Hamlet - Act 3, Study Questions

Scene Numero Uno:

1. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report that something is definitely wrong with Hamlet, but he won't tell them what it is and so they suspect he is up to something.

2. Claudius basically admits to killing Old Hamlet. He says that he can't make up for his actions or hide them in happiness any more than a harlot can hide her doings with make-up.

3. They put into action their plan of spying on Hamlet through using Ophelia and hiding.

4. Dismal, morose, gloomy, indecisive; Hamlet could either be talking about killing himself or his indecision on whether or not to take action and revenge.

5. Death is an unknown that you can't return from, and Hamlet isn't sure if he wants to take that big of a risk.

6. Ophelia betrayed him and cruelly handed him back his love. He also knows that Claudius and Polonius are watching them.

7. "Those that are married already - all but one - shall live." Claudius and Gertrude have just been married; Hamlet is threatening Claudius' life.

8. Claudius decides to send him to England under the idea that Hamlet is going to retrieve some tribute from England that is due for Denmark's protection against pirates.

Scene Two:

9. Horatio is just, well-balanced, even tempered, trustworthy, and knows of the ghost, so he'll be more willing to help Hamlet out when it concerns such matters.

10. Hamlet asks Horatio to watch Claudius's responses and emotions during the play so that they can judge what they mean together.

11. The king (Gonzago) has been acting all weird lately, and his wife (Baptista) is worried. They lay in some flowers and the queen talks about how she'll always love him and never marry another. The king tells her that she can't make promises like that because she won't keep then when the emotion has passed. The queen disagrees with him, and the king falls asleep. The queen leaves him there and along comes the king's nephew (Lucianus) who pours poison in the sleeping king's ear, killing him. The nephew then goes on to marry the queen.

12. He calls it "The Mouse-Trap" because he is using the play, altered a little by his handwritten speech, to trap Claudius in his sin and guilt.

13. Claudius leaves in the middle of the play, after the nephew shows up.

14. Hamlet compares himself to a recorder: Guildenstern can't never play him (get him to speak) with his lies, just as he can't play a recorder when he doesn't know how.

15. Hamlet says he'll talk cruelly to his mom and reproach her, but he won't kill her like he plans to kill Claudius.

Scene III:

1. Claudius plans to send Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Hamlet to England.

2. Polonius is going to spy on Hamlet and Gertrude by hiding behind and arras again (because that worked out so well last time...)

3. Claudius is admitting to his sin and acknowledges that it is wrong. He wants to be forgiven for his wrongdoing, but he doesn't want to give up everything he gained from it. Claudius prays for redemption and freedom from both guilt and the damnation of Hell if Hamlet kills him.

4. Claudius probably doesn't pray much, and Hamlet is surprised that he is praying at all. Hamlet finds it odd that he is praying for forgiveness from his sins because he didn't think Claudius really cared about it that much.

5. Hamlet doesn't kill Claudius because he wants to wait until he is ready for Hell. He doesn't want to take the chance of Claudius going to Heaven, so he is going to wait until he can catch Claudius in the act of some sin and then kill him, not while Claudius is praying.

Scene 4:

1. Polonius tells Gertrude to be straightforward and plain with Hamlet. He tells her that she must tell him how rude he has been and inform him that his attitude needs to change.

2. Polonius is the rat who was cunning, but he "squeaked" and gave himself away. Hamlet saying, "Dead for a ducat, dead!" means that he'll bet a ducat that he killed whoever was behind the curtain.

3. Hamlet is comparing his mother's marriage to his murder of Polonius, saying that what she did was worse than what he did. He is implying that Gertrude was in on the murder of his father.

4. Gertrude is claiming to have no idea what Hamlet is talking about is trying to preserve her innocence. She says she hasn't done anything to deserve such behavior from Hamlet. She is trying to use her authori-tay against Hamlet.

5. Hamlet describes Old Hamlet as beautiful and loved by the gods (like a god himself). Claudius is described as a mildew'd ear (of corn).

6. Hamlet is showing his mother how much better Old Hamlet was than Claudius is.

7. Well, it's pretty gross. Hamlet is describing, in nasty detail, Claudius and Gertrude's incestuousness. It's disturbing that he is even discussing this topic with his mom.

8. The ghost appears and tells Hamlet not to be concerned or fight with his mom, but to keep his mind on the true purpose: getting revenge on Claudius.

9. Hamlet talks about how habits can be either good or bad, but you can change them over time. This doesn't show his madness; it's a true statement about humanity. He also talks about Polonius and how people shouldn't spy on others or interfere in anyone else's business because it could have some dire repercussions (like death). This sounds a little mad. He mentions how old people (have no souls) don't have the capacity to love anymore because all there passion has faded. This is also a little mad, but overall, he's making some good points.

10. The first ghost is dressed all in armor and doesn't talk much. The second ghost is dressed in regular house clothes and talks more personally to Hamlet. The second ghost could be just a figment of Hamlet's imagination and evidence of his fall into complete and utter madness. It could also be the same ghost, or another spirit playing with Hamlet's mind.

Hamlet - Act 2, Scene 2 Study Questions

1. He has sent for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
2. He wants to use their old friendship so they can get close to Hamlet and find out what's making him mad.
3. Old Norway didn't know what Fortinbras was doing. He stopped Fortinbras and gave him 3000 crowns and an army to attack Poland instead of Denmark.
4. To allow Fortinbras's army safe passage through Denmark on his way to Poland.
5. His speech is not brief, and he always talks a lot. He's being played as a sort of fool. He talks to make himself sound smarter, but actually sounds dumber.
6. That Ophelia should go to Hamlet when Hamlet is walking, while Claudius and Polonius spy on them to see how Hamlet acts toward her.
7. He's prostituting Ophelia for his own reason. He wants her to marry Hamlet so he can become closer to the throne.
8. He says that madness gets the point across where sanity wouldn't do as well.
9. He feels trapped there because of his uncle. He can't really take joy in anything because he's a pessimistic baby who views the whole world as a prison.
10. He says he's depressed because he can't take joy in anything.
11. There's been an uprising of a certain type of theatre that the players are not part of, so they're forced to go on the road.
12. He asks them why they were sent for, which lets them know that he's aware they aren't there of their own volition.
13. Jephtha is a man in the Bible who kills his daughter for political power, which is what Polonius is metaphorically doing with Ophelia.
14. He is like Pyrrhus because they are both vengeful because their fathers were murdered, they're both wearing black, they both use deceit and trickery to get back at their fathers' murderers, and they both think Fortune is a strumpet. They are unalike because Hamlet is vengeful toward his uncle whereas Pyrrhus is vengeful toward the Trojan king, Pyrrhus is in a war while Hamlet it not, and Pyrrhus is taking action while Hamlet is just talking.
15. Does he know, "The Murder of Gonzago", and can Hamlet put some extra lines in there.
16. He says it because he's comparing himself to the players, and how they're acting when he can't even though he loves it so much. He's referring back to the "shadows of the beggars" speech he made before.
17. To spy on Claudius using the play by seeing what his reaction is.
18. He feels this way because nobody will believe Claudius is guilty unless there's evidence.
19. Polonius spies on Laertes with the help of Reynaldo, Polonius and Claudius spy on Hamlet using Ophelia, Hamlet is spying on Claudius using the actors, and the king and queen spy on Hamlet using Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
20. Despondent, he talks a lot but he doesn't do anything about it, makes excuses about why he won't take action, clever and smart, morbid, indecisive, passionate about acting, angry, insulting to Polonius/Claudius/Gertrude/Ophelia (sort of rude), jealous, obsessive, and antisocial.

My Notes on Part of Act II:

Fishmonger = pimp! (motif of prostitution.)

"Ay sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand." - theme of corruption.

"For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion-- Have you a daughter?" - Hamlet = sun, Ophelia = dead dog. "Let her not walk i'th' sun. Conception is a blessing, but as your daughter may conceive-- friend, look to't." - As if Hamlet knew what Polonius had been thinking. (connection to garden motif and theme of death.)

"Slanders, sir... For yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am-- if like a crab you could go backward." - Hamlet making fun of Polonius.

"--a happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of."

"You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will not more willingly part withal--except my life, except my life, except my life."

"As the indifferent children of the earth." - I just love that phrase.

"O most true, she is a strumpet." - Hamlet talking about Fortune (motif).

"None, my lord, but the world's grown honest." - themes of corruption and humanity.
"Then is doomsday near."

"What have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune that she sends you to prison hither?... Denmark's a prison." "Then is the world one." "A goodly one, in wich there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o'th' worst... Why, then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison." - themes of corruption and humanity.

"A dream itself is but a shadow." - motif of dreams.

"Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows." - motif of dreams, theme of humanity.

"Anything but to th' purpose." - Hamlet knows what Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are up to. (motif of spying, theme of corruption.)

Lines 289-306: probably the most beautiful monologue (or anything) I have ever read. - theme of humanity.

Themes -
Revenge: Hamlet planning to get revenge on Claudius, and showing him the play.
Death: the sun (i'th'garden) can cause both good and bad, life and decay.
Humanity: the world, especially the race of men, is composed of beautiful creatures, yet Hamlet takes no joy in them.
Corruption: honesty is a rare attribute; Denmark's a prison; the sun is both good and evil.

Motifs -
Dreams: dreams of ambition from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern; Hamlet's bad dreams; dreams are shadows (monarchs and heroes are but shadows of beggars).
Garden: Ophelia is a dead dog, Hamlet is the sunlight that breeds maggots; Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Polonius are weeds; Ophelia is also a flower, Hamlet is also a worm; Claudius is a serpent; Old Hamlet is the sun.
Prostitution: Polonius = fishmonger, selling Ophelia for own recognition; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern selling their friendship and loyalty; Fortune is a strumpet that uses men.
Spying: Gertrude and Claudius spying on Hamlet and sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern; Polonius spying on Laertes and Hamlet; Hamlet acting mad to gain information; Norway spying on Denmark.

Hamlet - Act 2 Vocab. Words

Paradox - n. - a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.
A "cat person" is a paradox.

Sovereign - adj. - supreme; preeminent; indisputable.
Oh, sovereign turtle, how illustrious are your forthcomings.

Commission - v. - to authorize; send on a mission.
I shall commission a fleet to retrieve the Labrador of San Juan!

Resolution - n. - a resolve or determination.
"I need light in the dark as I search for the resolution."

Malefaction - n. - an evil deed; crime; wrongdoing.
Eddie was killed and eaten for his great malefaction towards Frank.

Firmament - n. - the vault of heaven; sky.
And thusly, the firmament opened, and through the chasm emerged creatures unknown to the realm of man.

Tedious - adj. - long and tiresome.
Polonius is a tedious speaker, to put it nicely.

Pestilent - adj. - destructive to life; deadly; poisonous; troublesome; injurious to peace; infectious, contagious.
The pestilent virus was transmitted through direct foot-to-foot contact.

Pious - adj. - having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.
The pious man delivered biscuits to the homeless children every Thursday afternoon between the hours of three and five.

Promontory - n. - a high point of land or rock projecting into the sea or other water beyond the line of coast; a headland.
The lemmings vaulted from the promontory, soaring through the air, the wind in their coarse fur, until they landed at the location of their ultimate doom.

Hamlet - 2.1

1. At the opening of this scene, to where is Polonius sending Reynaldo?

Paris, France.

2. Why does Polonius send him on this journey?

Polonius is suspicious of what Laertes is doing in France, and so he sends Reynaldo to spy on him.

3. By what trick is Reynaldo supposed to get information about Laertes?

He is supposed to talk to other people in the area and spread lies about Laertes to see how he reacts to them. The rumors aren't supposed to be too bad, so that Polonius doesn't get shamed, but bad enough to see what Laertes will do about them.

4. What does this reveal about Polonius' character?

He doesn't trust even his own son. He is suspicious, sneaky, dishonest, and untrustworthy.He cares only for himself and his own reputation.

5. How would you describe the effect of Polonius's rambling speech to Reynaldo?

Reynaldo really just wants Polonius to shut up. Polonius goes on and on, and Reynaldo gets rather sick of hearing him talk. He doesn't really care about what he has to do as long as Polonius stops rambling to him.

6. How does Ophelia describe Hamlet's appearance to her?

She describes him as being mad, like he had just returned from Hell. His shirt was unbuttoned; he wore no hat; his stockings fell around his ankles; he was pale; his knees were knocking together. He acted very strangely and left without saying a word.

7. What is Polonius's conclusion about Hamlet?

Polonius tells everyone that he thinks Hamlet is madly in love with Ophelia and that is what is causing him to act so strange, however I don't think that Polonius actually puts much thought into Hamlet's actions, he's just going to go along with this idea because he wants to be the center of attention and get more involved with the royal family.

Hamlet - 1.3 & 1.4

1. What is Laertes' advice to Ophelia?

Don't get too close to Hamlet; he'll say things he doesn't mean. He can't be trusted and is of higher birth so it wouldn't work out anyway.

2. How does "The canker galls the infants of the spring/too oft before their buttons be disclos'd" fit into the ideology of the decaying garden?

It's basically saying that the worm injures the young plants before their buds are opened. Laertes is talking about how Hamlet will ruin Ophelia in the prime of her youth, mainly by taking her innocence (virginity).

3. What analogy does Ophelia give to her brother as an answer to his advice? What does she mean?

Basically, she tells him to practice what you preach. She talks about a hypocritical priest. She's bringing up the fact that Laertes doesn't follow his own advice when he is in France.

4. List five of the "few precepts" that Polonius gives to Laertes.

Don't be vulgar; keep your good friends close to you; watch your tongue; don't be quick to judge; don't get into a fight, but if you do, hold your own; listen more than talk; don't dress gaudily; neither a borrower nor a lender be.

5. In lines 105-109, what is the metaphor that Polonius uses to describe Hamlet's words of love?

Polonius plays on the word "tenders". He says that Ophelia is a baby who takes Hamlet's love for true, when she should be careful and take care of herself or else she'll make Polonius and herself look like fools.

6. List and explain one metaphor found in the lines 115-135.

Polonius compares Hamlet's words to those of a solicitor or a broker who puts on different suits to mask their true implications. He also says that Hamlet's words give more light than heat, so don't take them for a fire, meaning that they sound good, but can't really be trusted.

7. What is Polonius' command to Ophelia?

She isn't allowed to see Hamlet anymore, or receive his letters or gifts.

8. In scene 4, what is Hamlet talking about in lines 13-38?

The tradition of drinking makes them seem like drunkards to other countries and gives them a bad name. No matter what good Denmark does, their faults will never be overlooked. A small amount of evil will overwhelm all of the good.

9. Why doesn't Horatio want Hamlet to follow the ghost?

Horatio is afraid that the ghost will lead Hamlet to his doom, either by taking him to a cliff or driving him to insanity/suicide.

10. What is Hamlet's command to the three guards?

He tells them to unhand him so he can follow the ghost alone.

Hamlet Vocab.!

Apparition - n. - a ghost or ghostlike image of a person.
I spied the apparition during the early hours of dusk, when the moon was on its rise, and the sun-basked land was now covered in shadow.

Calumnious - adj. - of, involving, or using calumny; slanderous; defamatory.
Politicians, the most dangerous sub-species of the human race, speak calumnious words about each other.

Canon - n. - a fundamental principle or general rule.
The priest followed the canon laid down by the church.

Countenance - n. - appearance, esp. the look or expression of the face; composure; approval or favor.
The queen's countenance revealed her disdain.

Discourse - n. - communication of thought by words; talk; conversation.
Our discourse quickly changed subject and we began speaking about the majestic power of dolphin nostrils.

Imminent - adj. - about to happen; impending.
The final round is imminent.

Perilous - adj. - involving or full of grave risk or peril; hazardous; dangerous.
The pony meandered towards the perilous cliff.

Portentous - adj. - ominously significant or indicative.
The cat sent out a portentous reply from the vending machine; he claimed to be God, and that he warmed cans of soda with his body heat.

Prodigal - adj. - wastefully or recklessly extravagant.
The prodigal son bought a new suit for each party he went to.

Sullied - adj. - soiled; defiled; stained.
The pigs sullied the farmer's new bedspread.