Quotes
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” – Who says this and about whom?
(Gertrude, about the Player Queen)
What does Hamlet hope to prove with the play he stages?
Claudius’s guilt)
How does Claudius change after the play scene?
He openly admits guilt and seeks prayer/forgiveness
What “action” does Hamlet take in Act 3 to confirm Claudius’s guilt?
The play-within-the-play
Where does Hamlet stage “The Mousetrap”?
In the court/Great Hall at Elsinore
“Give me that man / That is not passion’s slave.” – Who says this, and what does it reveal about Hamlet’s values?
Hamlet, values rational self-control
Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius while he’s praying?
Thinks Claudius’s soul would go to heaven
What do we learn about Gertrude in the closet scene?
She may be ignorant of Claudius’s crime but feels guilt for marrying him
What moment in Act 3 shows Hamlet’s hesitation to act violently?
Not killing Claudius at prayer
What is significant about the setting of Claudius’s prayer scene?
Alone, reveals guilt privately but cannot repent sincerely
"O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven.” – Who says this, and what “offense” is he describing?
Claudius, murdering his brother
Who does Hamlet accidentally kill, and where?
Polonius, behind the arras in Gertrude’s room
How does Hamlet’s treatment of Ophelia in the play scene reflect his state of mind?
Cruel, mocking—shows distrust and growing madness
How does Hamlet justify his delay in avenging his father?
Believes circumstances must be right—Claudius’s soul condemned
Where does Hamlet confront Gertrude?
In her private chamber/closet
I will speak daggers to her, but use none.” – Who is Hamlet referring to, and what does this foreshadow?
Gertrude, harsh confrontation but no physical harm
What does Claudius plan to do with Hamlet after Polonius’s death?
Send him to England with Rosencrantz & Guildenstern
How do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern prove their loyalty in Act 3
They side with Claudius, not Hamlet
Contrast Hamlet’s action in killing Polonius with his inaction against Claudius. What does this reveal?
Impulsive in wrong moment, hesitant in crucial one
How does the setting of Gertrude’s room contribute to the intensity of the closet scene?
Small, private, tense—secrets and spying lead to Polonius’s death
Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?
Who says this, and what is meant? (Hamlet to Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, accusing them of manipulation
What news does Gertrude deliver to Claudius at the end of Act 3?
Hamlet has killed Polonius
How does Hamlet show growth in Act 3 compared to earlier acts?
He begins to take decisive action—stages play, kills Polonius
How does Claudius represent the theme of action vs. inaction in Act 3?
He acts to protect himself—prayer, plotting Hamlet’s death—while Hamlet delays
How does the castle itself (Elsinore) function as a setting in Act 3?
Claustrophobic, full of spying, no escape—drives tension and mistrust