Hamlet: Act III
Literary Element: Personificationto give human characteristics to nonhuman
things.
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below./ Words without thoughts never to
heaven go.”
Vocabulary
calamity –(n.)disaster, hardship
consummation –(n.)completion, fulfillment
inoculate –(v.)to make resistant to, immunize
insolence –(n.)disrespect
pander –(v.)to do or provide what someone wants even though it is not proper,
good, or reasonable
profane –(v.) to treat with great disrespect
temperance –(n.) moderation, restraint
visage –(n.)face, appearance
SCENE 1
1. How much have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern learned from/about Hamlet?
Not much
2. Lines 56-61: What response to his remark get (in an aside) from Claudius? Why
is this speech of Claudius’ important? What do we learn that we have not learned
before?
He feels guilty
3. How is Hamlet’s third soliloquy different than the first two?
He’s now the most depressed and hopeless he has ever been. He’s considering
suicide instead of revenge
4. What happens between Hamlet and Ophelia in the “nunnery scene”?
Some very interesting stuff. This is one of the most fascinating, ambiguous scenes
in literature. Ophelia returns some love letters from Hamlet. He is hurt and
confused why she is speaking this way. He may or may not know that he is being
watched. It’s up for debate. He does become very bitter towards Ophelia and all
women, swearing off marriage. There are already enough weeds in this overgrown
garden called Earth.
5. Does Hamlet know that he’s being watched? Does he determine that during the
scene? Can you spot a place where he might?
Where’s your father?
6. Who is the “one” he referred to in “all but one”?
The King
7. Look at lines 170-175. How does Claudius respond to what he has seen and
heard? Is he convinced that love is the cause of Hamlet’s madness?
No, Claudius feels slightly threatened by what Hamlet said. He thinks there is
much more to it than rejected love.
8. What does Claudius plan to do about Hamlet? Send him away to England
9. How does Polonius respond? Is he willing to give up his “love” answer? What
does he propose as an additional way to find out what Hamlet is thinking? Are you
surprised that it includes spying?
Polonius is sticking to his “love” answer. He will spy on a conversation between
Hamlet and the Queen.
Up for discussion:
Does Hamlet love Ophelia?
What does he mean by “nunnery”?
SCENE 2 (Let’s watch the play scene. Be sure to take notes on our discussion.)
SCENE 3
1. What do we learn about Claudius’s state of mind from his soliloquy?
He is guilty and might regret what he did, but he does not want to give up what he
gained from his offense.
2. What causes Hamlet to procrastinate once again when he has the opportunity to
kill the king?
The king will be sent to heaven if Hamlet kills him while he’s praying/confessing.
SCENE 4
1. How successful is the first part of the interview between Gertrude and Hamlet?
Who controls the conversation?
Hamlet is fairly successful in getting his mother to feel bad about the situation.
2. Does Gertrude know that Claudius killed her husband, Hamlet? Evidence?
This is up for debate. There are several instances where Gertrude seems guilty and
seems innocent.
3. Why does the ghost appear in this scene? How is his appearance different from
his appearances in Act 1? Who saw him then? Who sees him now? What is his
message to Hamlet?
To remind Hamlet that his job is not to punish the queen. His job is to avenge his
murder.
4. After the Ghost leaves, does Hamlet succeed in what he came to do?
He wants his mother to confess her sins and beg for forgiveness so that she might
be saved. That does not seem likely.
5. What is Gertrude’s state of mind when he leaves? What should she do, and what
should she not do?
Do not talk to the king about what happened and do not go back to him.
6. What does Hamlet think of his upcoming trip to England? What does he expect
to do? He realizes he is headed toward some ‘knavery’ or trap.
