What are Hamlet’s directions to the players in lines 1-47? | To be a good actor, provide a reflection of real life, and show virtue. |
To whom in Shakespeare’s theater does Hamlet refer in line 11? | The audience |
In lines 49-50 Hamlet tells Horatio, “thou art e’en as just a man/ As e’er my conversation cope withal.” What does this mean? | Hamlet is telling Horatio he is a good, steady, and loyal man. |
In lines 52-70 Hamlet explains why his words are not meant to flatter Horatio. What does he mean? | Hamlet does not trust anybody except Horatio because he shows self-control and seems like a balanced person. |
Hamlet explains to Horatio that “There is a play tonight before the King. /One scene of it comes near the circumstance/ Which I have told thee of my father’s death.” What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do during the play? (lines 71-74) Why would they do this? | Watch Claudius to see if he makes any reaction. |
What does Hamlet hope to learn about the ghost through the play? (lines 77-83) | Whether the ghost is being the devil; that is, if the ghost is lying to them. |
What does Hamlet’s conversation with Ophelia show us about his mood before the play starts. | Anxious; excited |
The play begins with a dumb show. What is a dumb show? | When a story is acted out, without dialogue or words |
Who’s love is Hamlet referring to when answers Ophelia’s statement, “‘Tis brief, my lord’ with “As woman’s love”? | Queen Gertrude |
Beginning from line 146, the PLAYER king and queen tell each other how much they love each other. What do they discuss in lines 195-246? What does the King say the Queen will do? Does the queen agree? What does “None wed the second but who killed the first” (line 172) mean? | The Queen and King discuss what will happen when the King dies. The King says she will remarry; the queen disagrees. She means that only those who killed their first husband will marry again. |
When Hamlet asks Gertrude in line 223 how she likes the play so far, she responds, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” What does Gertrude mean? | The queen means that the Player Queen is being too dramatic. She may not mean what she says. |
In line 225, Claudius asks Hamlet whether the play contains, “…no offense in ‘t?”. What is Claudius worried about? How does Hamlet calm his fears? | The play might be offensive to the Queen. Hamlet says that it’s just fiction about a different family. |
In line 236, Ophelia tells Hamlet, “You are as good as a chorus, my lord.” What does she mean by this? | Hamlet is an expert commentator. |
Claudius rises after line 260? Why is he so upset? | Claudius feels guilty because the scene in the play shows his very actions. |
What conclusion did Hamlet and Horatio come to after watching the King’s reaction to the play? (lines 261-284) | Claudius seems guilty and the ghost seems to have been telling the truth. |
What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come to talk to Hamlet about, beginning at line 285? | Claudius’s anger and the Queen’s distress. |
What is Hamlet’s point about about Guildenstern’s being able to play a recorder or not? What is the recorder a metaphor for? (Lines 347-355) | Just like Guildenstern doesn’t know how to play a recorder, he doesn’t really know Hamlet and the whole story; he shouldn’t ‘play Hamlet’ for a fool. Hamlet is like a recorder to Guildenstern. |
In Hamlet’s soliloquy at the end of this scene, lines 370-381, what does Hamlet vow he will not do? | Physically harm her (he’ll only chastise her with his words) |
Hamlet Act 3 Scene 2
July 18, 2019