| How does Polonius die? | Polonius is in the Queen’s room while she and Hamlet are talking. He hides behind the tapestry but makes some noise. Hamlet runs through the tapestry with his sword (actually thinking Claudius might be there), killing Polonius. |
| What would Hamlet have his mother do? | He wants her to at least not sleep with the King. |
| Why doesn’t Hamlet kill the King when the King is kneeling? | Hamlet wants the King to die without a chance for a last confession, as his father died. He thinks if the King is praying, he may not be in sin enough to get eternal punishment. |
| The King has Rosencrantz and Guildstern prepare to do what? Why? | He has them prepare to take Hamlet to England. Claudius is beginning to feel threatened by Hamlet, and he wants him away from Elsinore. In fact, he wants Hamlet dead. |
| Why does Hamlet give instructions to the players? | Hamlet does not eat the parts to be over-acted. He wants it to appear as natural and as real as possible so it will not hit home to the King. |
| What was the King’s reaction to the play, and what did Hamlet and Horatio decide his reaction meant? | The King got up and called for the lights. Hamlet and Horatio were convinced that the ghost was right, that Claudius had murdered King Hamlet. |
| What message do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern carry to the King? What is the King’s response? | They tell him Hamlet wishes the King and Queen to see the play. The King gladly accepts. |
| What do the King and Polonius decide about Hamlet’s condition after eavesdropping on Hamlet and Ophelia? | They decided he is not love-sick; rather, he has some other trouble deep in his soul. |
| Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be soliloquy is in scene one. In a sentence or two paraphrase his main points. | He is pondering whether a miserable life is better than the unknown of death. |
| What message does Rosencrantz deliver from the Queen? | He told Hamlet that the Queen wanted to see him. |
| Describe Hamlet’s tone when he speaks to Ophelia | He is really quite rude and aggressive. |
| Commingled | Blended. |
| Knavish | Unprincipled. |
| Contagion | Harmful or corrupting influence. |
| Sinews | Tendons; muscles. |
| Visage | The face or facial expression. |
| Piteous | Demanding or arousing pity. |
| Scourge | A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment. |
Hamlet Act III English IV
July 7, 2019