Question

Read the passage from Hamlet, Act I, Scene v. Hamlet: And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, Give me one poor request. Horatio: What is ’t, my lord? we will. Hamlet: Never make known what you have seen to-night. Which is the best definition of poor, as it is used in the passage? inexpensive meager pitiful unfortunate

Answer 1

The best definition for poor in the passage is meager.

In this scene, the ghost of King Hamlet and the young Hamlet interact, with the ghost telling Hamlet how he was murdered by his own brother, who than took his crown and position. He than asks Hamlet to take the revenge on his uncle for murdering his father and marrying his mother. Poor is used as to mean that his request is simple, not a big deal.

Answer 2

In this passage the use of poor can be a synonym of meager, which means simple, not a lot to ask. He just ask them to not confess what they saw, Hamlet talking to his father’s ghost, as simple as that.