Question

Read the passage.

excerpt from Act I, Scene 1, in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

In this excerpt, two guards meet.

Elsinore. A platform before the Castle.

[Francisco at his post. Enter to him Bernardo.]

Bernardo
Who's there?

Francisco
Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.

Bernardo
Long live the king!

Francisco
Bernardo?

Bernardo
He.

Francisco
You come most carefully upon your hour.

What is the most likely meaning of the phrase unfold yourself in this scene?

Answer 1

Which excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene i is a stage direction?

Enter to him BERNARDO.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Answer: The most likely meaning of this phrase is "reveal yourself"

Step-by-step explanation:

The meaning of the verb 'to unfold' is 'to reveal.' This verb was frequently used by Shakespeare in his plays. In Act I, Scene I of Hamlet, we have one more instance of this verb:

"Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing

To what I shall unfold. "

This line is uttered by the ghost of Hamlet's father, which tells Hamlet not to pity it, but listen to what it is about to reveal.

In the excerpt given above, Francisco is asking the other speaker (Bernardo) to 'reveal himself.'