1. Class Notes www.truchanenglish/weebly.com
English 11 Collab.- Act 3
Class Notes

2. See Annotations on Website

3. Lesson 11/12
The Very Start
Claudius and Gertrude question R&G about Hamlet’s behavior- they have no answers.
Hamlet’s mood seems better since the arrival of the players.
Hamlet has especially invited King and Queen to the play.
Polonius instructs Ophelia to walk back and forth pretending to read
Polonius and Claudius withdraw to their hiding place behind the arras and wait for Hamlet’s approach.
Billy Madison To Be or Not To Be

4. Hamlet is deciding whether or not to commit suicide
Subject= Death
Hamlet is deciding whether or not to commit suicide
Live
Die
Life= suffering
Peace, End of suffering
Metaphor
Sleep = Death
Problem!
No one knows what dreams come in sleep. (No one knows what the afterlife is really like).
We suffer through the daily suffering in life because it is possible death will mean worse suffering.
The more we think about it, the more afraid we become, so we take no action Action vs. Inaction
Hamlet overthinks EVERYTHING and never takes any action!

5. Reasons to Live
Reasons to Die
The suffering in death might be worse than the suffering he is experiencing in life.
Life = Suffering
He wants PEACE from the suffering and heartache.

6. 2. How are death and sleep related to the problem Hamlet describes?
1. How would you summarize the problem Hamlet describes in the first five lines?
2. How are death and sleep related to the problem Hamlet describes?
3. “Knowledge makes cowards of us all.” What does this mean?
4. “Our natural boldness becomes weak with too much thinking.” What central idea does this support?
Hamlet is struggling with the decision of whether or not to commit suicide.
He doesn’t want to suffer anymore, but wants peace.
Death = Sleep (METAPHOR)
Hamlet describes death as an eternal sleep which could possibly become a horrible nightmare.
The more Hamlet thinks about doing the murder, and the more information he gets, the more he thinks about it which causes him to procrastinate (never take ACTION).
Our desire to take action is weakened by overthinking.
--Action vs. Inaction
--Revenge

7. Read Ophelia and Hamlet Confrontation

10. Polonius’ Set-up: Hamlet and Ophelia Meet
Lesson 13/14
Do Now: What was Polonius’ plan for Hamlet and Ophelia? What is he trying to prove?
Where are Claudius and Polonius in this scene?
What does Ophelia wish to return to Hamlet and why?
How does Hamlet appear upon receiving the “things” from Ophelia? In other words, what emotions to you notice in his facial expressions?
They are hiding behind an arras (big curtain).
She wants to give back the gifts he gave her.
He seems upset, shocked, confused.

11. 4. Hamlet has a sudden change in attitude
4. Hamlet has a sudden change in attitude. In watching the film, what two things occur that cause this change? 5.“Get thee to a nunnery” Where is Hamlet telling Ophelia to go?
1. He sees a shadow and knows he is being set up.
2. Ophelia lies to him (betrayal).
Nunnery
Convent
-all women, no men
-no sex
-no marriage
Brothel
Men and women together
sex without marriage
Hamlet still cares about her and wants to protect her from evil men.
Hamlet is angry with her for her betrayal and is calling her a whore.

12. Women are two-faced, deceitful liars
6. “I’ve heard all you women and your cosmetics too. God gives you one face, but you paint another on top of it. You dance and prance and lisp; you call God’s creations by pet names, and you excuse your sexpot ploys by pleading ignorance”
What is Hamlet’s accusation?
WHOM is he accusing? How do you know?
7.What conclusions can we draw about Hamlet’s feelings for Ophelia BEFORE and AFTER Polonius’ involvement (when he tells her to stay away from Hamlet in Act 1, scene 3)?
Women are two-faced, deceitful liars
Ophelia, Gertrude, ALL women
Before Hamlet loved her, sent her love notes and gifts
After He is upset with her betrayal and no longer loves her (Get to a Brothel!)
He still loves her and insults her to protect her (Get to a convent)

13. Ophelia’s Reaction Images to describe Hamlet Tone= admiration
Ophelia is sad and miserable.
Driving her to a depression?
Before Hamlet had sweet words for her
Now cruel and harsh

14. Claudius’ Plan for Hamlet
Lesson 15
How does Claudius Characterize Hamlet’s state of mind? What does he think is causing Hamlet’s behavior?
What does Claudius fear may “hatch” from Hamlet’s “sadness”?
How does he hope to “prevent” this?
What does Claudius plan for Hamlet to do there? How will this help?
It is NOT a broken heart it is some other kind of sadness.
Claudius fears Hamlet’s behavior might “hatch” some danger.
He will send Hamlet to England.
He will collect owed money. The change of scenery might do him so good.

15. What does Polonius believe is the cause of Hamlet’s “grief”?
What alternative plan does Polonius propose?
He still believes it is the rejection of Ophelia.
Have Gertrude speak with Hamlet and try to get information out of him. Polonius will hide and spy on them.

16. Let’s Watch!
Play within a Play

17. 3.2 Notes Enter ____________________ and ____________________.
Aim: What two central ideas are developed in this section, and how are they developed? P
Enter ____________________ and ____________________.
Hamlet reminds the players to ___________________________________________________
He warns them not to _______________________. He is worried they will ___________________.
p. 139
Enter ____________________, ____________________, and ____________________
Polonius informs Hamlet that _______________________ have _________________ his invitation to see the play.
Hamlet
3 players
Perform the scene he prepared just as they rehearsed.
“over-act”
Ruin his plan
Polonius
Guildenstern
Rosencrantz
The King and Queen
accepted

18. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
p. 141
Hamlet asks ____________________ , whom he trusts, a favor: to watch Claudius during the play. He wants a ________________________ of whether or not the king looks ____________________.
Enter ____________________, the King and Queen, Polonius, ____________________, ______________________________, and the guard.
Claudius asks Hamlet how he is doing and Hamlet’s response (__________________________) confuses him.
Horatio
2nd opinion
“guilty”
The players
Ophelia
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Nonsensical answer

19. Gertrude Ophelia flirts sarcastic TWO DAYS 4 months Gertrude Ophelia
Hamlet refuses a seat by ____________________ and says he prefers to sit near ____________________.
Hamlet ____________________ with Ophelia, confusing her.
He is ____________________-- he comments that he should be happy, afterall, his mother is only ____________________ after his father’s death (it’s actually been ____________________) p.
145
Players enter and perform the murder scene.
p. 147
Ophelia: “Tis brief, my lord.” / Hamlet: “As woman’s love” is a dig at ____________________, ____________________, and all women.
Gertrude
Ophelia
flirts
sarcastic
TWO DAYS
4 months
Gertrude
Ophelia

20. “The Mousetrap” “catch” clean consciences rises agree “guilty”
Hamlet calls the play ____________________-- it is meant to ____________________ the king.
It will not be offensive since we all have ___________________________ (sarcasm again!)
p. 153
Claudius ____________________ and quickly leaves.
p. 155
Hamlet and Horatio ____________________ Claudius looked ____________________.
According to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Claudius is in his room, upset after the play.
“The Mousetrap”
“catch”
clean consciences
rises
agree
“guilty”

21. Do you think you can play me
Gertrude has sent for Hamlet—she is very upset too.
p. 159
Hamlet is annoyed with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern—“___________________________________________________?”
p. 161
“Now could I drink hot blood and do such [bitter] business as the day would quake to look on” ( ). – Hamlet is angry and has his proof. This relates to the central ideas ___________________________­­­­­­­­­ and ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­______________________________.
Play within a Play
Do you think you can play me
Action vs. Inaction
Revenge

22. Act 3.3

23. Claudius’ Soliloquy
According to Claudius, what is eating away at him? Provide a line of evidence to support your claim.
The guilt is eating away at him.
“My guilt is stronger even than my intentions.”

24. Claudius says, “What kind of prayer is there for me
Claudius says, “What kind of prayer is there for me? “Dear Lord, forgive me for my horrible murder? He clearly wants forgiveness, but if you continue reading, why does he find it difficult to ask for forgiveness? In other words, what stands between him and forgiveness?
How can he be forgiven when he still has all that he gained from his sin (and he does not want to give them up!)?

25. Hamlet’s Reaction “I could do it easily now.”  KILL Claudius
What is it that Hamlet says he will do?
According to Hamlet, why can’t he go through with it?
“I could do it easily now.”  KILL Claudius
Since Claudius is praying, it won’t be revenge because he would go to heaven.

26. What resolution does Hamlet make?
What central idea(s) does this relate to?
What is the irony of the King’s lines?
He says he will wait to kill him when he has committed sins and he would go to hell.
Revenge
Action vs. Inaction
Claudius was unable to pray—If Hamlet had taken action, he would have gotten his revenge.

27. In the beginning:

28. Hamlet Confronts Gertrude
Underline the images that Hamlet uses to describe the “act”. How does the use of contrasting images impact Hamlet’s accusations?
To what “act” of Gertrude’s does Hamlet refer?
According to Hamlet, how does “heaven” react to Gertrude’s deed? Who or what is Heaven?
How does Gertrude react to Hamlet’s words? What does her reaction indicate about her character?

29. What does Hamlet ask Gertrude to look at?
Underline the images Hamlet uses to describe his father. What is the impact of these lines?
Underline the image that Hamlet uses to describe his uncle. What is the effect of this image following the other images?
According to Hamlet in lines, why has Gertrude not married Claudius for love?

30. According to Hamlet in lines, Gertrude is not mad
According to Hamlet in lines, Gertrude is not mad. So who or what is the cause of her choosing Claudius?
Underline the images Hamlet uses to describe Gertrude in lines 88–91. What is the cumulative impact of these images?
Paraphrase lines 92–98. What does Hamlet suggest about Gertrude?
How does Gertrude react to Hamlet’s accusations in lines 99–102? What does her reaction indicate about her character?

31. Hamlet Acts II and III Review Cards

32. On the next test, you will be given the advantage of using 10-15 notecards.
What should be on the cards?
Characters and what happened to them in Acts 2 & 3.
Central ideas and how they are developed in Acts 2 & 3.
Important plot points in Acts 2 & 3.

33. Examples of card topics
Characters
Hamlet
Ophelia
Polonius
Claudius
Gertrude
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Horatio
Central Ideas
Mortality
Action vs. Inaction
Revenge
Madness
Plot Points
Hamlet’s plan
Treatment of Ophelia
The play within the play
Death of Polonius

34. Act 3 in Cartoon