Name_____________                                                                                      English 11

Mrs. Moorman/ Mrs. Murray                                                                           Period____

 

Hamlet Act 3 Scene 4

Summary – What happens in this scene?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Characters –   Who are they?  What is their role in the scene?

 

Hamlet:

 

 

 

Queen:

 

 

 

Polonius:

 

 

 

Ghost:

 

 

Important Lines – Interpret each quote in your own words and then explain why it is important.

 

1) Queen: Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.
     Hamlet: Mother, you have my father much offended. 3.4.12-13

 

 

 

2) Hamlet: Look here upon th's picture, and on this,
The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.
See what a grace was seated on this brow;
Hyperion's curls; the front of Jove himself;
An eye like Mars, to threaten and command;
A station like the herald Mercury
New lighted on a heaven-kissing hill:
A combination and a form indeed
Where every god did seem to set his seal
To give the world assurance of a man.
This was your husband. Look you now what follows.
Here is your husband, like a mildew'd ear
Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? 3.4.53-75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Queen: O, speak to me no more!
These words like daggers enter in mine ears. 3.4.107-108

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Ghost: Do not forget. This visitation
Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.  3.4.126-127

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)Hamlet: Pointing to Polonius
I do repent; but heaven hath pleas'd it so,
To punish me with this, and this with me,
That I must be their scourge and minister.
I will bestow him, and will answer well
The death I gave him. 3.4. 194-198

 

 

Further Questions –

 

1)      Who does Hamlet kill at the beginning of this scene?  Who did he believe he was killing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)      What does Hamlet say to his mother?  What does he try to convince her is true?  To what extant does he succeed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)      How does the Queen react to the news Hamlet gives her?  What do her words tell us about how she views Hamlet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)      Based on his words and his actions, how does Hamlet feel about Polonius’s death?