Hamlet Questions: Act 3
You should always quote at least part a line from the play to support your answer Be sure to include line #s. The more effort / specific detail you put into these answers, the more you will get out of the play.
Scene 1
1. What line indicates that the king thinks that Hamlet may be faking his madness?
2. What does Polonius say that causes Claudius to speak his aside? What does his aside reveal about Claudius?
3. Summarize Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy.
4. What plans does Claudius have for Hamlet? Why?
5. What does Polonius think is the reason for Hamlet's madness? What plan does he concoct to prove his theory once again?
Scene 2
6. What does Hamlet request of Horatio? Why?
7. How does Hamlet’s behaviour at the play show he is still acting mad?
8. What content in the play should affect both Claudius and Gertrude’s consciences?
9. What is the king’s reaction to the play?
10. How does Hamlet use the recorders to make a point to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
11. Summarize Hamlet’s brief soliloquy on page 88.
Scene 3
12. Summarize Claudius’ soliloquy.
13. Why are Claudius’ last two lines of the scene important, given the reasons Hamlet just gave for not killing him?
Scene 4
14. What “rash and bloody deed” has Hamlet committed in this scene?
15. What does Hamlet try to make his mother understand in this scene?
16. Why do you think the ghost enters when he does?
17. What does Hamlet request of his mother after the ghost disappears?