC 403-23

Actors at Elsinore COMPREHENSION CHECK Choose the best answer. 1. Hamlet calls Denmark a prison because ____a. he cannot leave Denmark. ____b. the King has locked him in there. ____c. he feels trapped. ____d. there is something wrong with him. 2. The real reason why Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are visiting Hamlet is that ____a. they are his good friends. ____b. they want to see the actors. ____c. the King and Queen asked them to ____ come. ____d. they will perform a play at Elsinore. 3. Prince Hamlet suspects that ____a. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are ____ guilty of killing his father. ____b. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were ____ sent for to check up on him. ____c. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will ____ not break their promise to the King ____ and Queen. ____d. he will get no pleasure from the actors. 4. The actors arrive ____a. after Polonius comes in. ____b. before Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ____ can tell Hamlet about them. ____c. after Hamlet sends Rosencrantz and ____ Guildenstern away. ____d. after Hamlet speaks a bit about his ____ madness. 5. When Hamlet explains why the King and Queen want his friends to watch him, he does not say this is a reason: ____a. Hamlet finds no joy in life. ____b. Hamlet finds no pleasure in people. ____c. Hamlet talks about seeing a ghost. ____d. Hamlet is not happy with the world’s ____ beauty.

Preview Answer: b. think that Hamlet is acting strangely. 6. Hamlet’s real cause for rage is that ____a. he cannot do anything about his own ____ feelings. ____b. he has done nothing to revenge his ____ father’s killing. ____c. he feels more and more gloomy. ____d. actors pretend to show their feelings. 7. Hamlet decides to tell the actors to perform the story of his father’s killing, so that ____a. the ghost will not be upset. ____b. Hamlet will remember what happened. ____c. Hamlet can watch how King ____ Claudius acts when he sees it ____ performed. ____d. the guilty person won’t suspect ____ anyone knows what happened. 8. Use the events in this story to judge Hamlet’s feelings about plays and actors. ____a. Hamlet does not like plays or actors. ____b. Hamlet enjoys plays and knows a lot ____ about them. ____c. Hamlet never saw a play before. ____d. Hamlet wants to be an actor in a ____ play. 9. Another name for this story could be ____a. “Hamlet’s Plan to Find the Truth.” ____b. “A Cause for Rage.” ____c. “Uncle-Father and Aunt-Mother.” ____d. “Breaking a Promise.” 10. This story is mainly about ____a. Rosencrantz’s and Guildenstern’s ____ friendly visit. ____b. Hamlet’s love of plays. ____c. Hamlet’s madness in prison. ____d. Hamlet’s way to find who killed his ____ father.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. 22

This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

SC 403-23

Actors at Elsinore VOCABULARY CHECK gloomy

insist

murmur

perform

prison

rage

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. When Pam calmed the small child’s ___________________ , his anger turned to tears. 2. “I ____________________ that you stop for lunch,” said Gemma to her new friend. 3. It’s hard to be ____________________ when listening to lively music. 4. The singer will ____________________ outdoors if the weather stays nice. 5. Brenda was so shy that she could only ___________________ when it was her turn to speak to the group. 6. Some people learn to change their lives for the better while serving time in ___________________. II. Mixed-up Words Unscramble the letters in Column A to spell out the key words. Then draw a line from each word to its meaning in Column B. Column A

Column B

1. rropmfe ______________

a. a place where someone is shut up against their will

2. ymoolg

______________

b. to complain in a low voice

3. erga

______________

c. to act, sing, play or do tricks for a group

4. stinis

______________

d. in low spirits; sad

5. urmrmu ______________

e. very strong, angry feelings

6. inopsr

f. to take a stand and not give in

______________

Check your answers with the key on page 69. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

23

SC 403-24

Deeper into Madness PREPARATION Key Words fade

(fad)

to die away; to disappear little by little The sunlight began to fade as Rajin walked home.

hesitate

(hez´ ∂ tat)

to wait to act or speak, because one is not sure or afraid Carl did not hesitate to go on this trip, because he had always wanted to see Denmark.

meanwhile

(men´ hwil´)

1. at the same time Barbara cooked the vegetables; meanwhile, Jake cleaned the fish. 2. in the time between The show begins at noon; meanwhile, the actors are practicing.

persuade

(p ∂ r swad´)

1. to cause someone to do or believe something Yoko couldn’t persuade her friends to go swimming. 2. to make willing or sure by urging Mrs. Ramos tried to persuade Manuel to clean his room by not allowing him to watch television.

speech

(spech)

1. something that is spoken Bob gave a speech about different kinds of engines. 2. way of speaking “I can tell by your speech,” said Thor, “ that you are not from Norway.

suffer

(suf ´ ∂ r)

to feel hurt; to feel something unpleasant The loss of his father caused Brad to suffer greatly.

24

SC 403-24

Deeper into Madness Necessary Words agree

(∂ gre´)

1. to have the same feeling; to be of one mind Mrs. Lord’s husband hoped she would agree with his idea for a vacation. 2. to say that one is willing Did you agree to follow Tony’s plan?

dangerous

(dan´ j ∂ r ∂ s)

a possible cause of harm; not safe The steep path was dangerous to travel.

honest

(on´ ist)

1. not hiding your true feeling or thought She asked for an honest answer to her question. 2. truthful; not lying; fair Tim was honest when asked if he broke the glass.

honesty

(on´ ∂ ste)

being truthful In all honesty, I thought I had returned your book.

owe

(o)

1. to have to give I owe you thanks for your help! 2. to have to pay Sara did not want to owe money to anyone for her new car.

Places and Things England

a country on an island, off the coast of Europe

The Murder of Gonzago

the name of a play that Hamlet wishes the actors to perform. It is about a killing that really happened in 1538.

25

SC 403-24

Deeper into Madness

Polonius held up a hand and then signaled to the King. “I hear him coming. Quick, hide!” Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentences under the picture. Read the first twelve paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that Polonius and King Claudius plan to hide to listen to _____ a. Hamlet speak with Ophelia. _____ b. The Murder of Gonzago. _____ c. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. _____ d. the speech Hamlet wrote. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 28 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read on to see how their plan works.

26

SC 403-24

Deeper into Madness Hamlet took one of the actors aside. “Could I persuade you to perform The Murder of Gonzago?” he asked. “Of course,” the actor said. “Good,” replied Hamlet. Then, he handed the actor a piece of paper. “I’ve written a speech I’d like you to add to the play.” The actor bowed and left to practice his lines. Meanwhile, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz went to see King Claudius and Queen Gertrude. They told the King and Queen about their meeting with Hamlet. “Have you discovered why Hamlet is acting so strangely?” Claudius asked. “He admits he feels half mad. But he won’t say exactly what has caused him to feel so gloomy,” Rosencrantz told him. “Were you able to persuade him to take an interest in anything at all?” Queen Gertrude asked. Rosencrantz nodded. “It so happens that we ran into a group of actors on their way to Elsinore. When we told Hamlet about them, he seemed excited. They’re here now, and Hamlet has asked them to perform tonight.” “Good!” said Claudius. “I’ll look forward to seeing the play.” After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern left, Polonius told the King of his plan. “In a minute, Ophelia will walk through this room, reading a book. Your Majesty, you and I will hide behind this curtain. When Hamlet comes by, we can listen to the words spoken between Ophelia and Hamlet. That way, we can learn his true feelings and the reason for his strange behavior.” Polonius held up a hand, and then signaled to the King. “I hear him coming. Quick, hide!” The two men slipped behind the heavy curtain. Hamlet walked down the long hall, deep in thought. The two men

behind the curtain heard him murmur, “To be or not to be. That is the question. Is it better to suffer in silence over this terrible turn of events? Or should I try to do something about this worry? Or, should I simply give up and die? To die would be like sleep, would it not? ...to die, to sleep, to sleep and perhaps to dream. Well, that’s the catch! What dreams might come after death? I could simply end my life with a knife. But there is the honest fear of the unknown.” Hamlet looked down and sighed. “Meanwhile, I must suffer this hopeless feeling.” A sound startled him and he quickly looked up. “Oh! It’s lovely Ophelia,” noted Hamlet. Ophelia seemed to hesitate, but then she began to speak. “I have gifts and letters from you; I owe it to you to return them.” “Not from me,” said Hamlet, “for I’ve never given you anything!” “But you have!” answered Ophelia. “In all honesty, you know very well that you have! Your words were once sweet to me, and your gifts held special meaning, but those feelings did fade. I no longer hold them dear to my heart.” “Really?” asked Hamlet. Then suddenly, he asked a very strange question, “Are you honest?” “Honest, what do you mean?” Ophelia asked, startled by the question. “Are you beautiful?” Ophelia just stared at him. “Beauty can spoil honesty. And honesty can turn beauty into something good.” Ophelia shook her head, not understanding what Hamlet was talking about. “I loved you once,” Hamlet said suddenly. “Indeed, you made me believe that you did.” “Well, you shouldn’t have believed me,” Hamlet told her. “I

did not truly love you.” “I thought you did,” Ophelia said softly. “All men lie,” Hamlet said. “Don’t believe any of us.” He gave her a long look and then said, “Good-by.” Turning, he walked quickly from the room. Hamlet’s strange words both frightened and saddened Ophelia. “May heaven’s power help him and make him well,” she murmured. “By his speech, I see that his mind has lost all reason. I do believe that he is truly mad!” King Claudius and Polonius stepped out from behind the curtain where they had listened to Hamlet’s words. “I don’t agree that he’s lovesick at all,” Claudius said. “But I’m not so sure that he’s mad either. I admit that his words don’t all make sense. He sounds deeply troubled about something. And I sense something dangerous in his mood. I have an idea. I will send him to England to get the money that they owe us. Perhaps the trip and a change of scene will rid him of this strange behavior. It may stop him from doing something dangerous. What do you think about this?” Polonius hesitated, and then nodded. “A good idea! But I still think his behavior has something to do with the fading of Ophelia’s love. How about this plan: After the play, let his mother speak with him. Perhaps she can persuade him to tell her the truth about his feelings. I will hide behind the curtains in her room, so that I may hear what he says. If Queen Gertrude cannot find out the truth, then send him to England.” “Agreed!” King Claudius said.

27

SC 403-24

Deeper into Madness COMPREHENSION CHECK Choose the best answer. 1. Hamlet has written a speech ____a. that shows he is mad. ____b. to read to Ophelia. ____c. for an actor to read to the King. ____d. for an actor to add to the play, __ The Murder of Gonzago.

Preview Answer: a. Hamlet speak with Ophelia. 6. When Hamlet thinks about the possible actions he could take, he does not say that ____a. he might give up and die. ____b. it might be better to suffer in silence. ____c. he should go to sleep and dream ____ about what to do. ____d. he could simply end his life with a ____ knife.

2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern met the King and Queen ____a. while Hamlet wrote his speech. ____b. at the same time that the actors ____ performed. ____c. at the same time that Hamlet spoke ____ with the actor about his speech. ____d. at the same time Horatio wrote his ____ speech.

7. Ophelia decides that Hamlet is really ____a. mad. ____b. frightened. ____c. in love with her. ____d. a liar.

3. King Claudius decides to ____a. tell Polonius his plan. ____b. have the actors perform that night. ____c. follow both of Polonius’ plans. ____d. watch Hamlet act in the play.

8. King Claudius thinks that ____a. Hamlet is really lovesick, as ____ Polonius says. ____b. Hamlet is surely mad. ____c. Hamlet might be dangerous. ____d. Queen Gertrude should send Hamlet ____ to England.

4. While Polonius and the King listen, Hamlet talks to himself about ____a. Ophelia. ____b. his own feelings. ____c. his hopes and dreams. ____d. the King dying. 5. The lovely Ophelia ____a. makes Hamlet happy again. ____b. still loves Hamlet. ____c. understands everything that ____ Hamlet says to her. ____d. obeys her father’s plan.

9. Another name for this story could be ____a. “Hopeless Hamlet.” ____b. “Ophelia’s Honesty.” ____c. “Hamlet’s Changing Moods.” ____d. “Looking Forward to Plans.” 10. This story is mainly about ____a. the King’s fear of Hamlet. ____b. Hamlet’s persuading people that ____ he is half mad. ____c. Ophelia’s sadness over Hamlet. ____d. Polonius proving that Hamlet is ____ lovesick.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

28

SC 403-24

Deeper into Madness VOCABULARY CHECK fade

hesitate

meanwhile

persuade

speech

suffer

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. The President of the United States will give a ____________________ at noon. 2. Most of us don’t know what it’s like to ____________________ from being hungry. 3. The flower’s bright color began to ________________ when Liane forgot to water it. 4. “You shop for cereal, and ________________ , I’ll get the milk,” said Roberta. 5. No matter what reason Dave gave his parents, he could not ____________________ them to let him drive. 6. If you ____________________ to buy the tickets now, there may be none left tomorrow.

II. Word Use Put an X next to the best ending for each sentence. 1. Dan’s speech ____a. was given in silence. ____b. was not very long.

4. The coach told us not to hesitate ____a. when the whistle blows to start the race. ____b. when we finish the race.

2. Jed shot for the basket, and meanwhile, ____a. Hal blocked another player. ____b. Hal threw the ball. 3. When feelings fade, ____a. their color changes. ____b. people don’t act the same way with each other.

5. Children suffer deeply ____a. when they have what they want. ____b. when they are not loved. 6. “You’ll never persuade me to dive, because ____a. I’ll love it! ____b. I’m too frightened!”

Check your answers with the key on page 70. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

29

SC 403-25

The Play’s the Thing! PREPARATION Key Words blame

(blam)

1. to say someone is guilty of doing something wrong or bad Jake tried to blame Tommy for breaking the glass. 2. to find fault with The icy road was to blame for the crash.

cheerful

(chir´ f ∂ l)

full of cheer; joyful; glad Even though Kayla didn’t have much money, she was always cheerful.

gasp

(gasp)

1. the act of trying hard to get your breath with your mouth open Dean sank beneath the water with one last gasp for breath. 2. to try hard to get your breath with open mouth When Hank saw the size of the snake, it made him gasp.

mutter

(mut´ ∂ r)

1. speech that is low or unclear Alex frowned when he heard Jim’s complaining mutter. 2. to speak in a low voice or in a way that is unclear “If you didn’t mutter, I could understand you,” Mr. James said.

protest

(pro ´ test)

1. speaking or acting strongly against something The class’s protest against the new rules failed to change their teacher’s mind. 2. to strongly speak or act against something When Melissa said it was Tony’s fault that she was late, he began to protest.

(pr ∂ test´)

stumble

30

(stum´ b ∂ l)

to trip by hitting the foot against something; to walk in a way that is not even or smooth Karen’s foot hit a rock, causing her to stumble.

SC 403-25

The Play’s the Thing! Necessary Words balance

(bal´ ∂ ns)

1. calm; not easily excited Jenna keeps her feelings in balance. 2. the way someone or something stands up straight, stays upright or even, not moving too much from one side to another Jared lost his balance when he tripped on a stick.

command

(k∂ mand´)

1. an order or direction One of the men did not obey the King’s command. 2. to give an order to The King decided he would command the men to march into Norway.

conversation (kon´ v ∂r sa´ sh∂ n)

sharing thoughts by talking together; friendly talk Ann and Mario had a conversation about what kind of dog to buy.

punish

(pun´ ish)

1. to deal with in an unpleasant way because of a wrong someone has done When Alex wrecked the car, he knew his dad would punish him. 2. to cause pain or hurt in return for a fault Long ago people thought the gods would punish them for doing wrong.

widow

(wid´ o)

a woman whose husband has died and who has not married again Mrs. Parks has been a widow for five years.

Places Vienna

an important city in Austria, which is a small country in the center of Europe

31

SC 403-25

The Play’s the Thing!

Hamlet said,“Here they come! Take your place. They must not see me speaking with you.” Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentences under the picture. Read the first four paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that Hamlet has asked Horatio to _____ a. perform in the play. _____ b. be Hamlet’s good friend. _____ c. watch Hamlet’s uncle’s face during the play. _____ d. punish Claudius unfairly. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 34 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read on to find out how King Claudius will act when he watches the play. 32

SC 403-25

The Play’s the Thing! Hamlet waited for the actors to get ready to perform the play. He was both excited and uneasy. When Horatio came into the room, Hamlet said, “You’re just the man I wanted to see. Your thoughts and feelings are always in balance.” Horatio bowed. “What is it you wish?” “You’ve been my good friend for a long time,” Hamlet said. “I trust you more than any man.” Hamlet leaned closer and continued. “There’s a play being performed tonight before the King. One scene’s appearance will look very much the same as the way the ghost explained that my father died. When that part of the play is performed, watch my uncle’s face carefully. I, too, will keep my eye on him. Later, we’ll meet to decide how he acted. If he doesn’t look guilty during this speech, then we’ll know that the ghost we’ve seen spoke untrue words. That will mean I should not blame or punish Claudius unfairly.” When horns sounded, Hamlet ended his conversation with Horatio. He said, “Here they come! Take your place. They must not see me speaking with you.” “I will do as you command,” replied Horatio. King Claudius and Queen Gertrude entered the room. Polonius followed with Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. “Are the actors ready?” Hamlet asked when all were seated. “Yes,” Rosencrantz said. The Queen waved. “Come here, dear Hamlet. Sit by me.” Hamlet shook his head in protest. “No, good mother, I see someone else I’d rather sit by.” And he turned to Ophelia. The Queen watched him stumble toward the young woman. Polonius said with a gasp, “Did Your Majesty hear that?” Hamlet stretched out at

Ophelia’s feet. “Lady, shall I lie with my head upon your lap?” “No, I think not,” Ophelia said. “Why not? What did you think I meant?” Hamlet asked, smiling. “Nothing at all,” Ophelia said. “You are cheerful tonight.” “Why not?” Hamlet said. “See how cheerful my mother looks, and she’s a widow. My father ’s been dead less than two hours.” Ophelia looked at him sharply. “Your father died four months ago.” “So long? Imagine! That long and not yet forgotten! There’s hope a great man might be remembered six months after he dies!” At that moment, horns sounded announcing the beginning of the play. At first, the actors performed in silence. “What does it mean?” Ophelia asked softly. “It means mischief. Wait, soon the actors will speak. Then you will understand the story,” Hamlet explained. The actors playing the king and queen entered. They began a conversation about how long they had been husband and wife. They talked of their love. The king said that he was not well and would die soon. “When you are a widow,” the actor king said, “you’ll find another husband.” “Don’t say that!” the actor queen said. “No one would marry a second husband unless she killed the first.” “Now, that’s an interesting thought,” Hamlet said in a mutter, under his breath. “Things change,” the actor king said. “You may think now you won’t want a second husband, but you’ll feel differently when I’m dead.” “May heaven and earth punish me with hard times if, once I

am a widow, I ever again become a wife,” the actor queen insisted. Hamlet turned to his mother. “What do you think of this play?” “The lady does protest too much,” Gertrude said stiffly. “What’s this play called?” Claudius wanted to know. “The Mousetrap...an interesting idea, don’t you think?” Hamlet said. “The play is about a real killing that took place in Vienna. A gloomy story, to be sure, but so what? People with nothing to hide need not be touched by it.” When the next act of the play began, the actor king was taking a nap in the garden. His nephew came on stage and poured poison into the king’s ear. “Soon you’ll see how quickly the killer wins the love of the king’s wife,” Hamlet muttered loudly enough for all to hear. Without warning, King Claudius was on his feet. “What’s wrong?” Gertrude asked her husband. Claudius grabbed the arm of his chair to keep his balance. “Light the lights!” he commanded. “Stop the play!” shouted Polonius. Then, losing his balance, Claudius fell forward and bumped into a bench. “Make way!” he cried. The crowd let out a gasp when they saw King Claudius stumble through the hall to the door. “Horatio, did you see how upset he became at the talk of the poisoning?” Hamlet asked. “I did, indeed!” Horatio said. “So the ghost spoke the truth,” replied Hamlet. “And now I know who is to blame for killing my father.”

33

SC 403-25

The Play’s the Thing COMPREHENSION CHECK Choose the best answer. 1. One scene of the play to be performed will ____a. be left out. ____b. look like it’s happening in England. ____c. show a conversation between ____ Hamlet and Horatio. ____d look the way the ghost said that ____ King Hamlet died. 2. Horatio agrees to do what is asked by ____a. Hamlet. ____b. Ophelia. ____c. the actors. ____d. King Claudius and Queen Gertrude. 3. Polonius shows surprise when Hamlet ____a. speaks with Horatio. ____b. refuses to sit with his mother. ____c. turns away from the Queen. ____d. decides to sit near Ophelia. 4. King Hamlet died ____a. six months ago. ____b. four years ago. ____c. less than two hours ago. ____d. four months ago. 5. When Hamlet says things to Ophelia that are a little bit strange, Ophelia ____a. speaks with honesty. ____b. shouts at Hamlet. ____c. gets upset. ____d. refuses to answer. 6. The opening scene of the play talks about a queen who ____a. will soon die. ____b. has become a widow. ____c. kills her first husband. ____d. refuses to think about marrying a ____ second husband.

Preview Answer: c. watch Hamlet’s uncle’s face during the play. 7. Hamlet’s mother complains about the actorqueen, saying, “The lady does protest too much.” His mother says this because she ____a. doesn’t like plays. ____b. thinks the play is gloomy. ____c. thinks the actor talks too much. ____d. feels guilty for doing what the actor ____ says heaven and earth should punish. 8. First, Hamlet talks to his mother about the play. Next, the King asks to know the name of the play. Then, ____a. the actor king takes a nap in the ____ garden. ____b. Hamlet explains that the play is ____ about a real killing. ____c. King Claudius jumps to his feet and ____ commands the lights to be lit. ____d. poison is poured in the actor king’s ____ ear. 9. Another name for this story could be ____a. “The Mousetrap.” ____b. “The Lady Does Protest.” ____c. “The King Stumbles.” ____d. “Talk of Poisoning.” 10. This story is mainly about ____a. Horatio helping Hamlet. ____b. Queen Gertrude’s being upset with ____ Hamlet and the play. ____c. how Hamlet finds out who killed his ____ father. ____d. Ophelia’s being honest with Hamlet.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

34

SC 403-25

The Play’s the Thing VOCABULARY CHECK blame

cheerful

gasp

mutter

protest

stumble

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. Brenda’s face lit up with a ____________________ smile when she saw Edgar step out of his new car. 2. You must speak clearly, not in a ____________________, when you talk on the radio. 3. There are so many small stones on the path that it’s easy to lose your balance and ________________. 4. Do you ________________ the farmers for raising their prices? They need to earn a living! 5. Many people ____________________ the high price of gas by driving their cars less. 6. When Irma walked into the room, her friends shouted “Happy Birthday!”and they heard her ____________________ with surprise. II. Crossword Puzzle Use the words from the box above to fill in the puzzle. Use the meanings below to help you choose the right answer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6.

ACROSS 2. joyful; glad 4. to speak in a low or unclear voice 5. to try hard to get your breath with open mouth 6. to trip; to walk in a way that is not smooth

DOWN 1. speaking or acting strongly against something 3. to find fault with; to say someone is guilty of wrong

Check your answers with the key on page 70. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

35

SC 403-26

Another Death PREPARATION Key Words •

encourage

(en ker´ ij)

to urge on; to help “If my wife did not encourage me, I could never have won the contest,” said Jackson.

knee

(ne)

the middle part of the leg that is able to bend, and has a flat bone, called a kneecap, at the front of it Tanya hurt her right knee while practicing a jump shot.

natural

(nach´ ∂ r ∂l)

the way someone is from their birth; belonging to the nature someone is born with Being cheerful is Rosa’s natural way of acting.

scold

(skold)

1. to blame with angry words Ethel was so upset with the painters that she wanted to scold them for the terrible job they had done. 2. to talk angrily “You always scold me!” muttered Jason in a voice that Mr. Evans could not hear.

scowl

(skoul)

1. a frown; an angry look Robin knew by the scowl on Andy’s face that he was angry. 2. to frown; to look angry When her team lost the game in the last minute, Rita tried hard not to scowl.

throne

(thron)

the power of a king or queen, etc.; a special chair on which a king or queen sits at important times, and which is a sign of their power Everyone wondered which of the two princes would become king and take over the throne of Denmark.

36

SC 403-26

Another Death Necessary Words ashamed

(∂ shamd´)

feeling disturbed or upset because you, or someone you know, has done something wrong, bad, or silly Erika felt ashamed that she had lied.

cruel

(krü´ ∂ l)

causing suffering; very mean Jesse was sorry for the cruel way he had spoken to his brother.

deed

(ded)

something done; an act Keith’s band did a good deed by performing in order to raise money for the hungry.

offend

(∂ fend´)

1. to hurt the feelings of someone; to make angry Edna complained that I offend him when I laugh at his mistakes. 2. to sin or do wrong When you offend someone, always remember to say you’re sorry.

pray

(pra)

to speak to God; to ask something from God The dying man’s heart was touched when he heard his grandchild pray for him.

soul

(sol)

the spirit of someone, from which their thoughts, feelings, and acts come “Because I believe that my soul will live on after I die,” explained Anthony, “I try to live a good life.”

sword

(sôrd)

a long, sharp blade used for fighting The actor practiced fighting with a sword, to perform his part in the play.

thrust

(thrust)

1. a push with force With one thrust, John’s knife cut into the table. 2. to push with force Everyone laughed when Sandy thrust her hand into the grab-bag and pulled out a bar of soap.

37

SC 403-26

Another Death

“Your mother, the Queen, is upset with your behavior,” Guildenstern began to scold. Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentence under the picture. Read the first six paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that _____ a. the Queen scolded Hamlet. _____ b. Guildenstern wishes to speak with Hamlet. _____ c. Hamlet will not obey the Queen. _____ d. Hamlet’s mother wishes to speak with him. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 40 for the right answer.

Now read the story. Read on to find out if Hamlet tells the reason for his behavior.

38

SC 403-26

Another Death Rosencrantz and Guildenstern found Hamlet still in the room where the play had been performed. “Your mother, the Queen, is upset with your behavior,” Guildenstern began to scold. “She wishes to speak with you in her room.” “I shall obey,” Hamlet told him. “Is there anything else?” “I thought we were once friends,” Rosencrantz said. “We still are,” Hamlet said. “Then tell us. What’s the reason for your behavior? It’s far from natural. You close yourself off from your friends when you don’t share your troubles,” said Rosencrantz. Hamlet waved his hand, as if his old friend’s words weren’t important. At that moment, Polonius hurried into the room. “The Queen wishes to speak with you. She is ashamed of the way you behaved. I encourage you to go to her quickly.” Hamlet sighed. “Yes, yes, I know. I’ll go to my mother’s room soon.” He nodded to them all. “Leave me, friends.” Alone, Hamlet was filled with rage. And my mother, he thought with a scowl, did she encourage this most foul deed that Claudius has done? I must not lose my natural feelings for her. I will speak cruel words, but I must not harm her. As angry as I am, I would never use my sword on her. Hamlet left the great hall. On his way to his mother’s room, he was surprised to see Claudius standing in an empty room speaking out loud. “My deed is most terrible!” said Claudius. “To have killed my brother smells to heaven. I am ashamed and must pray for forgiveness.” Then, Claudius shook his head. “But I cannot

pray for forgiveness,” he continued, “because I cannot give up my throne or my Queen. Can I be forgiven if I keep the very reasons for which I killed? I think not. In heaven there can only be truth.” Claudius sighed. “I am trapped.” He dropped down on one knee, and then onto both knees. And he cried out,“May all soon be well!” Watching, Hamlet hesitated. Now was his chance. Revenge could be his with the thrust of his sword. But if I kill him while he is praying, his soul may go straight to heaven. Hamlet scowled. No, better to wait until he is busy with something that heaven would frown upon. I want to kill him when his soul will suffer and be punished. Hamlet put his sword away and moved on toward his mother’s room. Ahead of Hamlet, Polonius hurried to Queen Gertrude’s room. “Hamlet is on his way,” Polonius told the Queen. “Be strong; scold him; tell him you will put up with his strange behavior no longer.” “Trust me,” the Queen said. “Quick, hide! I hear him coming.” Polonius slipped behind the curtain seconds before Hamlet entered the room. “What’s the matter, Mother?” Hamlet asked. “You deeply offend your father,” Queen Gertrude told him. With a scowl, Hamlet answered, “You, Mother, have deeply offended my father.” “Don’t be foolish,” she scolded. “Have you forgotten who I am?” “Of course not,” Hamlet said. “You are the Queen, your husband’s brother ’s wife. And though I wish it were not so, you are my mother.” “I cannot talk to you when you act this way,” the Queen said, standing up to leave.

“Sit down!” Hamlet said sharply, pushing her back down into the chair. “What are you going to do?” Gertrude asked in alarm. “Surely, you don’t intend to kill me?” She looked around the room, then shouted, “Help, help!” From behind the curtain, Polonius also shouted, “Help, help!” Hamlet whipped around. “What’s that?” He pulled out his sword and thrust it into the curtain. The Queen gasped and raised her hand to her chest. “Oh, heavens! What have you done?” “I have no idea,” Hamlet said. “Was it the King?” He lifted the curtain and the body of Polonius fell forward. “Oh, what a cruel thing you’ve done!” the Queen said. “Indeed,” Hamlet said, “almost as bad as killing a king and marrying the brother who takes his throne!” The Queen stared at Hamlet, not understanding what he meant. Hamlet looked down at the dead Polonius. Without any natural feeling he said, “Good-by, you hopeless fool. Too bad you weren’t the King. Now you understand that wanting to know too much puts you in danger.” He turned to his mother. “Stop weeping and sit down. I hope you’re not so caught up in your foul ways that I cannot make you listen to reason.” “What have I done to make you speak this way to me?” Queen Gertrude wanted to know. Hamlet’s eyes narrowed. “Silence, woman! You will soon find out.”

39

SC 403-26

Another Death COMPREHENSION CHECK Choose the best answer. 1. Rosencrantz wants Prince Hamlet to ____a. share his troubles. ____b. act in a natural way. ____c. speak with the Queen. ____d. close himself off from Guildenstern. 2. Prince Hamlet ____a. will not obey the Queen. ____b. answers all his friend’s questions. ____c. doesn’t listen to his friend’s ideas. ____d. tells the reason for his behavior. 3. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern scold Hamlet. Then, Polonius also tells Hamlet that the Queen wants to see him. Next, the Prince ____a. sees Claudius praying. ____b. arrives at his mother’s room. ____c. hides behind a curtain. ____d. tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ____ to leave. 4. Although Hamlet is very angry with his mother, he does not want to ____a. speak cruel words to his mother. ____b. harm his mother. ____c. offend his mother. ____d. encourage his mother’s foul deeds. 5. Claudius feels ashamed of his terrible deed and wants to pray for forgiveness, but he feels that he cannot do that because ____a. Hamlet will find out. ____b. his Queen won’t let him do it. ____c. he still wants to be King and to be ____ Gertrude’s husband. ____d. only heaven knows the truth.

Preview Answer: d. Hamlet’s mother wishes to speak with him. 6. Hamlet has a chance to get revenge when ____a. Polonius hides behind the curtain. ____b. Hamlet sees the King on his knees, ____ praying. ____c. Hamlet pushes the Queen into her ____ chair. ____d. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave ____ him alone. 7. When Claudius is praying, Hamlet hesitates to kill him. Hamlet wants to wait until ____a. Claudius does something wrong. ____b. Hamlet speaks with his mother. ____c. Polonius is dead. ____d. Claudius admits to Hamlet that he is ____ guilty. 8. When the Queen scolds Hamlet for offending his father, she means that he has offended __________. When Hamlet answers that the Queen has offended his father, he means that she has offended __________. ____a. King Hamlet ... King Claudius. ____b. King Hamlet... King Hamlet. ____c. King Claudius ... King Claudius. ____d. King Claudius... King Hamlet. 9. Another name for this story could be ____a. “Hamlet Hesitates.” ____b. “Hopeless Fools.” ____c. “Hamlet’s Revenge Begins.” ____d. “Poor Polonius.” 10. This story is mainly about ____a. people scolding Hamlet. ____b. Hamlet beginning to scold his ____ mother. ____c. Hamlet killing Polonius. ____d. Hamlet holding back from killing ____ King Claudius.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

40

SC 403-26

Another Death VOCABULARY CHECK encourage

knee

natural

scold

scowl

throne

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. “My hair’s ____________________ color is black,” said Cara, “but I thought I’d try being a red-head.” 2. In the story that Jerrod read, a thief stole the diamonds from the king’s ___________. 3. Elda tries not to ________________ her young daughter, unless she has done something seriously wrong. 4. After sitting on the floor with her legs crossed, Bernadette’s left ________________ was stiff when she stood up. 5. “If Mrs. Bowler did not ____________________ me,” said Harry, “I would never have passed that test!” 6. Seeing Barbara’s ____________________ was enough to make Seth stay away. II. Word Use Put a check next to YES if the sentence makes sense. Put a check next to NO if the sentence does not make sense. 1. You should scold your friend for coming to your party.

_____Yes

_____No

2. Anita’s scowl makes all her friends enjoy being with her.

_____Yes

_____No

3. When you encourage people, you help them to believe in themselves.

_____Yes

_____No

4. It is natural for a baby to cry.

_____Yes

_____No

5. Your knee is in the middle of your foot.

_____Yes

_____No

6. You should not have throne the ball over the fence!

_____Yes

_____No

Check your answers with the key on page 70. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

41

SC 403-27

A Look of Dismay PREPARATION Key Words disgust

(dis gust´)

a strong feeling of not liking something The thought of eating squirrel filled Sara with disgust.

dismay

(dis ma´)

sudden sadness or alarm; sudden fear of what has happened or what is about to happen “I’m worried about Jordan,” Brenda said in dismay, “because he hasn’t arrived yet, and he’s never late.”

forever

(f ∂ r ∂ v´ ∂ r)

for always; never ending Rick said he would love Jasmine forever.

glare

(glâr)

an angry stare Kristin did not like the cat to glare at her.

remind

(ri mind´)

to cause to remember Nadine called to remind Pedro to buy four tickets for the play.

responsible

(ri spon´ s ∂ b ∂ l)

1. deserving of trust Ada was named the most responsible one in her class. 2. being the cause or reason Kevin was responsible for his team’s winning the football game in the last five seconds.

42

SC 403-27

A Look of Dismay Necessary Words actions

(ak´ sh ∂nz)

what someone has done; behavior Taylor’s actions caused the rocks to become loose and slide down the hill.

crazy

(kra´ ze)

mad; strange; ill in one’s mind John thought his friend was crazy to drink and drive.

demand

(di mand´)

to insist; to ask for as a right “Will Bob demand that Fiona give him back his ring?” asked Erin.

marriage

(mar´ ij)

a promise to live together as husband and wife Laura’s grandparents’ marriage lasted seventy years until her grandfather died.

seal

(sel)

1. a stamp used to mark important papers, showing they belong to someone with power There was a picture of a gold crown on the King’s special seal. 2. to close or fasten Jessica wondered what was in the box when she saw her father seal it so tightly.

43

SC 403-27

A Look of Dismay

Hamlet grabbed the picture of Claudius that Gertrude wore on a chain. Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentence under the picture. Read the first two paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that Hamlet thinks that _____ a. Hamlet’s mother should be ashamed of her actions. _____ b. King Claudius and Hamlet’s father are both great men. _____ c. Hamlet’s mother understands what she has done wrong. _____ d. Hamlet’s mother should take off the picture of Claudius that she wears on a chain. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 46 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read on to find out how Queen Gertrude and King Claudius will act with Hamlet.

44

SC 403-27

A Look of Dismay Hamlet stood over his mother. She saw him glare at her. “Look at this,” he said, pointing to the small picture of his father that he wore on a chain around his neck. “This was your husband by marriage.” Then, he grabbed the picture of Claudius that Gertrude wore on a chain. “Now this is your husband, but how unlike are these two brothers! My father was a great man, a great king, forever loved by his people. Your husband is no match for my father’s greatness. Are you so blind that you can’t see the difference? You must understand that it is wrong to long for your husband’s brother! Do your feelings hold so much power over you? Must I remind you? At your age, you should be more responsible for your actions. You should be ashamed.” “Oh, Hamlet, speak no more!” Gertrude said in dismay. “You make me see into my very soul.” Hamlet nodded. “You have been living with your husband’s brother. Your marriage to my uncle is cause for disgust. Your husband is responsible for killing my father. He is a a foul man. He’s not worth one twentieth of my father!” Gertrude gasped as she struggled to hold back tears. “No more! Don’t say another word!” Hamlet looked up. The glare on his face faded into a look of dismay. There was his father’s ghost standing in the doorway! “What do you want?” Hamlet asked, his voice trembling. “Are you angry because I have failed to carry out your wish for revenge?” “Do not forget,” the ghost said. “This visit is to remind you of what you must do.” “What are you looking at, Hamlet?” Gertrude asked. “Who are you talking to?”

“Him!” Hamlet said, pointing to the ghost. “He is dressed just as my father was when he was alive.” “I see nothing,” Gertrude said. She was now sure her son was truly crazy. “Do you hear nothing?” asked Hamlet. “Nothing but ourselves.” “Look!” cried Hamlet. “He’s slipping away now.” “Oh, Hamlet,” Gertrude said, “your madness is causing you to see and hear things.” “My madness! I am not crazy. It is your foul behavior I’m speaking of. I demand that you ask forgiveness for your past actions, and not make matters worse by continuing to live with my uncle.” “Oh, Hamlet, you cut my heart in two,” Gertrude said sadly. “What shall I do?” “You must not allow the King to put a hand on you. You must forever stay apart from him.” Hamlet turned and pointed to the body of Polonius. “I will take this fool away.” Hamlet began to drag Polonius from the room. “Goodnight, Mother.” After Hamlet left, Gertrude hurried to tell Claudius what had happened. “There is no doubt now,” Gertrude said. “He is acting like a crazy man.” The King’s eyes grew wide in alarm. “He would have killed me, if I had been there. I must send him away at once. Where is Hamlet now?” “He’s taking the body away,” Gertrude told him. Claudius called for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. “Find Hamlet at once. In his madness, he has killed Polonius and dragged him from the Queen’s room.” When they returned with Hamlet, the King asked, “Where

is the body of Polonius?” “At supper,” Hamlet said. “At supper? Where?” “Not where he eats, but where he is eaten,” Hamlet said calmly. “There are worms eating at him this very minute.” “Where is he?” Claudius demanded, clearly disgusted with Hamlet’s strange answer. “In heaven. Send for him there. If your men can’t find him there, you can look for him yourself in that other place men go after dying.” Rosencrantz glanced at Guildenstern and shook his head. Hamlet made no sense. Clearly, he was crazy. “But if you don’t find him within a month,” Hamlet added, “you’ll surely smell him as you go up the stairs to the front hall.” “Go and look for him there,” King Claudius said to one of his men. He turned back to Hamlet. “For your own safety, we are sending you to England this very night. The ship is ready, and the wind is in the right direction, so prepare yourself to leave at once.” Hamlet glared at the King. Then he left the room. Claudius turned back to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, commanding, “Guard Hamlet carefully. His madness has made him dangerous.” He handed Rosencrantz a letter. “Give this to the King of England as soon as you arrive. He is the only one who may open the seal.” Rosencrantz and Guildenstern bowed and left the room. King Claudius nodded to himself. “When the King of England reads my sealed letter, he will carry out my wishes,” he muttered. “He will see that Hamlet is made to die.”

45

SC 403-27

A Look of Dismay COMPREHENSION CHECK Choose the best answer. 1. The late King Hamlet and the present King Claudius were ____a. father and son. ____b. brothers. ____c. cousins. ____d. uncle and nephew.

Preview Answer: a. Hamlet’s mother should be ashamed of her actions. 6. The ghost has come again to ____a. revenge the killing of Polonius. ____b. scold Queen Gertrude. ____c. scold King Claudius. ____d. remind the Prince to take revenge.

2. Prince Hamlet’s idea is that his father was ____a. very much like Gertrude’s new hus____ band. ____b. ashamed of Gertrude’s actions. ____c. no match for Gertrude’s new hus____ band. ____d. better than Claudius, as a man and ____ as a king.

7. One way that Hamlet demands his mother to change her behavior is by ____a. not telling the King about Hamlet’s ____ madness. ____b. not living with King Claudius. ____c. sending Rosencrantz and ____ Guildenstern away. ____d. taking off the picture of Claudius ____ that she wears on a chain.

3. Hamlet says that Claudius is a foul man because he ____a. killed Hamlet’s father. ____b. failed to take revenge. ____c. planned to kill Hamlet. ____d. killed Polonius.

8. Hamlet says that Polonius’ body can be found by using the sense of ____a. smell. ____b. sight. ____c. taste. ____d. hearing.

4. First, Queen Gertrude is dismayed at Hamlet’s scolding her and struggles to hold back her tears. Then, she insists that Hamlet’s madness is causing him to see and hear things. Next, Gertrude ____a. breaks down and cries. ____b. tells Claudius all that has happened. ____c. sees her late husband’s ghost. ____d. hurries to hide Polonius’ body.

9. Another name for this story could be ____a. “Off to England.” ____b. “Hamlet Scolds His Mother.” ____c. “Feeling Ashamed.” ____d. “The King’s Alarm.”

5. Prince Hamlet’s strong, angry speech changes to uneasy feelings of fear when ____a. Claudius asks for Polonius. ____b. Claudius commands Hamlet to go to ____ England. ____c. Hamlet reads Claudius’ sealed letter. ____d. Hamlet sees the ghost of King Hamlet ____ again.

10. This story is mainly about Hamlet ____a. scolding his mother and telling her ____ the reasons for his behavior. ____b. preparing to leave for England. ____c. hiding Polonius’ body. ____d. scaring King Claudius with his ____ dangerous behavior.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

46

SC 403-27

A Look of Dismay VOCABULARY CHECK disgust

dismay

forever

glare

remind

responsible

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. Hearing about so many people dying in the crash filled Tom with ________________ , so he offered to help raise money for their families. 2. The piles of dirty dishes and pots all over the kitchen filled Nydia with ________________ . 3. “Who is ________________ for paying the bill?” asked the saleswoman. 4. For many days, Mickey could not forget the angry ________________ in the actor’s eyes when he gave his final speech. 5. “Did you __________________ your sister to pick up her clothes from the dry cleaners?” asked Mom. 6. “Petra will be my best friend ________________ !” insisted six-year old Trish. II. Using the Words On the lines below, write six of your own sentences using the key words from the box above. Use each word once, drawing a line under the key word. 1. _____________________________________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________________________________ 4. _____________________________________________________________________________ 5. _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. _____________________________________________________________________________ Check your answers with the key on page 71. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

47

SC 403-28

Planning Revenge PREPARATION Key Words court

(kôrt)

1. people who are followers of a king, queen, or other ruler and who help them rule William Shakespeare put on plays for the Queen of England’s court. 2. the place where a king, queen, or other ruler lives; a palace People often came to court to ask the king for help.

mumble

(mum´ b ∂ l)

to speak in a soft, unclear voice, as people do when their mouth is not open enough When Mrs. Jones asked Karen if she had finished her homework, Karen could only mumble her answer.

pain

(pan)

a feeling of being hurt We feel great pain when we lose someone we love.

pirate

(pi´ rit)

a robber on the sea; someone who steals from ships Keith’s costume made him look like a fierce pirate.

plunge

(plunj)

to throw or thrust with force Sam had to plunge his knife into the coconut to crack its hard shell.

skill

(skil)

being able to do something well after much practice Brian’s skill at fixing cars helped him to get a job at the garage.

48

SC 403-28

Planning Revenge Necessary Words comfort

(kum´ f ∂ rt)

1. anything that makes trouble easier to bear Standing-Bear gave comfort to her sick grandmother when she held her hand. 2. to cheer; to make life easier when sad or troubled Jan tried to comfort her little sister when her dog died.

death

(deth)

the ending of life; the act or fact of dying Though it is natural to fear death, talking about it can help to calm our fear.

nonsense

(non´ sens)

words, ideas, or acts without meaning; foolish talk or doings Kyle thought Harold’s excuse for not finishing his work was nonsense.

rumor

(rü m ∂ r)

a story talked of as news, though it may not be true Cathy heard a rumor that Mr. Price was getting married this year.

Places France

a country in western Europe

49

SC 403-28

Planning Revenge

“Ophelia is out of her mind,” one of the King’s men said. “She talks nonsense and sings strange songs over and over.” Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentences under the picture. Read the first three paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that Ophelia _____ a. has died a sudden death. _____ b. feels angry about her father’s death. _____ c. cannot be comforted by anyone. _____ d. has sent for her brother, Laertes. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 52 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read on to find out what Queen Gertrude and King Claudius will say to Ophelia’s brother, Laertes. 50

SC 403-28

Planning Revenge The sudden death of Polonius at the hand of her old love was more pain than Ophelia could bear. Kind words from men and women of the court gave her no comfort. She wandered the halls of the castle aimlessly. She muttered nonsense to herself. She seemed not to recognize those she passed. “Ophelia is out of her mind,” one of the King’s men said. “She talks nonsense and sings strange songs over and over. When asked if she is well, the girl begins to mumble words that make no sense. One minute she is laughing wildly. The next, she’s crying and mumbling about love and death. Everyone is alarmed by her strange behavior.” “This all comes from the death of her father,” King Claudius said. “Poor Ophelia has gone mad.” He sighed. “Trouble never comes in a single way, but rather, one thing after another. First, her father was killed. Then, Hamlet had to be sent away. Now, Ophelia is suffering great pain. Nothing can comfort her. And I’ve also just heard that Laertes has returned from France. There is a rumor that he believes I am responsible for his father’s death.” At that moment, Laertes rushed into the room. “Oh, you most foul King! Give me my father!” Queen Gertrude put her hand on Laertes’ arm to comfort him. “Be calm, Laertes.” “I cannot be calm!” Laertes said. “Where is my father?” “He’s dead,” Claudius said. “How did he die?” Laertes demanded. “You must tell me what happened. I will have my revenge!” “I did not cause your father’s death,” Claudius said. “The rumors you heard are not true. I am deeply saddened that he was killed.” From out in the hall there came

the sound of Ophelia singing another strange song. When she entered the room, Laertes stared at his sister, amazed at her appearance. Her hair was loose and uncombed. Her dress was dirty. “Sweet Ophelia, I heard...” His voice trailed off, and he shook his head sadly. Quietly, he added, “Your madness is one more reason I long for revenge for our father’s death.” He turned to Claudius. “You must tell me what happened to my father.” “I will tell you everything,” Claudius said. In a friendly way he added, “Come with me, Laertes.” In another part of the castle, a sailor arrived with a letter from Hamlet to Horatio. In the letter, Hamlet explained that not two days out to sea, their ship had been attacked by a pirate ship. Hamlet had been taken by the pirates. The ship with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern got away and continued to England. “I persuaded these men to bring me back to Denmark,” Hamlet wrote. “See that the King is given this other letter. Then, the sailor will take you to meet me.” After reading Hamlet’s words, Horatio said to the sailor, “Take that letter to the King at once.” When Claudius read the letter from Hamlet, he frowned. “What is the meaning of this?” he said to Laertes. “Why has Hamlet come back to Denmark? What has happened to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Why would Hamlet return to court?” “I have no idea,” Laertes said. “But let him come. It will give me pleasure to tell him to his face, ‘Now you will die.’” Claudius tapped the letter thoughtfully. “Something must be done. Will you listen to my plan, Laertes?”

Laertes leaned closer to the King. “Does this plan allow for revenge?” Claudius nodded. “You are known far and wide for your amazing skill with a sword. When a visitor to court talked of how clever your moves appeared to be, Hamlet was very much interested. He has been wanting the chance to prove his own skill against you. I will arrange a match between the two of you. You can choose a sword without a cover on the blade tip. Hamlet is so trusting that he won’t bother to look closely at the blades. All it will take is one well-placed plunge of the sword. You’ll have the revenge you long for. And Hamlet’s death will be seen as a sad mistake.” “I’ll do it,” Laertes agreed. “And I’ll dip my sword tip in poison so strong, that only a scratch on his skin will kill him.” “We need a second plan in case something goes wrong,” Claudius said. He thought for a moment. Then, he continued. “When Hamlet becomes thirsty after the match, I will offer a cup filled with poisoned drink. If he chances to escape the plunge of your sword, the drink will do the trick. Either way, Hamlet will be dead.”

51

SC 403-28

Planning Revenge COMPREHENSION CHECK Choose the best answer. 1. Ophelia’s madness is blamed on ____a. her father’s sudden death. ____b. Hamlet’s being sent away. ____c. Hamlet’s cruel words. ____d. the people of the King’s court. 2. First, Laertes blames the King for Polonius’ death. Then, he lets the King explain what happened. Then, Laertes ____a. calms down. ____b. becomes upset with how his sister ____ looks and acts. ____c. reads Hamlet’s letter. ____d. listens to the King’s plan. 3. Laertes demands to know ____a. one more reason for Ophelia’s madness. ____b. how Polonius died. ____c. why Hamlet has returned from __ Denmark. ____d. how Horatio got Hamlet’s letter. 4. Laertes trusts the King and Queen because they ____a. have helped Ophelia. ____b. act friendly, and try to comfort him. ____c. are Hamlet’s family. ____d. save him from the pirates. 5. The reason for Hamlet’s lucky escape from the King’s plan to have Hamlet killed in England, is that ____a. Horatio brought Hamlet’s letter to ____ the King. ____b. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were __ taken by pirates. ____c. Hamlet’s ship got away from the __ pirates. ____d. pirates freed Hamlet.

Preview Answer: c. cannot be comforted by anyone. 6. King Claudius is upset that ____a. Laertes has returned to Denmark. ____b. Horatio has written a letter to the ____ King. ____c. Hamlet is returning home. ____d. Queen Gertrude has been friendly to __ Laertes. 7. Laertes agrees with the King’s plan for him to get revenge. Laertes will ____a. fight Hamlet, using a poisoned __ sword tip. ____b. pour poison into Hamlet’s cup. ____c. find out why Hamlet has returned. ____d. see Hamlet’s death as a sad mistake. 8. In King Claudius’ plans for killing Hamlet, first, he will arrange a fight between Hamlet and Laertes. Then, the King will make sure that Laertes’ sword does not have a cover on the blade tip. Then, to be sure the plan works, the King will ____a. scratch Hamlet’s skin with the __ poisoned sword tip. ____b. make Hamlet stumble. ____c. scare Hamlet by speaking about __ Laertes’ amazing skill. ____d. give Hamlet a cup of poisoned drink. 9. Another name for this story could be ____a. “The Plan to Kill Hamlet.” ____b. “Hamlet’s Escape.” ____c. “Ophelia’s Pain.” ____d. “Help from Horatio.” 10. This story is mainly about ____a. Ophelia’s strange behavior. ____b. the rumors that Laertes heard about __ his father’s death. ____c. Laertes and King Claudius deciding ____ how to kill Hamlet. ____d. pirates attacking Denmark’s ships.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

52

SC 403-28

Planning Revenge VOCABULARY CHECK court

mumble

pain

pirate

plunge

skill

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. Janice practiced playing the piano every day to better her ____________________ . 2. “Why does Earl ____________________ when he speaks?” asked Rena. “When he sings, his voice is clear!” 3. Rodney complained that he did not want to be a ________________ in the show because the beard scratched his face. 4. Theresa was the first to ________________ her fork into the juicy roast. 5. “The ____________________ of Jim leaving is finally gone,” Etta murmured. 6. “Have you read about the ____________________ of King Arthur? Those are my favorite stories!” admitted Andy. II. Making Sense of Sentences Are the following statements true or false? Place an X next to the correct answer. 1. When you have pain you feel very comfortable.

_____True _____False

2. The court of a ruler is usually found on a ship.

_____True _____False

3. A pirate is a thief.

_____True _____False

4. To have a special skill means that you can do something very well.

_____True _____False

5. If you plunge an ax into a tree, you have turned the ax.

_____True _____False

6. When you mumble, you are complaining.

_____True _____False

Check your answers with the key on page 71. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

53

SC 403-29

Dreadful Happenings PREPARATION Key Words difficult

(dif´ ∂ kult)

hard to do; hard to deal with “Deciding which car to buy is difficult,” sighed Edith.

dreadful

(dred´ f ∂ l)

terrible; awful; very bad Samantha felt upset when she heard the dreadful news about the war.

groan

(gron)

1. a sound made deep in the throat, to show pain or sadness; a deep moan Tony let out a groan when he saw the wrecked cars. 2. to make a deep sound when in pain or sadness When Tony heard Ray begin to groan, he knew that Ray was still alive.

horrify

(hôr´∂ fi)

to cause to feel great fear or dismay Sandra knew that seeing all that blood would horrify Amy.

shriek

(shrek)

1. a loud, sharp sound made to show feelings of pain, fear, or being amused Emily’s shriek woke up her sister. 2. to make a loud, sharp sound, usually because of strong feelings like pain, fear, or being amused Jonathan began to shriek with delight when he saw the clown’s funny face.

wail

(wal)

to cry loud and long because of pain or grieving Everyone in the house heard Joan’s wail when she caught her finger in the door.

54

SC 403-29

Dreadful Happenings Necessary Words casket

(kas´ kit)

a box in which a dead body is placed before the box is put in the ground Mr. Moore’s body lay in a dark brown casket.

challenge

(chal´ ∂ nj)

a call to take part in a contest Will anyone take on Bill’s challenge to raise money for homeless families?

control

(k ∂ n trol´)

power to keep back or hold down Learning to control feelings is part of growing up.

grave

(grav)

a hole dug in the ground, in which a dead body is placed and then covered with dirt Jenna placed flowers on her sister’s grave.

gravedigger (grav´ dig ∂ r)

a person whose work is digging graves Working in the summer heat, the gravedigger stopped shoveling to take a drink of cold water.

settle

(set´ ∂l)

to agree or agree upon Hector and Ralph decided to settle their differences without fighting.

shame

(sham)

the painful feeling of having done something wrong or foolish Anna was filled with shame when she was caught telling a lie.

People Dane

someone from Denmark

55

SC 403-29

Dreadful Happenings

“Ophelia was hanging strings of flowers on the tree. When she climbed onto one of the branches, it broke and she fell into the water,” said Queen Gertrude. Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentences under the picture. Read the first four paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that _____ a. Queen Gertrude was in dreadful danger. _____ b. Ophelia has drowned. _____ c. Laertes feelings are hurt. _____ d. Ophelia sang a dreadful song. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 58 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read on to find out what Laertes will do. 56

SC 403-29

Dreadful Happenings Queen Gertrude rushed into the room muttering, “One dreadful thing follows another.” With a shriek, she turned to Laertes saying, “Your sister has drowned!” “Drowned? How?” “It happened at the brook where the tree leans over the water. She was hanging strings of flowers on the tree. When she climbed onto one of the branches, it broke and she fell into the water. For a time, her clothes spread wide and held her floating there. She did not try to get up, but simply lay there singing bits of old tunes, not seeming to care that she was in dreadful danger. Then, her clothes became heavy with water and pulled her down to a muddy death.” The Queen’s words seemed to horrify Laertes and his eyes filled. “Poor, poor Ophelia!” he said with a groan. Finding it difficult to control his feelings, Laertes turned and left the room. Later that day, as Hamlet and Horatio headed back to the castle, they came upon two men digging a grave. One man was singing cheerfully and this puzzled Hamlet. “How can that gravedigger be so cheerful while digging a grave?” “He’s so used to it that this sort of work isn’t difficult for him,” Horatio said. “Yes, that’s probably true,” answered Hamlet. “Look,” Horatio said. “Here come the King and Queen and the rest of the court.” “And there is a casket!” Who can be dead? Hamlet wondered. He watched the group follow behind the casket toward the newly dug grave. From where Hamlet and Horatio stood, they heard Laertes speak. “Let my sister lay in the earth and may fresh flowers grow from her grave.” “What?!” Hamlet said, horrified.

“Is it the beautiful Ophelia?” Over Ophelia’s grave, Queen Gertrude scattered flowers. “Sweets to the sweet. Good-by. I hoped that one day you would have been my Hamlet’s wife. I thought I would be placing flowers on your marriage bed, not spreading them on your grave.” “May pain and unhappiness fall upon the one who caused you to lose all reason!” Laertes said, his voice hard and angry. He held up one hand, saying, “Wait, do not put her in the ground yet. I want to hold her in my arms once more.” And with that, Laertes jumped down beside the body of his dead sister. When Hamlet saw this, he could not control himself. He ran toward the grave shouting, “Who are you to grieve so much? I am Hamlet the Dane. I am the one who loved Ophelia so fiercely.” Then, groaning loudly, he jumped into the grave along with Laertes. Laertes let go of Ophelia’s body and grabbed Hamlet. “May hell wait for your soul!” “Take your fingers from my throat!” Hamlet cried out, struggling to push Laertes away. “Pull them apart!” the King shouted. The Queen began to shriek. “Hamlet! Hamlet!” “Control yourself!” Horatio called out to Hamlet. “I’ll fight him to the death on this matter!” Hamlet cried. “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not love as much.” “Leave him alone, Hamlet,” the Queen begged. “Tell me, will you continue to wail about how much you love her? If so, I’ll wail as loud as you!” Hamlet screamed. Some helpers jumped into the grave and forced Hamlet to let go of Laertes. When he climbed out of the grave, Hamlet stormed away, still boiling with rage.

Horatio went after him and found Hamlet in his room. “I’m sorry I lost control with Laertes,” Hamlet said, feeling shame about his behavior. “His showing off as the grieving brother filled me with rage.” Hamlet was silent a moment. Then he said, “Now I must tell you about the letter Claudius wrote for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take to the King of England.” Hamlet told Horatio about Claudius’ plan to have him put to death in England. “But I was able to steal the letter and write another in its place. And now it will be Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who will be put to death when they arrive in England.” “What a King he is!” Horatio said, amazed at Hamlet’s words. “Does it not seem now that I must act to get rid of this most foul King?” asked Hamlet. Before Horatio could answer, one of the King’s men entered the room and bowed. “The King offers a fencing match between you and Laertes, to settle your differences,” he said to Hamlet. “Will you take on the challenge?” Hamlet looked right at the man. He asked, “What if I say no?” Then, staring into space, he said, “Yes, I will accept the challenge. And I’ll win if I can. If not, it will be my own shame.” After the man left, Hamlet was honest. “I have an uneasy feeling about this match,” he told Horatio. “If you think something is wrong,” Horatio said, “I’ll tell them you aren’t feeling well and cannot have the match after all.” “No,” Hamlet said. “Even if death doesn’t come now, it will surely come later. So, I’ll take the chance of settling with Laertes this way. Being prepared is what’s important. Let it be.”

57

SC 403-29

Dreadful Happenings COMPREHENSION CHECK Choose the best answer. 1. Ophelia has died from ____a. a heart attack. ____b. poison. ____c. drowning. ____d. sickness.

Preview Answer: b. Ophelia has drowned. 6. When Hamlet leaves Ophelia’s grave, the Prince feels ____a. uneasy. ____b. guilty. ____c. very angry. ____d. cheerful.

2. First, the Queen tells Laertes about Ophelia’s death. Then, Laertes asks how Ophelia died. Next, when the Queen explains, Laertes ____a. cries. ____b. controls his feelings. ____c. fights with Hamlet. ____d. leaves the room. 3. Hamlet is surprised that the gravedigger is ____a. upset. ____b. happy. ____c. gloomy. ____d. honest. 4. First, Hamlet and Horatio see a grave being dug. Next, they watch a group of people following behind a casket. Then, ____a. Laertes speaks to Hamlet. ____b. Queen Gertrude scatters flowers on ____ the grave. ____c. Laertes jumps into the grave. ____d. Hamlet understands that Ophelia ____ has died. 5. When Hamlet sees Laertes grieving for Ophelia, Hamlet ____a. shrieks and groans with Laertes. ____b. loses his self-control. ____c. fights with Horatio. ____d. says that he never loved Ophelia.

7. The King had planned that Hamlet would be killed in England. Instead, Hamlet has arranged that __________ will be put to death there. ____a. Laertes and Claudius ____b. Rosencrantz and Horatio ____c. Claudius and Gertrude ____d. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern 8. Hamlet agrees to a fencing match with Laertes because ____a. King Claudius won’t let Hamlet say ____ no. ____b. Hamlet has an uneasy feeling. ____c. Hamlet feels prepared to match __ Laertes’ skill. ____d. Hamlet knows that someday he will ____ die, even if he doesn’t fight now. 9. Another name for this story could be ____a. “A Friend Drowns.” ____b. “The Death of Ophelia.” ____c. “Laertes’ Challenge.” ____d. “A Fencing Match.” 10. This story is mainly about ____a. Queen Gertrude’s sadness. ____b. grieving Ophelia’s death. ____c. two gravediggers. ____d. Hamlet and Laertes fighting.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

58

SC 403-29

Dreadful Happenings VOCABULARY CHECK difficult

dreadful

groan

horrify

shriek

wail

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. “You can moan and ____________________ all you want,” said Dave, “but you still have to pay for the broken window.” 2. “The test was not as ____________________ as I thought it would be,” said Dennis. “I studied hard to be ready for it.” 3. Although Tim is hard of hearing, he turned around to see who had made such a loud, sharp ____________________. 4. It must be ____________________ to watch children go hungry, thought Sara, as she watched the news. 5. In the play, the actor began to ____________________ as his friend drove away, leaving him alone in the desert. 6. Sam had seen so many scary shows that nothing could __________________ him. II. Mixed-up Words Unscramble the letters in Column A to spell out the key words. Then draw a line from each word to its meaning in Column B. Column A

Column B

1. lawi ____________________________

a. awful; very bad; terrible

2. adelurfd ________________________

b. a deep moan

3. riyorfh__________________________

c. to cry loud and long

4. khiser __________________________ __________________________________

d. to make a loud, sharp sound, showing feelings of pain, fear, or being amused

5. ifudlcift ________________________

e. hard to deal with

6. ongar __________________________

f. to cause to feel great fear or dismay

Check your answers with the key on page 71. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

59

SC 403-30

Death at Elsinore PREPARATION Key Words anger

(ang´ g ∂r)

fought

(fot)

nervous

(ner´ v ∂ s)

pearl

(perl)

a smooth, round, white or nearly white bead that has a soft shine; it is made inside certain underwater shells David gave his wife a pearl ring for her birthday.

realize

(re´ ∂ liz)

to understand clearly “I realize that you don’t want to go to the party,” Aaron said to Della.

succeed

(s ∂ k sed´)

to do exactly what you are trying to do; to do well Britney wanted to succeed as a model.

60

•

•

•

a strong feeling of not liking someone or something; the feeling that you have toward someone or something that hurt you “Seeing people act selfishly moves me to anger,” explained Emily. the past form of the word “fight”; struggled Trapped by the snowstorm, Enrique fought to stay awake so he wouldn’t freeze. uneasy; fearful; jumpy Thai was nervous about taking the driving test.

SC 403-30

Death at Elsinore Necessary Words battle

(bat´ l)

fighting or the carrying on of war The battle for the island lasted six months.

pierce

(pirs)

to make a hole in or through; to go into; go through While Sharon was cutting the carrots she tried not to pierce her fingers with the sharp knife.

soldier

(sol´ j ∂ r)

a person who serves in an army “My great grandfather served as a soldier under the King of Denmark,” said Hans.

wine

(win)

a drink made from fruit juice that has set a long time, in order for the drink to become strong tasting Ellen liked a glass of red wine with her dinner.

Places Poland

a country in the center part of Europe, with the Baltic Sea along its northern coast

61

SC 403-30

Death at Elsinore

Claudius tells Laertes and Hamlet to choose swords. Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Read the name of the story. Look at the picture. Read the sentence under the picture. Read the first five paragraphs of the story. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that __________ will use a poisoned sword in the fencing match against __________. _____ a. Hamlet ... Laertes. _____ b. Claudius ... Hamlet. _____ c. Laertes ... Hamlet. _____ d. Laertes ... Claudius. Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 64 for the right answer. Now read the story. Read on to find out how the fencing match goes.

62

SC 403-30

Death at Elsinore Hamlet entered the great hall where the fencing match was to take place. Claudius spoke warmly to him. “Come, Hamlet, come and take Laertes’ hand.” “I am sorry, sir,” Hamlet said to Laertes. “I have done you wrong, but I’m sure you’ve heard that I have not been myself lately. It was my madness that made me act with anger, as I did at your sister’s grave.” “I will receive your love as a brother,” Laertes agreed. “Choose your swords, then,” Claudius told them. One of the King’s men handed Laertes a sword. When he saw it was not the one with the poisoned tip, he said, “This one is too heavy. Let me see another.” Laertes was a bit nervous about carrying out the plan, but he took the poisoned sword. Then, he nodded to King Claudius. The match began and Hamlet got the first hit. Before they began the second round, Claudius held up a pearl – beautiful, but not real. “Hamlet, since you got the first hit, this is yours.” He dropped the pearl filled with poison into a cup of wine. “Come, have a drink.” Hamlet shook his head. “I’ll finish the match first. Set the cup aside.” They began another round, and once more Hamlet managed to succeed in getting a hit. “Here, Hamlet,” Gertrude said, “use my cloth to wipe your face.” She picked up the cup of poisoned wine and added, “I will drink to your good fortune!” “Gertrude, do not drink,” Claudius said quickly, but did not succeed in stopping her. “But, I will, Sir.” She took a long swallow of the wine, and then offered the cup to Hamlet. “I will drink when the match is ended,” repeated Hamlet.

“Come,” Hamlet said to Laertes, “let’s get on with the third round.” This time, their swords locked together and the round was said to be a draw. Then, without warning, Laertes struck Hamlet with his sword, to pierce his arm. He succeeded. The uncalled for attack moved Hamlet to anger, and he fought back fiercely. During the fighting, both men dropped their swords. Hamlet quickly reached down and picked up a sword. He still did not realize that the blade had a poisoned tip. “Stop them!” Claudius cried out. “They are both in a rage.” Hamlet glared at Laertes with anger, and struck at him, piercing his skin with the poisoned blade. At the same moment, the Queen fell from her chair. “Stop the fighting!” someone shouted. “Look after the Queen!” “What is the matter with the Queen?” Hamlet asked. “She faints when she sees blood,” Claudius said nervously. “No, no,” Gertrude murmured. “The drink, the drink! Oh, my dear Hamlet, I am poisoned!” “Such a foul deed!” Hamlet cried. “We must find who is responsible!” “Hamlet,” Laertes said in a voice low and weak, “the one who is responsible is right here. You, too, will soon die. Nothing in the world can save you now. You are holding a sword touched with poison. And this foul trick has been turned against me, for I’ve been pierced with the same poisoned sword. I lie here dying. Your mother has been poisoned. And the King is to blame for it all.” Horrified, Hamlet watched Laertes fall back with one last gasp. He looked down at the sword he held. “The sword tip is poisoned, too? Then, poison do your work.” Hamlet rushed

toward the King and plunged the sword into his heart. Then he grabbed the cup of wine.”Here, you foul Dane. Finish this drink!” Hamlet forced the poisoned wine into Claudius’ mouth. “Follow my mother in death.” At that moment, the sword dropped from his hand and Hamlet fell to the floor. From outside the castle there came the sound of marching and cannons firing. “It’s young Fortinbras,” one of the King’s men announced, “returning from Poland.” “I realize I’m dying,” Hamlet told Horatio. “The poison is working in my body. I think Fortinbras will now be made King of Denmark. Tell him I wish him well.” “Good night, sweet prince,” Horatio said softly. He watched the last breath slip from Hamlet’s mouth. When Fortinbras arrived at the castle, he was amazed to see so many dead bodies. “Such a scene belongs in a place of battle, not here in a castle.” “Move the bodies to the stage for all to see. I will tell you the sad story of how this castle came to look as if a battle had just taken place.” Horatio said this in a voice heavy with sadness. Fortinbras nodded and gave a command to one soldier, who then gathered others. “Four men shall carry Hamlet , for he fought as if he were a soldier. Had he lived to be crowned, he would have proved to be a true king. Fire the cannons to honor this dead prince!”

63

SC 403-30

Death at Elsinore COMPREHENSION CHECK

Preview Answer: c. Laertes ... Hamlet.

Choose the best answer. 1. When Hamlet says he is sorry for his anger, Laertes ____a. changes his mind about the fencing ____ match. ____b. says that he forgives Hamlet. ____c. strikes Hamlet with his sword. ____d. refuses to believe Hamlet. 2. First, Laertes is given the wrong sword. Then, Laertes asks for another and takes the poisoned sword. Next, ____a. King Claudius nods to Laertes. ____b. the fencing match starts. ____c. Hamlet strikes Laertes. ____d. Laertes nods to King Claudius. 3. Hamlet wants to finish the fencing match before ____a. killing the King. ____b. drinking the wine that Claudius offers __ to the Prince. ____c. poisoning his mother. ____d. Fortinbras returns. 4. __________ drinks the poisoned wine that __________ prepared to give Hamlet. ____a. Gertrude ... Claudius ____b. Gertrude ... Laertes ____c. Laertes ... Claudius ____d. Claudius ... Laertes 5. First, Hamlet gets two hits against Laertes. Then, the third round is a draw. Next, ____a. Hamlet hits Laertes a third time. ____b. the Queen falls from her chair. ____c. Claudius cries out to stop the match. ____d. Laertes strikes Hamlet’s arm with ____ the poisoned sword.

6. The King’s excuse for the Queen’s falling is that Queen Gertrude ____a. is ill. ____b. faints at the sight of blood. ____c. has drunk poison by mistake. ____d. cannot handle drinking wine. 7. Who is responsible for three of the deaths at Elsinore in this story? ____a. Prince Hamlet ____b. Fortinbras ____c. Laertes ____d. King Claudius 8. The last one to die in the castle is ____a. King Claudius. ____b. Hamlet. ____c. Laertes. ____d. Queen Gertrude. 9. Another name for this story could be ____a. “Revenge Comes to Elsinore.” ____b. “Hamlet’s Battle.” ____c. “Queen Gertrude’s Mistake.” ____d. “Good Night, Sweet Prince!” 10. This story is mainly about ____a. a fencing match. ____b. Fortinbras’ return from Poland. ____c. Hamlet and Laertes forgiving each ____ other. ____d. Hamlet finally taking revenge for his ____ father’s killing.

Check your answers with the key on page 67. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

64

SC 403-30

Death at Elsinore VOCABULARY CHECK anger

fought

nervous

pearl

realize

succeed

I. Sentences to Finish Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above. 1. “It makes sense that the first prize in the diving contest is a ____________________,” said Carol. 2. “Do you ____________________ how dangerous this job is?” the fire chief asked Michael. 3. Carl tried to control his ____________________ when he missed his plane by a few minutes. 4. Alfonso worked hard to ____________________ as a truck driver. 5. “Do you tap your fingers when you feel ____________________ ?” asked Cheryl. 6. “I’ve __________________ this cold for a week,” complained Joyce, “but it’s still not over!” II. Crossword Puzzle. Use the words from the box above to fill in the puzzle. Use the meanings below to help you choose the right answer: 2. 1.

6.

4.

3. 5.

DOWN 1. to understand clearly 2. a round, white bead found in underwater shells 3. struggled 5. to do well ACROSS 4. fearful or uneasy 6. the feeling that you have toward someone or something that hurt you

Check your answers with the key on page 72. This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

65

COMPREHENSION CHECK ANSWER KEY Lessons SC 403-21 to SC 403-30

QUESTION NUMBER

LESSON NUMBER

PAGE NUMBER

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

SC-21

c

b

d

b

c

a

a

c

d

b

10

SC-22

d

c

b

d

b

a

c

b

a

d

16

SC-23

c

c

b

d

c

b

c

b

a

d

22

SC-24

c

c

c

b

d

c

a

c

c

b

28

SC-25

d

a

d

d

a

d

d

b

a

c

34

SC-26

a

c

d

b

c

b

a

d

c

b

40

SC-27

b

d

a

b

d

d

b

a

b

a

46

SC-28

a

d

b

b

d

c

a

d

a

c

52

SC-29

c

d

b

d

b

c

d

d

b

b

58

SC-30

b

d

b

a

d

b

d

b

a

d

64

=

Inference (not said straight out, but you know from what is said)

=

Sequence (recalling order of events in the story)

=

Another name for the story

=

Main idea of the story

67

VOCABULARY CHECK ANSWER KEY Lessons SC 403-21 to SC 403-23 LESSON NUMBER

21

PAGE NUMBER

I. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 5.

22

prince figure Urge poison silence mood

II.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e d b f a c

17

Mad for Love? I. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

23

11

The Ghost Appears

disturb uneasy appearance upset doubt News

II.

A R D I S T U R B O

B P I O O H L I A R

E I P B B M R D S U

H N O E C S U P I P

A C I Y A U N E W S

rage insist gloomy perform murmur prison

I M O H T G A U E T

O O N A L E S N N W

D O U B T N Y A C E

F D I G U R E S E E

23

Actors at Elisinore I. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

V E S Z S R E Q L E

II. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

perform, c gloomy, d rage, e insist, f murmur, b prison, a 69

VOCABULARY CHECK ANSWER KEY Lessons SC 403-24 to SC 403-26 LESSON NUMBER

24

PAGE NUMBER

I. 1. speech 2. suffer 3. fade 4. meanwhile 5. persuade 6. hesitate

25

29

Deeper into Madness II. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

b a b a b b

35

The Play’s the Thing! I. 1. cheerful 2. mutter 3. stumble 4. blame 5. protest 6. gasp

II.

1.

P

2.

C H E E R F U L O

3.

B L

4.

M U T T E R E S

5.

G A S P M

6.

S T U M B L E

26

I. 1. natural 2. throne 3. scold 4. knee 5. encourage 6. scowl

70

41

Another Death II. 1. No 2. No 3. Yes 4. Yes 5. No 6. No

VOCABULARY CHECK ANSWER KEY Lessons SC 403-27 to SC 403-29 LESSON NUMBER

27

PAGE NUMBER

47

A Look of Dismay I. 1. dismay 2. disgust 3. responsible 4. glare 5. remind 6. forever

28

I. 1. skill 2. mumble 3. pirate 4. plunge 5. pain 6. court

29

53

Planning Revenge II. 1. False 2. False 3. True 4. True 5. False 6. False

59

Dreadful Happenings I. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

groan difficult shriek dreadful wail horrify

II. 1. wail, c 2. dreadful, a 3. horrify, f 4. shriek, d 5. difficult, e 5. groan, b

71

VOCABULARY CHECK ANSWER KEY Lessons SC 403-30 LESSON NUMBER

30

PAGE NUMBER

I. 1. pearl 2. realize 3. anger 4. succeed 5. nervous 6. fought

72

65

Death at Elsinore II.

2.

3.

P F 1. 4. 5. N E R V O U S R U E A U 6. C A N G E R G C L L H E I T E Z D E

PRONUNCIATION KEY The pronunciation of each word is shown just after the word, in this way: ab bre vi ate ( bre´ ve at). e

The letters and signs used are pronounced as in the words below. The mark ´ is placed after a syllable with primary or heavy accent, as in the example above. The mark ´ after a syllable shows a secondary or lighter accent, as in: ab bre via tion ( bre´ ve a´ sh n). e

b ch d

bad, rob child, much did, red

e e er

let, best equal, be term, learn

f g h

fat, if go, bag he, how

i i

it, pin ice, five

j k l m n ng

jam, enjoy kind, seek land, coal me, am no, in long, bring

t th TH

tell, it thin, both then, smooth

u u ü

cup, butter full, put rule, move

o o ô oi ou

hot, rock open, go order, all oil, voice house, out

v w y z zh

very, save will, woman young, yet zero, breeze measure, seizure

e

hat, cap age, face father, far fault, all air, care

e

a a ä â ã

represents: in about in taken in pencil in lemon in circus

p r s sh

paper, cup run, try say, yes she, rush

a e i o u