Pg. 766-791
Scene 1
1. Lines 47-48, “devotion’s visage” and “pious action,” imply that Ophelia is reading what book?
2. What “deed” is King Claudius most likely talking about in lines 53-54?
3. Summarize Hamlet's main debate in the soliloquy, "To Be or Not To Be."
4. According to Hamlet’s soliloquy, what is it that stops most men from committing suicide?
5. Explain how Hamlet uses the double meaning of the word “honest” to tease Ophelia. What is
he really saying about her?
6. What tone do you think he is using when talking to her here? Does it change during the
speech? Where and how?
7. Why does he tell her to go to a nunnery?
8. What do you think has caused Hamlet to be so upset with Ophelia?
9. How does this interaction seem to affect Ophelia?
10. Why does Claudius want to send Hamlet to England?
11. Explain Claudius’s line: “Madness in great ones must not unwatch’d go”
Scene 2
12. What does Hamlet respect about a man who is NOT passion’s slave (lines 48-57)?
13. Describe the interaction between Hamlet and Ophelia in this scene. How does this compare to
their previous interaction in the “nunnery” scene?
14. Throughout Act III, what evidence shows that Hamlet might be more angry with his mother
than with Claudius right now?
15. What is the irony of the play’s title?
16. Why do you think Hamlet stays to see the end of the play after the King leaves? What does
this show about him?
17. What does Hamlet mean in the metaphor that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern cannot “play” him
“like a pipe”?
18. What does Hamlet mean that he will "speak daggers" to his mother "but use none"? How
does he plan for the conversation with his mother to go?
Scene 3
19. Where will Polonius be while Hamlet speaks with his mother?
20. What three things does Claudius list as the “effects” for which he murdered his brother?
21. Does he seem to be truly repentant or not? Explain.
22. What is Claudius doing when Hamlet comes upon him?
23. Why will Hamlet not kill him then, when he easily could?
24. Claudius’ closing lines of this scene reveal what feelings about his prayers?
25. This scene reveals crucial matters about both Claudius and Hamlet. What character traits are
revealed in each?
Claudius –
Hamlet –
Scene IV
26. What tone does Hamlet use when speaking to his mother at the beginning of this scene?
27. What does he mean that he is going to "set [her] up a glass" so she can see the [inmost part]
of herself?
28. Why does she cry out in fear (lines 21-22)?
29. What happens accidentally as she cries out?
30. What is Hamlet trying to sit her down and tell her?
31. Using the footnotes, what is Hamlet calling his mother in line 45?
32. What are some key phrases he uses to accuse his mother?
33. Based on her response, what effect do his words have on her?
34. What does the Ghost state as his mission when he appears?
35. What effect does the Ghost's appearance have on Gertrude?
36. To whom is Hamlet referring when he says that sometimes "virtue itself of vice must pardon
beg"?
37. At the end of his meeting with Gertrude, pg. 790, he begs his mother not to do what two
things?
38. How does Hamlet feel about the death of Polonius?