Hamlet Act Three

Question 1

What is media res?

Answer 1

A term meaning ‘in the midst of things’ - where a scene opens in the middle of a conversation, e.g. 3.1 - ‘and can you by no drift…’

Question 2

In 3.1, Claudius compared his ‘most pained word’ to the harlot’s….?

Answer 2

‘plastering art’

Question 3

In 3.1, Claudius compares the harlot’s ‘plastering art’ to his….what?

Answer 3

‘most painted word’

Question 4

Why does Claudius compare the harlot’s ‘plastering art’ to his ‘most painted word’?

Answer 4

They are both constructions used to conceal immorality.

Question 5

What technique is used in the phrase, ‘to be, or not to be’?

Answer 5

parallel phrasing

Question 6

‘the slings and arrows of outrageous ____________’

Answer 6

fortune

Question 7

‘a __________ of troubles’

Answer 7

sea

Question 8

Why does Hamlet compare life to facing ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’?

Answer 8

He is suggesting life is unpredictable and governed not by merit or justice, but by luck and chance.

Question 9

What key period might Hamlet be seen as embodying?

Answer 9

The Renaissance

Question 10

What does Renaissance mean?

Answer 10

rebirth (of questioning and curiosity)

Question 11

What was the name of the philosophy that gained prominence during The Renaissance period which placed ‘man as the measure of all things’

Answer 11

Humanism

Question 12

What was Humanism?

Answer 12

An intellectual movement of The Renaissance period that placed ‘man as the measure of all things’

Question 13

How is Hamlet attending Wittenburg university perhaps significant?

Answer 13

Wittenburg was where The Protestant Reformation (one of the key events of The Renaissance) began. Thus, Shakespeare links Hamlet to the changes of The Renaissance period.

Question 14

What dramatic technique does Shakespeare use for Claudius’ confession in 3.1?

Answer 14

aside

Question 15

In 3.1, why does Shakespeare use an aside (rather than a soliloquy) for Claudius’ confession?

Answer 15

It presents him as cunning and duplicitous

Question 16

In his 3.1 soliloquy, what does Hamlet refer to death as - ‘the undiscovered ________________’?

Answer 16

country

Question 17

To what is Hamlet referring when he talks of ‘the undiscovered country’?

Answer 17

death

Question 18

‘for in that sleep what __________ may come’

Answer 18

dreams

Question 19

What is Hamlet referring to in his 3.1 soliloquy when he questions ‘for in that sleep what dreams may come’?

Answer 19

The uncertainty of what comes after death

Question 20

‘the native hue of resolution/is __________ over by the pale cast of thought’

Answer 20

sicklied

Question 21

‘the native hue of ___________ is sicklied over by the pale cast of thought’

Answer 21

resolution

Question 22

In his 3.1 soliloquy, how does Hamlet present thought and rationality: ‘the native hue of resolution/is sicklied over by the pale cast of thought’

Answer 22

Thought is a form of corruption/disease that infects our natural instinct to act.

Question 23

Which word (beginning with d) means without emotion?

Answer 23

dispassionate

Question 24

In which part of the play might Hamlet most obviously be described as dispassionate?

Answer 24

In his 3.1 ‘to be, or not to be’ soliloquy. Although he is considering life and death, the tone and rhythm of Hamlet’s speech is measured and in control.

Question 25

'The single characteristic of Hamlet's character is by no means hesitation but the strong conflux of ___________ forces.' (Swinbourne)

Answer 25

contending

Question 26

Which critic? 'Hamlet is a tragedy of thought.'

Answer 26

Bradley

Question 27

'Hamlet is a tragedy of ______________.' (Bradley)

Answer 27

thought

Question 28

'Beauty will sooner transform/honesty from what it is to a ____________'

Answer 28

bawd

Question 29

What is a 'bawd' and in which quotation is it mentioned?

Answer 29

bawd = woman in charge of a brother. Hamlet says to Ophelia in 3.1, 'beauty will sooner transform/honesty from what it is to a bawd'?' He is suggesting that beauty is a corrupting force.

Question 30

'get thee to a ___________'

Answer 30

nunnery

Question 31

Which critic? 'The single characteristic of Hamlet's character is by no means hesitation but the strong conflux of contending forces.'

Answer 31

Swinbourne

Question 32

What are the different meanings of a 'nunnery'?

Answer 32

1. A place where nuns live - a setting of purity and virtue. 2. Slang for a brothel - a place stereotypically associated with disease and corruption.

Question 33

'I have heard of your ____________'

Answer 33

paintings

Question 34

What does Hamlet mean when he tells Ophelia in 3.1 'I have heard of your paintings

Answer 34

He knows of her artificiality and the way she deceptively conceals her inner corruption.

Question 35

'You jig and amble, and you ________'

Answer 35

lisp

Question 36

What does Hamlet mean when he tells Ophelia 'you jig and amble and you lisp'?

Answer 36

That she talks and moves in an affected and artificial way, putting on a performance of innocence.

Question 37

We can imagine Hamlet's story without _________ but ____________ literally has no story without Hamlet.' (Edwards)

Answer 37

Ophelia

Question 38

Which critic? 'We can imagine Hamlet's story without Ophelia, but Ophelia literally has no story without Hamlet.'

Answer 38

Edwards

Question 39

What does Hamlet call the play that is performed?

Answer 39

The Mousetrap

Question 40

Which word (beginning with a) means to be forgiven for your sins?

Answer 40

absolution. E.g. In his soliloquy in 3..3, Claudius is shown to desperately want absolution.

Question 41

Where does Claudius decide to send Hamlet?

Answer 41

England

Question 42

Who is told to accompany Hamlet to England?

Answer 42

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Question 43

What is the Great Chain of Being?

Answer 43

This was a common belief in the Elizabethan era based on the idea that God created a social order for everybody. This meant that the king or queen was there because they had been chosen by God.

Question 44

What was the name of the common belief in the Elizabethan era that suggested that the king or queen was the chosen representative of God on earth?

Answer 44

The Great Chain of Being

Question 45

Which word (beginning with r) means the act of killing a king?

Answer 45

regicide

Question 46

What does regicide mean?

Answer 46

The act of killing a king

Question 47

my offence is rank, it smells to heaven/It hath the _________________ eldest curse upon't'?

Answer 47

primal

Question 48

What is Claudius referring to when he says that his 'offence...hath the primal eldest curse upon't'?

Answer 48

He compares his murder of Old Hamlet to the story of the brothers Cain and Abel, Cain being the world's first ever murderer.

Question 49

Why does Claudius compare his killing of Old Hamlet to the story of Cain and Abel?

Answer 49

He is conveying that what he has done is not just a crime, but a deeply blasphemous act against God.

Question 50

Is there ___________ enough in the sweet heavens/To wash it white as snow'

Answer 50

rain

Question 51

Is there rain enough in the sweet heavens/To wash it white as ____________'

Answer 51

snow

Question 52

How does Shakespeare use juxtaposing colour imagery in his soliloquy?

Answer 52

Claudius wants his soul to be cleansed and 'washed as white as snow', but he feels that his 'bosom [is as] black as death'.

Question 53

'My crown, mine own ambition, and my _____________?'

Answer 53

queen

Question 54

'My crown, mine own ___________, and my queen?'

Answer 54

ambition

Question 55

How does Shakespeare present Claudius via the repeated possessives: 'My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen'?

Answer 55

That he feels a sense of ownership, over the crown and queen, despite having gained both immorally. This forms the basis of his conflict: he wants to repent but also doesn't want to give up what he has gained.

Question 56

'Claudius is not a ______________, he is morally weak' (Mabillard)

Answer 56

monster

Question 57

Claudius is not a monster, he is morally weak' (_________)

Answer 57

Mabillard

Question 58

'Claudius is not a monster, he is morally _____________' (Mabillard)

Answer 58

weak

Question 59

'_____________ is not a monster, he is morally weak' (Mabillard)

Answer 59

Claudius

Question 60

'Claudius' soliloquy gives the impression of _____________ pageantry rather than sincere contrition.' (Arnold)

Answer 60

rhetorical

Question 61

Claudius' soliloquy gives the impression of rhetorical pageantry rather than sincere contrition.' (__________)

Answer 61

Arnold

Question 62

'Claudius' soliloquy gives the impression of rhetorical pageantry rather than sincere ______________.' (Arnold)

Answer 62

contrition

Question 63

What does the phrase 'rhetorical pageantry' mean and which critic uses it?

Answer 63

rhetorical pageantry = an impressive display of language. Arnold uses this when he says that 'Claudius' soliloquy gives the impression of rhetorical pageantry rather than sincere contrition.'

Question 64

What does the word 'contrition' mean?

Answer 64

The state of feeling remorseful

Question 65

'heart with strings of ____________'

Answer 65

steel

Question 66

Who talks of having a 'heart with strings of steel'?

Answer 66

Claudius, in his soliloquy, suggesting his crime has made him emotionally hardened and therefore unable to fully repent.

Question 67

What is the significance of 3.4 taking place in Gertrude's private closet?

Answer 67

It represents Hamlet invading her private world and exposing her.

Question 68

What is the technique used in 3.4 here: 'Gertrude: Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended//Hamlet: Mother, thou hast my father much offended

Answer 68

Stichomythia

Question 69

Why does Shakespeare use stichomythia in 3.4 (closet scene), e.g.

Answer 69

To convey how Hamlet is unwilling to accept his mother's authority - it makes clear from the scene's opening that Hamlet will defiantly challenge Gertrude.

Question 70

'Thou wretched rash _____ fool'

Answer 70

intruding

Question 71

Who is called a 'wretched rash intruding fool'

Answer 71

Polonius (just after Hamlet kills him)

Question 72

'let me wring your ____________'

Answer 72

heart

Question 73

'You go not till I set up a glass/Where you may see the _________ part of you'

Answer 73

inmost

Question 74

What does Hamlet mean when he tells his mother: 'You go not till I set up a glass/Where you may see the inmost part of you'?

Answer 74

That he is going to force her to 'see' her true self and her inner corruption.

Question 75

What word (beginning with p) is a tragic term meaning an irreversible change in fortune?

Answer 75

peripeteia

Question 76

'Gertrude is a moral ________________' (Muir)

Answer 76

defective

Question 77

'Gertrude is a ____________ defective' (Muir)

Answer 77

moral

Question 78

'speak no more/These words like ____________ enter into my ears'

Answer 78

daggers

Question 79

Who says: 'speak no more/These words like daggers enter into my ears'

Answer 79

Gertrude - after Hamlet has confronted her in 3.4.

Question 80

'the __________ sweat of an enseamed bed'

Answer 80

rank

Question 81

'an eye like ___________ to threaten and command'

Answer 81

Mars

Question 82

Who is said to have 'an eye like Mars to threaten and command'

Answer 82

Old Hamlet (Hamlet describes his father like this in the closet scene)

Question 83

'A king of shreds and ________'

Answer 83

patches

Question 84

What does Shakespeare suggest about how Hamlet sees Claudius when he describes him as 'a king of shreds and patches'?

Answer 84

He sees Claudius as inauthentic and lacking a solid or meaningful royal identity.

Question 85

What is significant about Hamlet comparing his father to Mars ('an eye like Mars to threaten and command')

Answer 85

Mars was the God of war - hence we see how Hamlet sees his father as a powerful and impressive deity figure.

Question 86

'The ghost is the _______ of Hamlet' (Wilson)

Answer 86

linchpin

Question 87

What does linchpin mean, and which critic uses this word ''The ghost is the linchpin of Hamlet'

Answer 87

linchpin means the element that holds everything together. This is used by Wilson:

Question 88

'the very ___________ of your brain'

Answer 88

coinage

Question 89

What is described as 'the very coinage [of Hamlet's] brain'

Answer 89

The ghost when it reappears in the closet scene - this makes clear how Gertrude does not see it, and perceives the spirit to be a figment of her son's imagination.