HamletStudy Guide Questions, Act III
Scene 1
95. What question does Claudius have for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
96. Why do they say they cannot answer his question?
97. What does Rosencrantz report to Gertrude about the pastime he seems to enjoy?
98. What is the King’s response?
99. Why does Claudius request Gertrude leave? What are he and Polonius planning?
100. Why and how is Ophelia made bait by her father and Claudius as they spy on Hamlet and delve into his madness?
101. Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy is in scene 1. In a sentence or two paraphrase his main points.
102. According to Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, what prevents him from committing suicide?
103. What does Hamlet’s soliloquy reveal about his attitude toward avenging his father’s death (what specific misgivings does he have)?
104. Can we tell who hears Hamlet’s scene 1 soliloquy? Can we tell whether Hamlet is aware he’s being spied on? What difference would these performance choices make?
105. Describe Hamlet’s tone when he speaks to Ophelia.
106. Hamlet’s scene with Ophelia is often called the “nunnery” scene. What are two different meanings of “get thee to a nunnery”? What does each meaning tell us about Hamlet’s attitude toward Ophelia, Gertrude, and/or women in general?
107. What do the King and Polonius decide about Hamlet’s condition after eavesdropping on Hamlet and Ophelia?
108. What does Claudius plan to do?
Scene 2
109. What directions does Hamlet give to the three players? Why?
110. What job does Hamlet give to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? What does this show about Hamlet’s mood?
111. What is Hamlet’s opinion of Horatio? Use words and phrases from lines 59-79 to support your answer.
112. What job does Hamlet give to Horatio?
113. What is Polonius’ connection to the theater? Why do you suppose Shakespeare has him once act in a production of Julius Caesar?
114. How does Hamlet “play” with Ophelia? What does she note about Hamlet’s mood? Why is he probably feeling this way?
115. What barbs (insults) does Hamlet toss at Gertrude?
116. What is a “dumb show”?
117. What barb does Hamlet throw Ophelia’s way?
118. What poetic technique does Shakespeare utilize in the player king’s and queen’s speeches?
119. What does the player king say about love and success?
120. What does the player queen have to say about love and marriage?
121. “The lady doth protest too much, methinks,” is a very famous line. What does it mean?
122. What is the name of the play within the play? What is ironic about the name?
123. What verbal irony does Hamlet use with Claudius in lines 252-254?
124. How does Hamlet continue to “play” with Ophelia?
125. What does Hamlet mean by “What, frighted with false fire?” Why does he say this?
126. What do Hamlet and Horatio decide his reaction means?
127. What words let you know that Hamlet is satisfied with the play? Of what is he now confident?
128. What does Guildenstern report about Claudius’ reaction to the play?
129. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report about Gertrude’s response?
130. What message does Rosencrantz deliver from the Queen?
131. What analogy is Hamlet making between playing the pipe and Rosencrantz’s and Guildenstern’s relationship with him (what is he trying to say?) What does he mean by saying playing the pipe is as easy as lying?
132. How does Hamlet toy with Polonius?
133. How does Hamlet’s mood change when everyone leaves? What is Hamlet’s state of mind in lines 404-406?
134. How does he plan to treat his mother? Why does Shakespeare include an allusion to Nero?
135. What does he mean by “My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites”?
136. What is the role of the play within the play (“The Murder of Gonzago”) in the course ofHamlet? What, if anything, does Claudius admit by his reaction?
Scene 3
137. The King has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern prepare to do what? Why?
138. What is the irony of Guildenstern’s, “Most holy and religious fear it is to keep those many many bodies safe that live and feed upon your Majesty”?
139. What does Rosencrantz say about a king’s life (and death)?
140. How do their words reflect the Elizabethan belief in the Great Chain of Being?
141. What plan does Polonius make to spy on Hamlet?
142. The climax of the play is said to be the King’s soliloquy in lines 40-75. Is the King’s repentance sincere? How do we know one way or the other? Why would people say that this is the climax of the play?
143. What is the “it” Hamlet plans to do?
144. What reason does Hamlet give for not killing Claudius at his prayer, right there on the spot? What does this inability to kill Claudius say about Hamlet’s character?
145. When does Hamlet plan to kill Claudius? Why?
146. What is ironic about Hamlet’s not killing Claudius “at prayer”?
Scene 4
147. Why does Gertrude say, “Nay, then, I’ll set those to you that can speak”?
148. What reason does Hamlet give for not letting her leave?
149. How is Polonius killed? How is it accidental (what is Hamlet expecting to see when he pulls away the arras/curtain)?
150. Explain the following lines: “Peace! Sit you down and let me wring your heart; for so I shall if it be made of penetrable stuff; if damned custom have not brazed it so that it is proof and bulwark against sense.”
151. How does Hamlet contrast his father with his uncle?
152. Hamlet accuses Gertrude of which of the seven deadly sins?
153. What rank imagery does Hamlet use to further make his point to Gertrude? Is it effective?
154. What does Hamlet mean in his saying that Claudius “…is not twentieth part the tithe of your precedent lord”? (Warning! This problem involves TAKS math.)
155. What, if anything, does Gertrude admit?
156. Explain why Gertrude exclaims, “Alas, he’s mad!”?
157. Why does Hamlet believe his father is upset with him?
158. How do you know the Ghost has concern for Gertrude?
159. Why do you suppose Gertrude cannot see the Ghost (remember that a number of people have witnessed the Ghost—Horatio, Marcellus, Bernardo, Francisco)?
160. Why does the Ghost come back? What would be Shakespeare’s purpose for having the Ghost come back? (Think about the connection to the entire work.)
161. What does Hamlet tell his mother about his feigned (fake/pretended) madness? Does she believe him?
162. What does Hamlet ask her not to do?
163. In lines 179-186, Hamlet gives his mother some good advice about how to change a difficult bad habit. What is that advice?
164. For what does Hamlet repent?
165. Why does Hamlet call himself God’s “scourge and minister”? How does the accidental murder of Polonius further complicate Hamlet’s revenge?
166. Explain, “I must be cruel, only to be kind; thus bad begins and worse remains behind.”
167. What is the last thing Hamlet requests of Gertrude?
168. What does she promise Hamlet and why?
169. What is Hamlet’s opinion of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? What is the mandate (order) they bear?
170. How does Hamlet further insult Polonius, even in death?