Act 3, scene 1
1. What news from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern makes Claudius hopeful?
2. What does Claudius and Polonius plan to do?
3. What does Polonius say that prompts an aside from Claudius? What does he reveal in this aside?
4. What happens in the conversation between Ophelia and Hamlet? Why does Hamlet criticize himself? What does he say?
5. What command to Ophelia does Hamlet repeat throughout his conversation with her?
6. What is Claudius’ assessment of what he has heard? What does he decide to do?
7. What does Polonius suggest?
8. Why does Claudius believe that Hamlet must be watched?
Act 3, scene 2
1. What advice does Hamlet give in the beginning of Act 3 scene 2?
2. What does Hamlet say to Horatio and what does he asked him to do?
3. What happens in the play the actors put on at Elsinore?
4. With whom does Hamlet watch the play?
5. What is Hamlet’s conversation with Claudius and Gertrude during the play like?
6. What is his conversation with Ophelia like?
7. What is Claudius’ reaction to the play?
8. How does Hamlet respond to the questions from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on the topic of his future?
9. What does Hamlet decide to do in his soliloquy at the end of Act 3 scene 2?
Act 3, scene 3
1. What is Claudius upset about at the beginning of Act III scene 3?
2. What does he decide to do about it?
3. What does Polonius decide to do when Hamlet speaks to his mother?
4. What does Claudius say in his soliloquy after Polonius exits? (around line 36)
5. What does Hamlet say while Claudius is praying?
6. What happens when Hamlet meets with his mother?
7. Why does she think he’s crazy?
8. How is the ghost different in Act III scene 3 than he was in the beginning of the play?
9. How does Hamlet react to Gertrude’s assertion that he’s crazy?
