11 May WHY DOES HAMLET DECIDE TO WAIT TO KILL CLAUDIUS, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY?
Act I, Scene v: Elsinore. The Castle. Another part of the fortifications.
“I am thy father’s spirit”
1. Why is King Hamlet not in heaven?
2. What is King Hamlet’s message to Hamlet about his brother? About Gertrude?
3. What does Hamlet say to make us think he will act on his father’s advice immediately?
4. How did King Hamlet die?
5. What does Hamlet make the others promise?
Act II
Act II, Scene i: Elsinore. A room in the house of Polonius.
“I did repel his letters and denied his access to me”
1. What is Polonius’ plan to find out what Laertes is doing? What does this suggest about Polonius? How does this support or contradict what we already know of him?
Polonius’ plan is to get Reynaldo to go and spy on his son, to find out more information. This supports the fact that we know he is untrusting.
2. What is Ophelia’s complaint about Hamlet?
Ophelia is complaining that Hamlet has gone mad.
3. What are the possible reasons for Hamlet acting this way? Consider what has just happened to him?
4. Is Ophelia a reliable character? Can we trust her account of what happened? Why or why not?
5. Why does Polonius think Hamlet is acting this way? What is his plan?
Polonius thinks Hamlet is acting this way because he will not return his love to Ophelia. His plan is to tell the king and send him to England.
Act II, Scene ii: Elsinore. A room in the Castle.
“Words, words, words”
1. Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Why have they come to Elsinore?
2. What is Voltemand’s message? What significance does it have to the overall play?
3. What do you think of the contents of Hamlet’s letter to Ophelia? Do you think he is being honest or sarcastic? Do you think he intends her to see it or does he know that she will show it to her father?
4. What can you surmise by the interaction between Polonius and Hamlet?
5. What insight does Hamlet’s next conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern give you about Hamlet’s state of mind?
6. What is Hamlet’s opinion of the world according to his “What a piece of work is man” speech?
7. What is the significance of the player performing a piece about Pyrrhus and Hecuba?
8. What does this speech inspire Hamlet to do?
9. Considering that a soliloquy is a character talking to himself, what do we learn about what Hamlet is thinking by his last lines?
Act III
Act III, Scene i: 1. Elsinore. A room in the Castle.
“To be or not to be”
1. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to the King? Is this accurate?
2. Who is spying on Hamlet and Ophelia?
The King and Polonius are spying on Hamlet and Ophelia.
3. Hamlet’s “To be, or not to be” soliloquy is one of the most famous speeches in literature. Summarize what it means. What are some other possible interpretations of this speech?
4. What happens in the exchange between Hamlet and Ophelia? What does he tell her to do? What are some reasons for his behavior?
Act III, Scene ii: Elsinore. hall in the Castle.
“What, frighted with false fire?”
1. Comment on Hamlet’s behaviour before the play starts.
2. What is the jist of what the Player King and Queen say to each other? Why would Hamlet write such lines?
3. What is the King’s reaction to the play?
The King’s reaction is guilt, and it had overcome him so he had to get up and leave the play.
4. What is Hamlet asked to do at the end of the scene?
5. What is his plan (revealed in his final lines)?
Act III, Scene iii: A room in the Castle.
“O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven”
1. What is Claudius’ first plan to get rid of Hamlet?
2. What is Polonius’ plan?
3. What is revealed in Claudius’ soliloquy?
It is revealed that Claudius feels bad about killing his brother, but does not regret it.
4. Why does Hamlet decide to wait to kill Claudius, even though he has a perfect opportunity?
Hamlet decides to wait to kill Claudius because he did not want to kill him while he was praying with no sins on his shoulder, he wanted him to suffer like his father did and wants to wait for the right time. Hamlet may regret this if that was his only chance at justice…
Act III, Scene iv: The Queen’s closet.
“O, what a rash and bloody deed is this!”
1. What is the tone of Hamlet’s conversation with his mother?
Hamlet’s tone is very aggressive.
2. Why does he stab Polonius so rashly?
Hamlet stabbed Polonius so rashly because he had thought it was the King, and he thought he finally got the revenge he had been seeking all this time.
3. What is his reaction when he discovers it is Polonius he’s killed?
His reaction was surprised, but it did not phase him. He didn’t feel guilty in the slightest.
4. What does he try to convince Gertrude of?
Hamlet tried to convince Gertrude that Claudius had killed his father. He tried comparing two photos of them.
5. Why do you think the ghost returns? Why do you think Gertrude can’t see him?
I think the ghost returns to remind Hamlet of the job he needs to do, and that is to kill Claudius. I think Gertrude can’t see him because he doesn’t need anyone else to see him.
6. What does Hamlet tell Gertrude to do and not to do at the end of the scene? Does it echo any other advice given in the play?
Hamlet tells Gertrude not to reveal that his madness has been an act.
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