Study Questions ACT 3

For FRIDAY finish the questions below and SHMOOP lessons "4" and "5" (these lessons cover Act 3)

Hamlet Act 3 Questions for Study
Act 3

Scene 1:

1. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to Polonius?
2. How does Claudius react when Polonius says, "…with devotion's visage, And pious action we do sugar o'er/ The devil himself"?
3. What plan do Polonius, Claudius and Ophelia now put into action?
4. What is the nature of Hamlet's soliloquy, lines 57-91?
5. What is Hamlet's main argument against suicide?
6. Why does Hamlet treat Ophelia as cruelly as he does? What has changed him?
7. What thinly veiled threat to Claudius does Hamlet voice, after he becomes of his hidden presence? (lines 148-150)
8. At the end of this scene, what does the King decide to do with Hamlet?

Scene 2:

9. What qualities in Horatio cause Hamlet to enlist his assistance?
10. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do?
11. Summarize what happens in the play-within-a-play.
12. Why, in line 233, does Hamlet refer to the play-within-a-play as "The Mouse-trap"?
13. What is the King's reaction to the play?
14. In lines 354-363, to what object does Hamlet compare himself? Why?
15. As Hamlet goes to his mother at the end of this scene, what does he admonish himself

Scenes three and four

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

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

3) List three important things about Claudius’ soliloquy.

a)

b)

c

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

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

Scene IV

1) Describe Polonius’ advice to Gertrude.

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

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.

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

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

King Hamlet

Claudius

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

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.”

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

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.

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