Name:
Period:
Hamlet: Act III Summary
3.1 Focus: appearance vs. reality—the world and what it’s really like. Women are
_____________, although they appear to be faithful. Hamlet’s rantings and Ophelia’s
reaction to his rantings.
a.
The King describes Hamlet’s behavior as “___________ and dangerous
lunacy” line 4.
b.
Rozencrantz and ____________ say that Hamlet won’t say what’s wrong,
but he does admit there is something on his mind. They report he is happy that the
____________ is in town and they will put on a play tonight and the King and Queen
are invited.
c.
The Queen leaves because Ophelia is there and the King and Polonius are
going to ___________ to see if Hamlet really is “mad” for Ophelia.
d.
“To be or not to be” ___________, and then he finally sees Ophelia.
e.
Ophelia says she has “_______________” she wants to return to him.
Hamlet says he never gave her anything and that he never loved her. She says she was
deceived and he tells her to “get thee to a ___________” line 120. He wants to isolate
her from the world’s corruption (the world appears fine, but in reality it is corrupted).
Hamlet talks poorly of marriage and unfaithful _________ (like his mother?) He says
talking of ______________ has made him “mad.” Line 145.
f.
Ophelia is distraught at Hamlet’s state of mind and madness.
g.
The king says it appears that Hamlet is not in love with Ophelia, but
something is wrong. He’s dangerous. He plans to send Hamlet to ______________.
The trip and change of scenery should “fix” him.
h.
___________ still thinks Hamlet is love sick, but he does think the king’s
plan is a good one.
i.
Polonius says that they should have the __________ talk to Hamlet and try
to get her to find out what is wrong with Hamlet. Polonius will eavesdrop on that
conversation and report back to ___________. If the queen can’t, they should send
_________ to England as planned.
j.
The king says that the ___________ who are mad are ones that should be
watched…
3.2 Focus: Foreshadowing of ______________ death, Hamlet’s comments about
women and his mother, Hamlet’s reaction to R & G “playing” him. Lines 366-378
soliloquy is like Macbeth’s Dagger soliloquy.
b. Lines 51-82—Hamlet tells __________ he’s lucky he’s moderate and then tells him of
his plan w/ the play and asks Horatio to watch the king. Horatio agrees.
c. Hamlet mentions Polonius’s acting—he played _____________ in college—a
foreshadowing of his ___________…
d. Sexual double-entrandres between Hamlet and ___________. Hamlet, yet again, has
nasty words for his mother lines 116-119.
e. ___________ show begins. Hamlet asks his mother what she thinks so far. Line 218
“The lady doth ____________ too much, methinks.”
f. ___________ stands and calls for a light after the part about the poison being poured
into the sleeping king’s ear. Light = truth?
1
Name:
Period:
Hamlet: Act III Summary
g. R & G come to say the king is upset and ___________ wants to speak to Hamlet in
her chamber.
h. Hamlet and the ____________—he says R & G are “playing” him.
i. Hamlet says he’ll only verbally attack his mother, not _______________.
* Soliloquy is like Macbeth’s before his kills his cousin, the king.
3.3 Focus: Hamlet vs. Claudius—compare/contrast these two; close readings of both
Claudius’s soliloquy and Hamlet’s. Both are indecisive. Hamlet has the “perfect”
opportunity to kill but doesn’t. Is his reason rationalizing or real?
a. After the play, the king tells R & G he doesn’t like Hamlet’s behavior (it’s
dangerous), so they should accompany Hamlet to England ASAP. He’s afraid for
his position as king.
b. R & G attempt to __________ the king, but it just reminds Claudius of his evil
deed—murdering his brother—and the consequences.
c. Polonius says that the queen will soon talk with Hamlet in her “__________” so
he’ll go eavesdrop.
d. Claudius’s soliloquy: He feels ________ for killing his brother and for profitting
from it, but he can’t even ask for forgiveness since he still has the fruits of his
crime. He’s indecisive because if he ________ his crime, all his rewards will be
taken away, so he can’t confess even though his conscience wants him to.
e. Hamlet sees Claudius unarmed and _________ and feels it’s perfect to kill him,
but he rationalizes it that he doesn’t want to give Claudius the chance to die and
confess. He wants Claudius to __________ like his father did—death without
confessing his sins. Is Hamlet rationalizing his hesitation or does he actually want
to seek a “more horrid revenge”?
f. Hamlet exits and then Claudius basically says his attempt at prayer is _________
and futile.
3.4 Focus: This scene is the emotional peak/climax of Hamlet. Keep track of evidence
that Hamlet is or is not mad/insane.
a. ___________ tells the queen to severely reprove Hamlet and he’ll hide quietly.
b. Hamlet banters with his mother, again, offended by to her marriage ___________.
c. Hamlet is so nasty that his mother is _______ and cries out for help.
d. Polonius calls out for help and Hamlet _________ him, calling him a “rat.”
e. Hamlet says his killing of _________ is almost as bad as killing a king and
marrying his brother. Hamlet continues to verbally attack ______________.
f. The __________ enters and tells Hamlet to let up on his mother. Gertrude thinks
Hamlet is ___________ because she can’t see the ghost. It exits.
g. Hamlet tries to get his mother to confess and to stop ___________ Claudius. He
says he’ll be a better son if she does this.
h. Hamlet reminds Gertrude that Claudius is sending him away and that he will
_______________ his enemies (including R & G).
i. Hamlet briefly makes comments about “_________” Polonius—“a foolish,
prating knave” and drags him out.
2
Name:
Period:
Hamlet: Act III Summary
3.1 Focus: appearance vs. reality—the world and what it’s really like. Women
are unfaithful, although they appear to be. Hamlet’s rantings and Ophelia’s
reaction to his rantings.
k. The King describes Hamlet’s behavior as “turbulent and dangerous
lunacy” line 4.
l. Rozencrantz and Guildenstern say that Hamlet won’t say what’s wrong,
but he does admit there is something on his mind. They report he is happy
that the acting troupe is in town and they will put on a play tonight and the
King and Queen are invited.
m. The Queen leaves because Ophelia is there and the King and Polonius are
going to eavesdrop to see if Hamlet really is “mad” for Ophelia.
n. “To be or not to be” soliloquy, and then he finally sees Ophelia.
o. Ophelia says she has “remembrances” she wants to return to him. Hamlet
says he never gave her anything and that he never loved her. She says she
was deceived and he tells her to “get thee to a nunn’ry” line 120. He
wants to isolate her from the world’s corruption (the world appears fine,
but in reality it is corrupted). Hamlet talks poorly of marriage and
unfaithful wives (like his mother?) He says talking of marriage has made
him “mad.” Line 145.
p. Ophelia is distraught at Hamlet’s state of mind and madness.
q. The king says it appears that Hamlet is not in love with Ophelia, but
something is wrong. He’s dangerous. He plans to send Hamlet to
England. The trip and change of scenery should “fix” him.
r. Polonius still thinks Hamlet’s love sick, but he does think the king’s plan
is a good one.
s. Polonius says that they should have the queen talk to Hamlet and try to get
her to find out what is wrong with Hamlet. Polonius will eavesdrop on
that conversation and report back to the king. If the queen can’t, they
should send Hamlet to England as planned.
t. The king says that the great ones who are mad are ones that should be
watched…
3.2 Focus: Foreshadowing of Polonius’s death, Hamlet’s comments about women and
his mother, Hamlet’s reaction to R & G “playing” him. Lines 366-378 soliloquy is like
Macbeth’s Dagger soliloquy.
a. Lines 1-41 can be summarized.
b. Lines 51-82—Hamlet tells Horatio he’s lucky he’s moderate and then tells him ofhis
plan w/ the play and asks Horatio to watch the king. Horatio agrees.
c. Hamlet mentions Polonius’s acting—he played Julius Caesar in college—a
foreshadowing of his death…
d. Sexual double-entrandres between Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet, yet again, has nasty
word for his mother lines 116-119.
e. Prologue/Dumb show begins. Hamlet asks his mother what she thinks so far. Line
218 “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
3
Name:
Period:
Hamlet: Act III Summary
f. Claudius stands and calls for a light after the part about the poison being poured into
the sleeping king’s ear. Light = truth?
g. R & G come to say the king is upset and the queen wants to speak to Hamlet in her
chamber.
h. Hamlet and the recorder—he says R & G are “playing” him.
i. Hamlet says he’ll only verbally attack his mother, not physically.
* Soliloquy is like Macbeth’s before his kills his cousin, the king.
3.3 Focus: Hamlet vs. Claudius—compare/contrast these two; close readings of both
Claudius’s soliloquy and Hamlet’s. Both are indecisive. Hamlet has the “perfect”
opportunity to kill but doesn’t. Is his reason rationalizing or real?
g. After the play, the king tells R & G he doesn’t like Hamlet’s behavior (it’s
dangerous), so they should accompany Hamlet to England ASAP. He’s afraid for
his position as king.
h. R & G attempt to flatter the king, but it just reminds Claudius of his evil deed—
murdering his brother—and the consequences.
i. Polonius says that the queen will soon talk with Hamlet in her “closet” so he’ll go
eavesdrop.
j. Claudius’s soliloquy: He feels guilty for killing his brother and frofitting from it,
but he can’t even ask for forgiveness since he still has the fruits of his crime.
He’s indecisive because if he admits his crime, all his rewards will be taken away,
so he can’t confess even though his conscience wants him to.
k. Hamlet sees Claudius unarmed and praying and feels it’s perfect to kill him, but
he rationalizes it that he doesn’t want to give Claudius the chance to die and
confess. He wants Claudius to suffer like his father did—death without
confessing his sins. Is Hamlet rationalizing his hesitation or does he actually want
to seek a “more horrid revenge”?
l. Hamlet exits and then Claudius basically says his attempt at prayer is false and
futile.
3.4 Focus: This scene is the emotional peak/climax of Hamlet. Keep track of evidence
that Hamlet is or is not mad/insane.
j. Polonius tells the queen to severely reprove Hamlet and he’ll hide quietly.
k. Hamlet banters with his mother, again, offended by her marriage to Claudius.
l. Hamlet is so nasty that his mother is afraid and cries out for help.
m. Polonius calls out for help and Hamlet stabs him, calling him a “rat.”
n. Hamlet says his killing of Polonius is almost as bad as killing a king and marrying
his brother. Hamlet continues to verbally attack Gertrude.
o. The ghost enters and tells Hamlet to let up on his mother. Gertrude thinks Hamlet
is crazy because she can’t see the ghost. It exits.
p. Hamlet tries to get his mother to confess and to stop sleeping with Claudius. He
says he’ll be a better son if she does this.
q. Hamlet reminds Gertrude that Claudius is sending him away and that he will
outsmart his enemies (including R & G).
r. Hamlet briefly makes comments about “grave” Polonius—“a foolish, prating
knave” and drags him out.
4