Hamlet Act 1 Scene 5 Close Reading Worksheet

This worksheet challenges high school readers to go beyond basic comprehension and practice close reading analysis skills while engaging with Act 1.5 of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Whether assigned as independent homework or a collaborative classroom activity, this formative assessment promotes learning accountability and prepares students for the rigors of advanced placement classes. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.

By engaging with this close reading analysis activity, students will:

• Identify the ghost’s purpose in appearing to Hamlet
• Explain how the act of murder violates natural and moral order in context
• Analyze how Shakespeare uses the theme of betrayal within families to explore moral corruption and divine justice
• Conduct brief research to clarify mythological or historical references that deepen meaning in Shakespeare’s text
• Consider the intended effect of direct description (e.g., the ghost’s disfigurement) on the audience
• Interpret how Horatio’s comments reflect his personality traits, such as caution, rationality, and concern for Hamlet’s sanity
• Explain how Shakespeare’s use of figurative comparisons (e.g., devils as pioneers) reinforces the play’s symbolic connections between sin, the underworld, and moral decay