Hamlet Quotes Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Who said 'A little more than kin and less than kind'?

Hamlet

What does 'O, that this too too solid flesh would melt' refer to?

Suicide

What does Hamlet mean by 'seeming'?

He appears not to be depressed but actually is.

What does 'Frailty, thy name is woman' imply about Gertrude?

She is weak for marrying soon after her husband's death. Signup and view all the answers

Who advises Laertes to 'To thine own self be true'?

Polonius Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested by 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark'?

The chain of being is disturbed. Signup and view all the answers

Who claims 'The serpent that did sting thy father now wears his crown'?

Ghost Signup and view all the answers

What does Hamlet mean by 'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'?

Horatio has limited philosophical views. Signup and view all the answers

Who says 'And thus do we...by indirections find directions out.'?

Polonius Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Brevity is the soul of wit' mean?

To be brief is to be intelligent. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'The play's the thing' refer to in Hamlet's plan?

He will use a play to catch the king's guilt. Signup and view all the answers

What is recognized in 'though this madness, yet there's method in it.'?

Hamlet's intelligence is evident despite his apparent insanity. Signup and view all the answers

Who's statement is 'There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.'?

Hamlet Signup and view all the answers

What does 'What a piece of work is man, how noble in reason how infinite in faculty.' convey?

The complexity of human beings. Signup and view all the answers

What does Hamlet express in 'O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I'?

Self-hatred for not showing emotion. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested by 'To be or not to be'?

To live or to commit suicide. Signup and view all the answers

What does Ophelia imply with 'To the noble mind, rich wax poor when givers prove unkind.'?

His gifts now seem meaningless. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Get thee to a nunnery' imply when Hamlet speaks to Ophelia?

He accuses her of being promiscuous. Signup and view all the answers

What does Claudius mean by 'Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.'?

Leaders' insanity is dangerous. Signup and view all the answers

What is Hamlet looking for in 'Give me that man, that's not passion's slave'?

A man who is not swayed by emotions. Signup and view all the answers

Who comments 'the lady doth protest too much methinks'?

Gertrude Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'Why look you now how unworthy a thing you make of me!'?

Hamlet feels mocked by R and G. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'I will speak daggers but use none' signify?

He won't harm his mother. Signup and view all the answers

What does Claudius express in 'My words fly up, my thoughts remain below'?

His prayers are insincere. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Quotes from Hamlet

"A little more than kin and less than kind" - Hamlet reflects on his complex feelings toward Claudius, acknowledging their new familial relationship after Claudius marries Gertrude.
"O, that this too too solid flesh would melt" - A soliloquy revealing Hamlet's suicidal thoughts, expressing deep despair over his circumstances.
"Seeming" - Hamlet discusses his façade of normalcy with Gertrude, emphasizing his hidden depression.
"Frailty, thy name is woman" - Hamlet criticizes Gertrude's swift remarriage after King Hamlet's death, viewing it as a sign of weakness.
"To thine own self be true" - Polonius advises Laertes to remain true to himself as he prepares for departure, highlighting the theme of self-honesty.
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" - Marcellus indicates the moral and social corruption in Denmark following King Hamlet's death.
"The serpent that did sting thy father now wears his crown" - The Ghost reveals to Hamlet that Claudius murdered King Hamlet, instigating the central conflict.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Hamlet suggests that the supernatural and existential complexities exceed Horatio's understanding.
"And thus do we...by indirections find directions out." - Polonius instructs Reynaldo to gather intelligence on Laertes through discreet means.
"Brevity is the soul of wit." - Polonius emphasizes the value of being concise, ironically demonstrating his own tendency to be verbose.
"The play's the thing." - Hamlet plans to use a play to confirm Claudius's guilt regarding King Hamlet’s murder.
"Though this madness, yet there's method in it." - Polonius recognizes that Hamlet's madness contains underlying intelligence.
"There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." - Hamlet asserts that subjective interpretation shapes moral judgments.
"What a piece of work is man, how noble in reason how infinite in faculty." - Hamlet reflects on human capabilities and the struggle of dealing with humanity's complexity.
"O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I" - Hamlet expresses self-loathing for his lack of action in avenging his father's death.
"To be or not to be" - A pivotal soliloquy contemplating existence versus suicide, encapsulating Hamlet's internal conflict.
"To the noble mind, rich wax poor when givers prove unkind." - Ophelia perceives Hamlet's gifts as diminished due to his apparent lack of genuine affection.
"Get thee to a nunnery." - Hamlet harshly rebukes Ophelia, suggesting that she should avoid relationships and preserve her virtue.
"Madness in great ones must not unwatched go." - Claudius warns about the dangers posed by powerful individuals who exhibit signs of insanity.
"Give me that man, that's not passion's slave." - Hamlet seeks a rational companion in Horatio, who embodies calmness and reason.
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." - Gertrude remarks on an actor's overacting, hinting at her own inner conflicts about loyalty and sincerity.
"Why look you now how unworthy a thing you make of me!" - Hamlet confronts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, feeling belittled by their manipulations.
"I will speak daggers but use none." - Hamlet resolves to confront his mother harshly but without physical harm.
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below." - Claudius admits insincerity in his prayers, reflecting his inner guilt over his actions.

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Test your knowledge of key quotes from Shakespeare's Hamlet with these flashcards. Each card includes a notable quote, its context, and who said it, allowing you to explore themes and characters deeply.