Hamlet Act 3 Questions for Study

Hamlet Act 3 Questions for Study

Act 3

Scene 1:

1. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to Polonius?

They think something is wrong and that he is up to something but Hamlet wont tell then what.

2. How does Claudius react when Polonius says, "…with devotion's visage, And pious action we do sugar o'er/ The devil himself"?

He has an aside where he confesses the guilt he is feel to himself and compares himself to whore who can’t hide behind her make up for the things that they have done.

3. What plan do Polonius, Claudius and Ophelia now put into action?

To spy on hamlet while he is talking to Ophelia.

4. What is the nature of Hamlet's soliloquy, lines 57-91?

Hamlet is trying to decide whether to kill his uncle or to just live with it.

5. What is Hamlet's main argument against suicide?

Hamlet says that There is no coming back from death and that he doesn’t really know what waits for him in the afterlife and doesn’t want to risk it.  

6. Why does Hamlet treat Ophelia as cruelly as he does? What has changed him?

After seeing his father’s ghost he said that he was going to act crazy and he also knows that Polonius is spying on him.

7. What thinly veiled threat to Claudius does Hamlet voice, after he becomes of his hidden presence? (lines 148-150)

“Those that are married already, all but one, shall live.” Hamlet was threatening the king's life and nobody elses.

8. At the end of this scene, what does the King decide to do with Hamlet?

Claudius plans to send Hamlet to England because he is starting to act crazy.

Scene 2:

9. What qualities in Horatio cause Hamlet to enlist his assistance?

Horatio has been Hamlets friend for a long and is not from Elsinore so he is not influenced by Hamlet's uncle and mother, also He knows about the ghost so he is one of the few people that would believe him.

10. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do?

Hamlet asked Horatio to watch his uncle during the play to see if he looked guilty, so that Hamlet knows whether or not to kill the king.

11. Summarize what happens in the play-within-a-play.

The king, Gonzago is sleeping in a garden and then his nephew pours poison into his ear and then marries the queen.

12. Why, in line 233, does Hamlet refer to the play-within-a-play as "The Mouse-trap"?

Because when the king shows his guilt during the play he would have walked right into Hamlet’s trap.

13. What is the King's reaction to the play?

Claudius freaked out, yelled for the lights to end the play, and left the room.

14. In lines 354-363, to what object does Hamlet compare himself? Why?

He compares himself to a recorder, because Guildenstern can’t play the recorger just like he can’t play Hamlet.

15. As Hamlet goes to his mother at the end of this scene, what does he admonish himself

Hamlet said that he is going to be very rude to his mother but will not kill her because it is his uncle he hates.

Scenes three and four

1) What does Claudius plan to do with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Hamlet?

He is sending Hamlet to England and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sent along to keep an eye on Hamlet.  

2) What is Polonius going to do while Hamlet speaks with his mother?

He is going to hide behind the tapestry in the queens chambers in order to listen in on Gertrude and Hamlet’s conversation.

3) List three important things about Claudius’ soliloquy.

a) He knows what he did was wrong and is feeling a tremendous amount of guilt about it.

b) He cannot pray for forgiveness because he does not regret killing the old king and doesn’t want to give up the things that he has gained which are kingship and Gertrude.

c) He wants to pray but he cannot give up what he has gained so he fears that he is going to Hell

4) Why is it odd that Hamlet sees the king praying?

Because Hamlet thinks that Claudius is praying while we know that the king cannot pray because he is not willing to give up what he has gained from his sin.

5) Why doesn’t Hamlet take this opportunity for revenge?

Hamlet believes that is he were to kill Claudius while he was praying he would go to Heaven, but Hamlet doesn’t want that so he decides to wait for a better moment.

Scene IV

1) Describe Polonius’ advice to Gertrude.

He told her that she needs to scold her son and tell him that his pranks are negatively effecting the king and queen.

2) What is the significance of the following quote: “How now, a rat? Dead! For a ducat, dead!

He knew that somebody was spying on him and his mother so he killed Polonius who was hiding behind the tapestry, people who spy on others are often referred to as rats.

3) What is odd about the following quote: A bloody dead; almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother.

He was saying that she was in on the murder of the old king even though the ghost said that it was Hamlet's uncle.

4) Why might Gertrude say, “What have I done, that thou dar’st wag thy tongue in noise so rude against me.”

She doesn’t understand why Hamlet would accuse her of murdering her husband.

5) What descriptions does Hamlet use to compare his father and his uncle?

King Hamlet: He was a gentleman, Curly hair, forehead of a greek god, very good a comanding people, and very agile.  

Claudius:  He is described as a mildew'd ear of corn.

6) What point does Hamlet make by comparing the men?

He is telling his mother that there is no comparison between his father and uncle and how badly she downgraded. .

7) What is disturbing about the following: Nay, but to live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed; stewed in corruption; honeying, and making love over the nasty sty.”

Just about everything because he is talking about the relations his mother is having with his uncle and how gross it was because his mother and father used to share that bed. It is also disturbing that he would say these things to his mother’s face.

8) What stops Hamlet’s ranting and raving at Gertrude? What does this figure tell Hamlet?

The ghost of his father appears and tells him to stop frightening his mother because the real person to blame in Claudius.

9) By the end of the act, Hamlet has made many statements about humanity, in general. Explain a few of his points. Do his opinions reflect his madness.

He gave the “To be or not to be” speech where he talked about whether or not to kill his uncle or if suicide was the answer to his problem. He also said that women who wear make up are dishonest and are responsible for driving men mad.   

10) Explain the differences between the ghost in Act I with the ghost in Act III. Why might these differences reflect Hamlet’s insanity?

In Act 1 the ghost was visible and anyone around could see him also he wants to get revenge for his death. In Act 3 the ghost appeared and Hamlet was the only one able to see it also the ghost told Hamlet not to be so rude to his mother and that the person to blame in Claudius. There probably wasn’t a ghost was Hamlets crazy way of easing up on his mother and focus on the real mission on hand.