Act 3
Hamlet stages the play to :
catch Claudius’s conscience and confirm his guilt
These characters are sent to escort Hamlet to England
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
What is Hamlet debating in the “To be or not to be” soliloquy?
Whether to live or die — to endure suffering or end it through death.
Name three examples of Spying and acting so far.
Polonius using Ophelia
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Claudius
The Mousetrap Play itself
any others are cool too
Hamlet's tragic flaw is:
indecision and overthinking
The name of the play Hamlet alters is:
The Mousetrap (The Murder of Gonzago)
Claudius plans this for Hamlet for when he reaches England
Execution
In the soliloquy, what stops Hamlet from taking his own life?
Fear of the unknown after death
Which quote, out of all the acts (including 1-2), best symbolizes the motif of corruption?
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"
How does Hamlet fulfill the definition of a Shakespearean tragic hero?
A noble hero with a fatal flaw brings about his downfall through internal conflict and moral error.
Who does Hamlet bring to perform a play before the royal court?
A group of traveling actors (the Players)
Ophelia sings two songs regarding her grief, which are about:
1. Hamlet's betrayal/loss of innocence
2. The death of her father
Hamlet feels a form of "paralysis" in this soliloquy - elaborate.
He thinks deeply but cannot act.
What does disease imagery (rot, decay, poison) symbolize?
The moral corruption of Denmark due to Claudius’s rule.
What event is Hamlet's "point of no return"?
Killing Polonius
The only reason Polonius calls for help is because:
Gertrude cries "Murder" on Hamlet
Laertes's return to Denmark is led by ________, who demands _______
an angry mod, Laertes should be king
What does “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” symbolize?
The hardships and injustices of life
How does madness function as a theme in Hamlet?
It blurs truth and illusion; both real and feigned madness reveal corruption and grief.
Like many of his tragedies, Hamlet is saved by this literary term, often used to represent divine intervention
Deus ex machina
What does Hamlet’s killing of Polonius reveal about his state of mind or moral direction?
It shows his impulsiveness and blurring moral boundaries — he begins to act rashly, driven by emotion and revenge.
Claudius and Laertes create a plot for Act 5 against Hamlet. What is it?
To stage a duel, but Laertes's sword will be poisoned
How does this soliloquy connect to the play’s larger theme of inaction and delay?
It embodies Hamlet’s tragic flaw — excessive reflection leads to hesitation and inaction, worsening his fate.
Her madness is emotional and sincere, while his is calculated.
You could also say one's madness comes from grief, and the other from anger (vengeance).
By Act 4, Hamlet is seemingly fine with his punishment to go to England. However, he encounters Fortinbras, and his mind is changed.
How does this contribute to the tragedy aspect of the play?
Fortinbras acts swiftly and purposefully — the opposite of Hamlet. The contrast exposes Hamlet’s flaw of overthinking and delay. The circumstances cause him to only correct it through destruction.