HAMLET
ACT III
CharactersMatch each character’s name with his/her description.
_____1) Claudiusa) admits his guilt to the audience
_____2) Gertrudeb) poisons the Player King
_____3) Rosencrantzc) makes two credible attempts to avenge his father’s death
_____4) Guildensternd) bears witness to the king’s behavior
_____5) Poloniuse) scolds and is scolded by her son
_____6) Hamletf) dies behind a curtain
_____7) Opheliag) claims that, if widowed, she will never marry again
_____8) Horatioh) admits that he cannot play a musical instrument
_____9) Player Kingi) reports Hamlet’s interest in the players to the king and queen
_____10) Player Queenj) truly believes that Hamlet has been driven mad because of her rejection of him
_____11) Lucianusk) wonders whether his wife will be faithful to his memory after he dies
Scene 1
12) When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report Hamlet’s interest in the players to King Claudius, he encourages them to “drive his purpose on to these delights.” What type of irony does this scene represent? Why?
13) As Claudius and Polonius prepare to eavesdrop on Hamlet’s conversation with Ophelia, Queen Gertrude expresses her wish that
14) As Polonius asks Ophelia to pretend that she is sadly reading a book in her loneliness, he reflects on the dangers of deceit.
For the first time, ______admits his guilt in an ______.
15) In perhaps the most famous soliloquy in all of Shakespeare’s plays, Hamlet begins by asking himself whether or not he should choose between which two alternatives?
16) List at least 4 metaphors that Hamlet uses in his speech.
17) Explain the significance of this line: “ay, there’s the rub!”
18) What is the “undiscover’d country”?
19) Why does “conscience…make cowards of us all”?
20) At the end of his soliloquy, Hamlet sees Ophelia and greets her by asking her to do what on his behalf?
21) When Ophelia, out of obedience to her father, returns to Hamlet the love letters that he wrote
to her, he not surprisingly takes them as a ______of her rejection of him.
22) In what 3 ways does Hamlet unjustly proceed to insult Ophelia?
23) Name at least one word used by Hamlet that carries a double entendre or meaning. Explain.
24) In his parting words to Ophelia, Hamlet makes disparaging remarks about a few habits of women. What are these habits?
25) His last words to her also contain a veiled warning as to the fate of another character. Explain.
26) In her last lines in this scene, Ophelia creates for the audience a clear contrast between the man Hamlet was and the person he seems to have become. Describe this contrast.
27) What does Ophelia genuinely believe about her former suitor?
28) After secretly witnessing this exchange, the king tells Polonius that he intends to send his
nephew to ______.
29) On what point do the king and his faithful advisor politely disagree?
30) Interestingly (and ironically, given later events), it is Polonius who arranges a meeting
between ______and ______after the players’ performance
that evening.
31) Write the famous couplet that Claudius uses to end the scene.
Scene 2
32) Again, we see what evidence that Hamlet is a frustrated actor at the start of this scene?
33) Before the play begins, Hamlet quietly asks his trusted friend Horatio to do what?
34) To which character’s greeting does Hamlet give a nonsense answer?
35) In a brief conversation, Polonius tells Hamlet of playing the role of Julius Caesar many years ago as a young university student. Why do you think that Shakespeare may have included this information about Polonius, given your knowledge of Caesar?
36) Once again, Hamlet humiliates Ophelia in what way?
37) The players innocently deliver the lines Hamlet has written for them, and most of the audience members innocently enjoy the performance, but not everyone is amused. Who are Hamlet’s two targets? How is he attacking their consciences?
38) When Hamlet asks his mother how she is enjoying the play, Queen Gertrude delivers a famous line. Write it here and explain it.
39) What is the name of the play within a play?
40) What specific method does the player murderer employ? Why is this significant?
41) Why is the performance suddenly halted?
42) Why is Hamlet overjoyed?
43) When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern attempt to question him, Hamlet uses what analogy to criticize their clumsy efforts?
44)Before going in to speak to his mother, Hamlet alludes to Nero. Explain why he does so.
Scene 3
45)Which two characters will go with Hamlet to England?
46)Polonius once again suggests to the king that spying upon a conversation that Hamlet has with another character might be advantageous. Which character will have this conversation with Hamlet, and where will Polonius conceal himself?
47)In this scene, the king delivers a soliloquy in which he describes an agonizing moral dilemma. What is this dilemma? Does he resolve it? Explain.
48)In this scene, Hamlet delivers a soliloquy in which he expresses his clear intention to kill his uncle. However, he ultimately decides that this is not the right time to do so. What is his reason for needing to delay his revenge? Under what conditions does he feel that he will be able to kill his uncle at a later time? Do you agree with his rationale? Explain.
Scene 3
49)What offensive statement does Hamlet make to his mother that prompts her to begin to leave the room, probably in order to seek more severe judges (such as Claudius) for Hamlet’s rude behavior?
50)What is Hamlet’s reaction the prompts her to cry for help?
51)When Hamlet hears another voice calling for help behind the arras (curtain or tapestry), what does he do?
52)Hamlet actually accuses Gertrude of something she clearly has not done. Of what does he accuse her, and why do you think he does so?
53)What visual images does Hamlet use to make Gertrude feel guilty about her hasty remarriage to Claudius?
54)Which surprise character appears in this scene? Why does he do so?
55)Since Hamlet and the audience are equally surprised to see this character, his appearance is a good example of what type of irony?
56)The fact that Queen Gertrude is unaware of this character’s presence is a good example of what type of irony?
57)In line 157, Queen Gertrude eloquently expresses what type of conflict?
58)What two things does Hamlet ask her not to do?
59)Hamlet promises his mother that he will indeed bear responsibility for what act?
60) How does Hamlet imply that he will treat Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?