RALPH:  Shakespeare uses this first scene to describe for us the current situation at Elsinore castle.

SARAH:  Yes, Ralph, and it's a rather disturbing one. “Prince” Fortinbras of Norway is threatening to invade Denmark; and for three nights now, a ghostly apparition has appeared to the soldiers on guard duty.

RALPH:  But Shakespeare has also let us in on another significant fact about the court at Elsinore. Horatio just referred to the hero of our play as "young" Hamlet.

SARAH:  Not as King Hamlet. Apparently, when his father died, Prince Hamlet did not succeed him on the throne. Shouldn't Hamlet have become King?

RALPH:  That's interesting, Sarah. I suspect we'll find out more about this in the next scene.