Hamlet Act III Questions
Act 3
Scene 1
1. Explain TWO things Hamlet’s addresses in his “to be or not to be speech.”
2. How does Hamlet test Ophelia’s honesty in their encounter where she returns his love
letters?
3. After hearing the conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia what does the King decide to
do?
Scene 2
1. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do during the play?
2. Describe how Hamlet altered play within the play called “The Mousetrap.”
3. Why does Claudius become upset and leave the play?
Scene 3
1. Who wants to meet with Hamlet after the play?
2. Why does Hamlet not kill Claudius while he was praying?
Scene 4
1. Who was hiding behind the arras when Hamlet came to see his mother?
2. Hamlet commands his mother understand what she has done wrong but she
misunderstands his intentions and screams for help. What then happens when Polonius
calls out for help?
3. As Hamlet speaks harshly to his mother, the ghost reappears. What are Gertrude’s
thoughts as Hamlet addresses the ghost?
4. What does the ghost tell him?
5. How does Hamlet direct his mother’s behavior towards Claudius?
Additional Act III Questions
1. With regard to Hamlet’s soliloquy "To be or not to be", state the theme and summarize the
content.
2. What is the dramatic importance of the play within the play? To what extent does it fulfill
Hamlet’s purpose?
3. Should Hamlet have killed the King at prayer at the end of scene three and why?
4. Why does the Ghost reappear in scene four?
5. What are the reasons for considering that the murder of Polonius is the turning point of the
play?