Hamlet Act III & IV
Name:
Reading/Annotation
Guide:
Throughout Act III,
watch for (and
annotate)
characterizations of
Ophelia and Gertrude,
and be thinking about
how women are
represented in this play.
Quote:
Block:
Date:
ACT 3, Scene 1 [Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius,
Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Hamlet]
1. The “To be or not to be” soliloquy is arguably the
most famous speech in all English literature.
Find a line or group of lines that speak to you or
that you find to be meaningful in some way.
Explain why you chose this particular excerpt.
Why I chose this quote:
2. Line 124: “Get thee to a nunnery” has debatable meaning. Either Hamlet is telling
her that she is pure and needs to go to a convent before the world turns her into
a prostitute, or he’s using Elizabethan slang to tell her to go to a brothel because
she’s a prostitute already. Explain which meaning you think to be more accurate.
3. Do you believe his accusations and cruelty to be toward Ophelia, or women in
general? Does Hamlet have a right to be angry/upset? Explain your answer.
[lines 89-131]
4. Describe Ophelia’s state of mind at the end of this scene. How do you think she
feels about Hamlet, based on lines 150-161?
Hamlet Act III & IV
ACT 3, Scene 2 [Hamlet, First Player/Player King, Polonius, Rosencrantz,
Guildenstern, Horatio, Claudius, Gertrude, Prologue/Lucianus, Player Queen]
“The Play Within a Play Scene” or “The Mousetrap”
5. Hamlet unleashes a verbal attack on Ophelia in this scene, both before and
during the play. However, his cruelty is double-edged, and can also apply to his
mother, Gertrude. Why would he direct his anger at Ophelia, instead of directly to
the queen? [99-end of scene]
6. What moment in the play reveals, for certain, Claudius’ guilt to Hamlet & Horatio?
[238-246; 268-272]
ACT 3, Scene 3 [Claudius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius, Hamlet]
7. For what specific reason does Hamlet decide not to kill Claudius in what seems
like the perfect opportunity? [74-97]
8. Based on Claudius’s soliloquy [37-73], it seems like he has genuine remorse for
killing his brother. But, the last line of the scene, he says, “My words fly up, my
thoughts remain below./Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” Why can’t
he be absolved (forgiven) for his sin?
Act 3, Scene 4 [Polonius, Hamlet, Gertrude
9. Why does Hamlet murder Polonius? Does he show any remorse for his
behavior?
Hamlet Act III & IV
10. Hamlet finally gets to confront his mother. List some things he says to her to
make her feel the guilt he’s certain she deserves.
11. What effect, if any, has Hamlet’s argument had on Gertrude?
Act IV, Scene 5 [Horatio, Gertrude, Gentleman/Messenger, Ophelia, Claudius, Laertes]
12. What has happened to Ophelia? What specifically about her behavior has
changed?
13. What is the cause of Ophelia’s change?
14. According to the footnotes (“modern text”), what do Ophelia’s flowers symbolize
for the people she gives them to (179-184)?
• Gertrude’s flowers symbolize: ___________________________________
• Claudius’s flowers symbolize: __________________&________________
• The flowers that withered when Polonius died: ______________________
Act IV, Scene 7 [Claudius, Laertes]
SUMMARY:
Claudius explains to Laertes that he didn’t act on Polonius’s murder because
Gertrude and the Danish public love him so much that it would have made Hamlet look
good and Claudius look bad. A messenger brings word that Hamlet has returned to
Denmark. Claudius then begins to plot Hamlet’s death, and Laertes says he must be the
one to execute Hamlet.
Since Hamlet always admired Laertes’ skill at fencing, they will set up a fencing
match. Usually, foils (the “swords” used in fencing) have blunted tips, but Laertes will
get one that is sharpened and therefore dangerous. Laertes will also poison the tip of
the blade, just to ensure Hamlet’s death. Claudius has an additional backup plan – he’ll
put a poisoned pearl in a glass of wine which Hamlet will drink.
Gertrude interrupts, and tells them that Ophelia has died.
15. Read lines162-180. Describe how she died.