| what do Claudius and Gertrude ask Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlet? | They ask them what is making Hamlet crazy? |
| what is the tone of the conversation? | serious and ends on a positive note |
| are they loyal to Hamlet or the king and queen. | king and queen |
| how does Claudius react to news to play? | happy |
| how are Claudius and Polonius going to find out what Hamlet is up to? | they are going to use Ophelia to break up with Hamlet while hey hide and listen |
| what do you think Hamlet meant when he said, “conscience does make cowards of us all?” | He means that your conscience is your moral compass |
| with regard to Hamlet’s soliloquy “to be or not to be,” state the theme and summarize the content. | to live or not to live; he list reasons why life is difficult |
| where does Hanlet tell Ophelia to go? | A nunnery |
| why do you think Hamlet told Ophelia to go to a nunnery? | to make the king think he’s not crazy. |
| why is it so important to Hamlet that the lines he wrote be delivered exactly the way he wants them to be? | he needs to see Claudius’s reaction to see if he acts guilty |
| in what tone does Hamlet want the line he wrote to be delivered? | evil; dark |
| who does Hamlet tell Horatio to watch during the play? | Claudius |
| what will Hamlet and Horatio do after the play? | they are going to compare notes about Claudius’s reaction |
| who requests Hamlet’s company during the play? | his mom |
| why don’t Hamlet refuse to go see his mom? | he wants to go see Ophelia |
| describe the dumb show | slient preface |
| how does Hamlet treat Ophelia during the play? | he flirts with her and is crude/insulting |
| at what point is the play stopped and why? | when Claudius calls for light because he wants to end his guilt and also end the play. |
| do you think it made anyone suspicious when Claudius stopped the play? | most likely because Claudius seemed nervous and also because Hamlet asked Claudius things like, “why are you scared?” |
| why is the title Hamlet gives the play appropriate? | The Mouse Trap is appropriate because he trapped Claudius like someone would to a mouse |
| what is the dramatic importance of the play within the play? to what extent does it fulfill Hamlet’s purpos? | to see Claudius’s reaction. it also confirms that Claudius murdered King Hamlet. it showed Hamlet the truth. |
| why do you think Claudius sent for Hamlet after the play? | he knew that Hamlet knows about him killing Ling Hamlet. Claudius also called because he is angry and intimidated |
| why do you think Hamlet did not go to Claudius when he called for Hamlet? | Hamlet doesn’t go to show Claudius his power |
| why do you think Hamlet used an allusion to Nero? | to give himself a pep talk and say he will hurt his mother with words but not phsyically, unlike Nero who killed his mother. |
| what is Claudius’s meeting with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about? | it’s about them going accompanying Hamlet to England. |
| what does Polonius decide to do and why? why do you think this information was included here, in this scene where it does not seems to belong? | he’s going to easedrop on Hamlet and his mom’s conversation. this is here so the audience will know that Polonius is listening(dramatic irony) |
| when does the allusion to the sorry of Cain and abel show? | when Claudius spoke his soliloquy |
| why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius when he sees him? | he doesn’t want Claudius to go go to heaven since Claudius was praying |
| why is it ironic that Hamlet did not kill Claudius when he was praying. | because Claudius wasn’t actually praying |
| should Hamlet have killed Claudius at the end of scene three? | no |
| Polonius instructs Gertrude on how to handle Hamlet. do you think he has a right to do so? | no |
| what is Polonius’s advice to Gertrude? | he tells her to treat Hamlet strictly. |
| how does Polonius’s advice sound? | this is not good advice because they are both angry. |
| does Gertrude take Polonius’s advice? | she does take it at first but then Hamlet makes her upset. |
| how does the conversation between Hamlet and his mother go? | it goes horrible bad |
| cite reasons for considering that the murder of Polonius is the turning point of the play. | it’s the 1st death/murder; it complicates things betweenness Claudius, Gertrude, and Ophelia; it shows Claudius that Hamlet is a threat and dangerous. |
| how was Polonius’s death foreshawdowed? | the audience and Gertrude were the only ones that knew that Polonius was hiding behind the arras |
| why is Act 3 the climax of the play? | it’s the 1st death/murder and the play within the play let’s Hamlet know that Claudius is guilty. |
| why does the Ghost reappear in scene four? | he was making sure Hamlet would not kill his mother and he would focus on his original purpose |
| why does Hamlet think the Ghost has come? | because he hasn’t killed Claudius |
| why do you think Hamlet sees the ghost, but Gertrude does not? | he’s imaging the ghost or the ghost could be choosing the characters that can see him. |
| based on her conversations with Hamlet and what you know of her so far, why do you think Gertrude married Claudius after Hamlet Sr. died? | so she wouldn’t lose her position as queen |
| Hamlet says he trust Rosencrantz and Guildenstern “as i will added fanged.” adders are poisonous snakes. what is the effect of this analogy? | he’s saying tryst he can’t trust them. |
| explain how Shakespeare develops the dramatic irony of Hamlet’s madness in this act. | the audience and Horatio are the only people that know he’s faking his insanity. the people who don’t know are the people Hamlet needs to watch |
Hamlet Act 3: study guide
July 10, 2019