What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to the king and queen about their success with Hamlet? | they have failed to find the reason for his madness |
What plan do the king and Polonius devise to test whether or not the cause of Hamlet’s conduct is love for Ophelia? | polonius places Ophelia where he and Claudius can observe a meeting between her and Hamlet |
Explain the contents of Polonius’ lines “We are oft to blame in this – Tis too much proved, –that with devotion’s visage / and pious action we do sugar o’er / The devil himself.” | people who appear religious are often hiding bad things |
What effect does this comment have on the king? | he agrees and implies his guilt”lash… give my conscience” |
In the famous “To be or not to be…” soliloquy what is it that Hamlet concludes? | he’s a coward and its his fear of the unknown that is stopping him from suicide |
Why does Hamlet assume madness in his interview with Ophelia and speak so harshly to her? | -she’s spying on him-he’s trying to act crazy-he’s trying to not get her tangled up in this mess; trying to protect her |
What advice does Hamlet give Ophelia? | to go to a nunnery or brothel; get away from here |
Explain lines beginning “I say, we will have no more marriages…” | No one who is single can get married. Everyone who is already married can stay married except one person (probably Gertrude and Claudius) |
What is the tone of Ophelia’s soliloquy? | upset; a mix of anger and sadness |
What does the king infer from Hamlet’s soliloquy and his words to Ophelia? | he isn’t in love with Ophelia and is not mad |
Why does the king fear Hamlet? | he thinks hamlet’s sadness is incubating something that could be dangerous |
What suggestion does Polonius make? | have the queen ask hamlet to share his feelings with her and if she can’t find out his secret then send him to England or do whatever you want |
What does Hamlet say the mission of the drama is? | to convey an important message |
Why does Hamlet speak to Horatio in the manner in which he does? | he wants Horatio to observe Claudiushe compliments Horatio’s stability- mixing emotion with reason |
What is the dramatic purpose of his speech? | present/set up his planrising action |
What does Hamlet say to Horatio about the play and his purpose in presenting it? | There is a scene that mimics the circumstances of his father’s deathasks Horatio to watch his uncle’s reaction |
What change is there in Hamlet after the king, queen, Polonius and Ophelia have entered? | he acts crazy |
What puns does Hamlet make in speaking to Polonius? | “it was a brute part”Polonius had played Caesar and Brutis killed him |
What is the plot of the play which is presented before the king and queen? | a murder done in vienna |
What is meant by “dumb-show”? | mime/ silent show |
What effect does the play have upon the king? | the king rises & leaves; the play is stopped |
What point in the ‘play within a play’ has been reached when Claudius reacts? | when the player king is murdered in his garden by his nephew |
When all have left except Hamlet and Horatio, how does the former act? | excited/ satisfied |
Do Hamlet and Horatio now accept entirely without any reservations the message of the ghost? | yes |
What request from the queen does Rosencrantz bring? | She wants to have a word with him in her bedroom before he goes to bed |
What metaphorical comparison does Hamlet make between Guildenstern and a player’s pipe? | he can’t play hamlet; he’s been trying to play hamlet when he can’t even play a pipe; playing a pipe is as easy as lying |
Of what does Hamlet charge Guildenstern? | lying and trying to manipulate him |
What is the emphasis of Hamlet’s soliloquy at the close of this scene? | he hopes he won’t be so angered as to kill his mother, only speak harshly |
What has been accomplished dramatically in this scene? | set up the climax |
In his soliloquy, what does the king reveal of the murder; what of his mental, moral condition? | he is plagued by guilt and shows remorse |
What are Hamlet’s reasons for not killing the king when he finds him alone, praying? Why is this terribly ironic? | if he kills him while praying he will go to heaven and Hamlet wants him to go to hellhamlets father wasn’t allowed to confess his sins |
Whom does Hamlet kill? Who did he think it was at first? | poloniusclaudius |
Why does Shakespeare cause Hamlet to kill at this time? | there is no going backhe knows that he can murder |
How does Hamlet chide his mother? | harshly for her part in the murder |
What description does he give her of her first husband? | a god |
Why does the ghost come? | to remind Hamlet that his real purpose is to avenge his father’s death |
Why does Gertrude think Hamlet’s words and conduct indicate insanity? | she can’t see the ghost that he is talking to |
What appeal does Hamlet make to his mother to reform? | don’t sleep with Claudius anymore |
What does Hamlet say to his mother concerning himself and his words to her? | don’t tell Claudius that he is plotting against him |
What does Hamlet say about his journey to England? | it is a plot against him; he will use their own plot against them |
What does he say about his purpose to circumvent the plot of the king? | he will counter violently |
To be, or not to be, that is the question | who spoke: hamletto whom: himselfsituation: hamlet is debating killing himself; right before he meets opheliameaning: is it better to be alive or dead? |
The glass of fashion and the mould of form, The observed of all observers | who spoke: Opheliato whom: herselfsituation: hamlet just spoke his cruel words to hermeaning: hamlet use to be a perfect figure that everyone admired and tried to imitate |
It out-herods Herod | who spoke: hamletto whom: the playerssituation: hamlet is telling the players how to behave; not to shout out their lines with unhumanlike emotionmeaning: making a tyrant sound too tyrannical is as bad as the plays in which king Herod ranted |
Suit the action to the word, the word to the action | who spoke: hamletto whom: the playerssituation:hamlet is telling the players how to behave; not to shout out their lines with unhumanlike emotionmeaning: act natural; don’t exaggerate |
The lady doth protest too much, methinks | who spoke: Gertrudeto whom: hamletsituation: they are watching the play and the woman is saying that she will never remarry after becoming a widow meaning: the lady is overdoing it/ being overly dramatical |
A king of shreds and patches! | who spoke: hamletto whom: his mothersituation: he is comparing Claudius to his fathermeaning: a ragtag/makeshift king |
…tis the sport to have the engineer Hoist with his own petard | who spoke: hamletto whom: the queensituation: hamlet is telling the queen that he will have to go to englandmeaning: it is fun to have someone’s plan backfire on them |
Hamlet Act 3
August 14, 2019