Here is a list of "Firsts" achieved in the presentation of Hamlet on this Hamlet (Regained) website.
Hamlet (Regained) is the first published presentation of Hamlet to:
- Provide a "simplified modern English" translation of the entire play, faithful to the meaning of the original.
- Reasonably give all the Scene settings.
- Fully appreciate the great amount of ambiguity, allusion, and undertone intentionally written into the play.
- Provide a valid, detailed timeline for the play.
- Demonstrate that the Second Quarto version of Hamlet was especially written as closet drama.
- Point out the relevance of some historical tarot card illustrations to certain passages.
- Properly explain the entry stage directions in the Second Quarto.
- Show that all of the entries and exits are correct as they were originally printed in the Second Quarto.
- Identify the correct usage of titles of address in the play.
- Identify the association between Queen Gertrude and Saint Gertrude of Nivelles.
- Correctly explain why Gertrude married Claudius.
- Explain what happened to Reynaldo.
(Scene 1)
- Correctly explain why Francisco mentions a mouse.
- Correctly interpret Barnardo's word "rivals."
- Reasonably explain "sleaded."
- Correctly explain "toils the subject."
- Correctly explain "unimproved mettle."
- Adequately explain the significance of the spelling "Romeage."
- Identify "moth" as the correct word in the playtext.
- Reasonably explain the "As stars . . ." lines.
- Sensibly explain "our climatures."
- Correctly explain the Ghost spreading its arms.
- Explain the significance of "russet mantle."
- Correctly account for "Eastward."
(Scene 2)
- Correctly interpret "gate."
- Correctly interpret "levies," "lists," and "proportions."
- Correctly interpret "subject.
- Correctly explain "delated"/"dilated."
- Correctly interpret Claudius's "suit . . . beg" speech to Laertes.
- Correctly interpret "best graces."
- Correctly explain the "clouds" figure of speech.
- Correctly explain "cooled mother."
- Adequately interpret "chapes."
- Correctly interpret "devote."
- Correctly interpret "unprevailing."
- Correctly interpret "impart toward you."
- Adequately explain "sallied."
- Adequately explain the "everlasting . . . slaughter" lines.
- Explain "seale."
- Explain "wary."
- Correctly interpret "merely."
- Correctly interpret "see you well."
- Correctly interpret "change that name."
- Correctly interpret Horatio's use of "season."
- Correctly interpret Hamlet's use of "loves."
- Explain "fond" as the correct word in the text.
(Scene 3)
- Establish Q2 "convey, in" as correct in the text.
- Correctly interpret "suppliance."
- Correctly interpret "main voice."
- Correctly interpret "Contagious blastments."
- Correctly interpret "reed."
- Adequately interpret "Look thou character."
- Correctly interpret "courage."
- Correctly interpret "chief in that."
- Correctly interpret "love oft' loses."
- Correctly explain "crack the wind."
- Correctly interpret "almost all the holy vows of heaven."
- Correctly interpret "light than heat."
(Scene 4)
- Explain "shroudly."
- Correctly explain "swaggering upspring reels."
- Adequately interpret "fortune's star."
- Point out the later significance of "dram of evil."
- Correctly interpret "fools of nature."
- Correctly interpret "reaches of our souls."
- Correctly interpret "beetles o'er his base."
- Explain the significance of the cliff that "beetles o'er his base."
- Identify "imagion" as the correct word in the playtext.
(Scene 5)
- Explain the "virtue . . . garbage" lines.
- Demonstrate that "truepenny" is an intentional reference to Ralph Roister Doister.
- Give a correct explanation of the "Swear" passage.
- Explain the "strange . . . stranger" lines, in allusion to RRD.
- Correctly explain "antic disposition," and its (minor) significance.
- Correctly interpret "encumbered thus."
(Scene 6)
- Identify and present Hamlet's "bad dream."
- Correctly interpret the stage direction phrase "or two."
- Correctly interpret the consequences of Polonius's instructions to Reynaldo.
- Point out the amusement in "means, and where they keep."
- Correctly interpret "assault."
- Correctly interpret "Observe his inclination in yourself."
- Correctly interpret "ply his music."
- Correctly explain Hamlet's appearance and behavior that Ophelia describes.
- Correctly interpret "fouled."
- Correctly interpret "I am sorry . . ."
- Correctly interpret "coted."
- Adequately interpret "wrack thee."
- Correctly interpret "cast."
- Correctly interpret "hate."
(Scene 7)
- Explain the significance of the names of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
- Point out that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern personify the colors red and gold.
- Correctly interpret "hasty."
- Point out the amusement in "feet . . . commanded."
- Correctly explain why Ophelia is absent.
- Correctly interpret Polonius's "soul . . . King" lines.
- Correctly interpret the "your son's" exchange.
- Point out the irony of "brother Norway."
- Correctly interpret "our first."
- Properly explain "falsly borne in hand."
- Correctly explain "threescore thousand crowns."
- Correctly interpret "read, Answer, and think."
- Adequately interpret "expostulate."
- Correctly interpret Polonius's "mad" speech.
- Correctly interpret "foolish figure."
- Correctly explain "beautified . . . vile phrase."
- Correctly explain Polonius's handling of the letter.
- Correctly interpret "more about."
- Adequately interpret "center."
- Correctly interpret "dead dog."
- Correctly interpret "good kissing carrion."
- Properly interpret "harping."
- Correctly interpret "Between who?"
- Adequately interpret "old as I am."
- Adequately interpret "Into my grave."
- Explain "sanctity."
- Explain "leave him and my daughter."
- Correctly explain why Polonius speaks to R & G.
- Correctly interpret "extent."
- Explain why "lap" is authorial.
- Correctly interpret "bad dreams."
- Adequate interpret "out-stretched heroes."
- Adequately interpret "to the court."
- Adequately interpret "Anything but to the purpose."
- Adequately interpret "have an eye of you."
- Correctly interpret "molt no feather."
- Correctly interpret why Hamlet makes his "I have of late . . ." speech.
- Correctly interpret Hamlet's "I have of late . . ." speech.
- Adequately interpret the "King . . . Knight . . . Lover" speech.
- Correctly interpret "sere."
- Correctly interpret "black verse."
- Adequately interpret "late innovation."
- Correctly interpret "rusty" ("resty.")
- Correctly interpret "on the top of question."
- Adequately interpret "this garb."
- Correctly interpret "North North west . . . Southerly."
- Correctly and comprehensively explain "hawk . . . handsaw."
- Adequately interpret "law of writ, and the liberty."
- Adequately interpret "Jephthah."
- Adequately interpret "first row."
- Correctly interpret "friendly falconers."
- Correctly interpret "cried in the top."
- Correctly interpret "discretion."
- Point out the significance of "rack . . . speechless."
- Correctly interpret "follies."
- Correctly interpret "barbers . . . beard."
- Correctly interpret "mobled."
- Correctly interpret "old friend."
- Identify the "dozen or sixteen lines" Hamlet wrote for the 'Mousetrap Play.'
- Correctly explain "mock him not."
- Adequately interpret "region kites."
(Scene 8)
- Correctly explain "grating . . . lunacy."
- Adequately interpret "closely."
- Adequately interpret "Affront."
- Correctly interpret "gracious."
- Correctly interpret "bestow."
- Correctly interpret "exercise."
- Correctly interpret "sugar o'er."
- Adequately interpret "devotion's visage . . . devil, himself."
- Adequately interpret "To be, or not to be . . ."
- Adequately interpret "To sleep, perchance to dream."
- Correctly interpret "coil."
- Adequately interpret "fardels."
- Adequately interpret "Nymph . . . orisons . . ."
- Correctly interpret "this many."
- Correctly interpret Hamlet's behavior in the Nunnery Scene.
- Correctly interpret "rich gifts."
- Correctly interpret "once."
- Correctly identify and interpret "evocutate."
- Adequately interpret "nunnery."
- Adequately interpret "breeder of sinners."
- Correctly interpret "Where's your father?"
- Correctly interpret "At home."
- Adequately interpret "calumny."
- Adequately interpret "marry a fool."
- Adequately interpret "monsters."
- Correctly interpret "heard of."
- Correctly interpret "gig."
- Identify the significance of "lisp."
- Adequately interpret "wantonness ignorance."
- Correctly interpret "no more on't."
- Correctly interpret "Courtier's . . . sword . . ."
- Correctly interpret "unmatched."
(Scene 9)
- Adequately interpret "judicious . . . one."
- Correctly interpret "tardy."
- Correctly interpret "barren."
- Adequately interpret "candied tongue."
- Adequately interpret "clowns . . . ambition."
- Account for the exact positioning of Horatio's entrance in Q2.
- Correctly interpret "comedled" (comedlied.)
- Correctly interpret "detected."
- Identify the speech prefix error for "...they stay upon your patience."
- Correctly interpret the "lie in your lap" passage.
- Correctly interpret why Hamlet speaks to Ophelia as he does.
- Correctly interpret "twice two months."
- Correctly interpret the "devil . . . sables" lines.
- Correctly interpret "hobby-horse."
- Correctly interpret "harsh awhile."
- Adequately interpret "munching Mallico (malhecho.)"
- Correctly interpret "cannot keep."
- Identify the stanza structure of the 'Gonzago' play.
- Correctly interpret "For women fear too much . . ."
- Correctly interpret "Wormwood."
- Identify the "King's Sonnet."
- Adequately interpret "seasons."
- Correctly explain "break it now."
- Adequately interpret "beguile."
- Correctly interpet "keep her word."
- Adequately interpret "galled jade."
- Correctly interpret the Lucianus passage.
- Correctly interpret "Nephew."
- Adequately interpret "damnable faces."
- Adequately interpret "Gonzago."
- Adequately interpret "Damon."
- Correctly interpret "likes it not."
- Adequately interpret "stare."
- Correctly interpret "I cannot."
- Adequately interpret "We" and "us."
- Adequately interpret "ten times our mother."
- Correctly interpret "trade."
- Correctly interpret "bar the door."
- Adequately interpret "lack advancement."
- Adequately interpet "musty."
- Adequately interpret "recover the wind."
- Adequately interpet "well understand that."
- Correctly interpet "fret me not."
- Correctly interpret the "Cloud Talk" passage.
- Adequately interpret "fool me."
- Correctly give the exits of Polonius, R & G, Horatio, and the Players.
- Observe the twelve lines of Hamlet's speech, and why.
- Correctly interpet "yawn."
Scene 10
- Identify the presence of Hamlet at the beginning of Scene 10.
- Properly interpret "viage."
- Correctly interpret "as you said . . ."
- Adequately interpret "offense is rank."
- Adequately interpret Claudius's soliloquy.
- Correctly interpret "will."
- Correctly interpret "thicker."
- Point out the red and gold idea in "Offense's gilded hand."
- Correctly interpret "show."
- Correctly interpret "teeth and forehead."
- Correctly explain Hamlet's entry.
- Conclusively identify the Folio error "pat."
- Correctly interpret "revenge."
- Correctly interpret "scand" (scant.)
- Adequately interpret "sole son."
- Correctly interpret "audit stands."
- Adequately interpret "seasoned."
- Adequately interpret "stays."
- Point out the true irony of the Scene conclusion.
Scene 11
- Correctly interpret Hamlet's entry in Q2.
- Correctly interpret the Closet Scene.
- Identify where Hamlet draws his sword in the Closet Scene.
- Correctly interpret "speak."
- Adequately interpret "glass . . . inmost."
- Correctly interpret "murder me."
- Adequately interpret "what ho."
- Correctly explain the action at Polonius's death.
- Correctly interpret "Is it the King?"
- Correctly interpret "As kill a king?"
- Correctly interpret "wretched, rash . . ."
- Correctly interpret "better."
- Correctly interpret "brasd" (braced.)
- Adequately interpret "heaven's face."
- Correctly interpret "solidity and compound."
- Plausibly explain "heated" versus "tristful."
- Adequately interpret "That roars so loud . . ."
- Correctly interpret "Index."
- Correctly interpret the use of the pictures.
- Identify the significance of "a heave, a kissing hill."
- Adequately interpret "mildewed ear."
- Tell how to perform "Ears without hands, or eyes."
- Tell how to perform "smelling sans all."
- Adequately interpret "shame . . . blush."
- Explain the significance of "youth."
- Tell how to perform "charge."
- Adequately interpret "speak no more."
- Correctly interpret "very eyes."
- Adequately interpret "inseamed."
- Correctly interpret "love . . . sty."
- Correctly interpret "daggers."
- Correctly interpret "a murderer and a villain."
- Correctly interpret "No more."
- Correctly explain why the Ghost appears.
- Explain the Ghosts's costuming.
- Correctly explain why Gertrude can't see or hear the Ghost.
- Adequately interpret "shreds and patches."
- Correctly interpret "tardy . . . lapsed."
- Correctly interpret "O say."
- Adequately interpret "step between."
- Correctly interpret "Conceit . . ."
- Adequately interpret "soldiers in the alarm."
- Correctly interpret "steals away."
- Adequately interpret "reword."
- Adequately interpret "confess . . . Repent."
- Adequately interpret "my virtue."
- Adequately interpret "cleft my heart."
- Adequately interpret "assume a virtue."
- Correctly interpret "That monster custom . . ."
- Adequately interpret "same Lord."
- Adequately interpret "bestow."
- Adequately interpret "answer well."
- Correctly interpret "What shall I do?"
- Correctly interpret "wanton."
- Point out the significance of "mouse."
- Correctly interpret "For who that's but a queen . . ."
- Correctly interpret "basket . . . birds . . . ape."
- Adequately interpret "break your own neck."
- Correctly interpret "Be thou assured . . ."
- Explain how Hamlet knows of the trip to England.
- Correctly interpret "Alack!"
- Correctly interpret "neighbor room."
- Adequately interpret "foolish prating."
- Correctly interpret "draw toward an end."
Scene 12
- Describe what really happens in the scene change from Scene 11 to 12 (Act 3 scene 4 to Act 4 scene 1.)
- Adequately interpret "profound heaves."
- Adequately interpret "You must translate."
- Adequately interpret "draw apart."
- Adequately interpret "ore . . . mineral."
- Correctly interpret "weeps."
- Adequately interpret "countenance and excuse."
- Adequately interpret "wisest friends."
Scene 13
- Adequately interpret "dust."
- Adequately interpret "mine own."
- Adequately interpret "replication."
- Correctly interpret "knavish speech."
- Correctly interpret "body . . . King . . . thing . . . nothing."
Scene 14
- Adequately interpret "distracted multitude."
- Correctly explain the various entries.
- Adequately interpret "bestowed."
- Adequately interpret "nose him."
- Adequately interpret "tender."
- Correctly interpret "for England?"
- Correctly interpret "cherub."
- Correctly interpret "mother."
- Correctly interpret "Danish sword."
- Correctly interpret "coldly set."
Scene 15
- Adequately interpret "in his eye."
- Identify the satire in the Captain's speech.
- Correctly identify the "little patch of ground."
- Adequately interpret "ranker."
- Correctly interpret "debate."
- Adequately note R & G's behavior.
- Adequately interpret "eggshell."
- Correctly interpret "at the stake."
- Correctly interpret "twenty thousand."
- Adequately interpret "continent."
Scene 16
- Identify the "Gentleman."
- Correctly explain "importunate."
- Correctly interpret "There's tricks in the world."
- Correctly interpret "botch the words up."
- Correctly interpret "in ill-breeding minds."
- Correctly explain "To my sick soul . . ."
- Correctly interpret "toy."
- Correctly explain Ophelia's behavior.
- Correctly interpret "sendal shoon."
- Correctly interpret "mark."
- Correctly interpret "Oh ho!"
- Adequately interpret "larded."
- Correctly interpret "not."
- Correctly interpret "dild."
- Correctly interpret "owl . . . daughter."
- Correctly interpret "God be at your table."
- Correctly interpret "no words of this."
- Correctly interpret "oath . . . end."
- Adequately interpret "Saint Charity."
- Adequately interpret "Quoth she . . . bed."
- Correctly interpret "good counsel."
- Adequately interpret "coach . . . good night, ladies."
- Adequately interpret "single spies."
- Adequately interpret "batallions."
- Correctly interpret "greenly."
- Correctly interpret "in secret."
- Correctly interpret "in clouds."
- Correctly interpret the Messenger's behavior.
- Adequately interpret "impiteous."
- Adequately interpret "riotous head."
- Point out the significance of "The doors are broke."
- Adequately interpret "Antiquity . . . word."
- Adequately interpret "pelican."
- Correctly interpret "sensibly."
- Adequately interpret "level."
- Correctly explain the "noise within."
- Correctly interpret "Let her come in."
- Adequately interpret "bare-faced."
- Correctly interpret "dove."
- Correctly interpret "a down" and "a down a."
- Correctly interpret "false steward . . . Master's daughter."
- Correctly interpret the flowers.
- Correctly interpret "fitted."
- Correctly interpret "bonny sweet Robin."
- Correctly interpret "Flaxen was his poll."
- Adequately interpret "cast away moan."
- Adequately interpret "deny me right."
- Correctly interpret "wisest friends."
Scene 17
- Identify the Gentleman.
- Correctly interpret "bless thee too (two.)"
- Correctly assign the sailors' speeches.
- Adequately interpret "overlooked this."
- Adequately interpret "two days old."
- Correctly interpret "thieves of mercy."
- Correctly interpret "bord."
- Correctly interpret "So . . . thine."
- Adequately interpret "I will you way."
Scene 18
- Adequately interpret "stirred."
- Adequately interpret "the Queen his mother."
- Adequately interpret "virtue or my plague."
- Adequately interpret "general gender."
- Adequately interpret "dipping."
- Adequately interpret "the spring . . ."
- Adequately interpret "so loved Armed."
- Correctly interpret "terms."
- Adequately interpret "challenger."
- Correctly interpret "mount."
- Adequately interpret "beard be shook."
- Correctly interpret "Claudio."
- Adequately interpret "character."
- Correctly interpret "Naked."
- Correctly interpret "devise."
- Adequately interpret "Thus didst thou."
- Correctly interpret "siege."
- Adequately interpret "weeds."
- Adequately interpret "graveness."
- Correctly interpret "two months."
- Note the significance of "brooch" and "gem."
- Adequately interpret "confession."
- Adequately interpret "scrimures."
- Adequately interpret "painting of a sorrow."
- Adequately interpret "face without a heart."
- Adequately interpret "virtue . . . moon."
- Adequately interpret "shape."
- Correctly interpret "preferred."
- Explain why it's Gertrude who announces Ophelia's death.
- Adequately interpret "O where?"
- Adequately interpret "make."
- Correctly interpret the flowers in Ophelia's Death Garland.
- Correctly interpret "cull-cold."
- Adequately interpret "indewed" (endued.)
- Correctly interpret "our trick."
Scene 19
- Correctly identify the Clowns.
- Adequately interpret "three branches."
- Correctly interpret "or all."
- Adequately interpret "delver."
- Adequately interpret "crowner's quest."
- Identify the importance of "Will you have the truth . . ."
- Adequately interpret "even Christen."
- Adequately interpret "hold up."
- Adequately interpret "mason," "shipwright," and "carpenter."
- Explain "Yaughan."
- Correctly interpret "soope" (soup.)
- Adequately interpret "trick."
- Adequately interpret "rude."
- Adequately interpret "box."
- Adequately interpret "thou liest in it."
- Correctly interpret "absolute."
- Correctly interpret "this three years."
- Adequately interpret "galls his kibe."
- Correctly interpret "Of the days [dates] in the year."
- Correctly interpret "very day" (date.)
- Adequately interpret "strangely."
- Correctly interpret "thirty years."
- Correctly interpret "sixeteene."
- Correctly interpret ". . . lie in the earth ere he rot."
- Adequately interpret "whoreson dead body."
- Correctly interpret "23 years."
- Correctly interpret the name "Yorick."
- Adequately interpret "abhorred."
- Adequately interpret "favor."
- Correctly interpret "smelt so."
- Explain where the sexton Clown goes.
- Adequately interpret "noble youth."
- Correctly interpret "Lay her in the earth."
- Correctly interpret "priest."
- Correctly interpret the location of Ophelia's body on stage.
- Correctly interpret "emphasis."
- Adequately interpret "the Dane."
- Correctly interpret the scuffle between Hamlet and Laertes.
- Adequately interpret "Woo't weep," and "woo't fight."
- Adequately interpret "eisel" and "crocodile."
- Correctly interpret "mere madness."
- Adequately interpret "dove."
- Adequately interpret "sit drooping."
- Adequately interpret "cat" and "dog."
- Correctly interpret the various exits.
Scene 20
- Adequately interpret Hamlet's unease aboard ship.
- Adequately interpret "bilbo."
- Adequately interpret "fingered."
- Adequately interpret "goblins."
- Adequately interpret "comma."
- Adequately interpret "those bearers."
- Correctly interpret why Hamlet has a clear conscience about the fates of R & G.
- Adequately interpret "image . . . portraiture."
- Adequately interpret "count his favors."
- Explain why the Courtier isn't called "Ostrick" at first.
- Identify the historical illustration of Ostrick, wearing his amazing hat.
- Explain "humble thank."
- Correctly interpret the action with the hat.
- Correctly explain "hot" and "cold."
- Adequately interpret "or my complexion."
- Adequately interpret "cannot tell how."
- Correctly interpret "remember."
- Correctly interpret "another tongue."
- Adequately interpret "card" and "calendar."
- Correctly interpret "definement . . . perdition."
- Adequately interpret "meed."
- Adequately interpret "Poynards" in Q2.
- Adequately interpret "carriages."
- Adequately interpret "liberal conceit."
- Correctly interpret "twelve for nine."
- Correctly interpret "if I answer, no?"
- Adequately interpret "breathing time of day."
- Adequately interpret "odd hits."
- Adequately interpret "lapwing runs away."
- Adequately interpret "did so, sir . . ."
- Correctly interpret "histy collection."
- Correctly interpret "through and through."
- Correctly interpret "profane and winnowed."
- Correctly interpret "of aught he leaves."
- Adequately interpret "weaker side."
- Correctly interpret "quit . . . third exchange."
- Correctly explain the "onyx."
- Explain when the cannons fire, and the effect thereof, outside.
- Correctly explain the "pearl."
- Adequately explain "sounds."
- Adequately explain the handling of the foils.
- Explain why the spectators don't interfere.
- Adequately explain "but hurt."
- Explain how Claudius drinks the poisoned wine without being forced.
- Adequately explain "o'er-crows."
- Correctly interpret "solicited."
- Adequately interpret "vantage."
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(Regained)
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