Words of the Day #3

Cicatrice - new tissue that forms over a wound and later contracts into a scar; noun

The cicatrice of Sally's knee became infected when she kept reopening it by playing soccer.

Superflous - being more than is sufficient or required; excessive; adj.

I think the superflous flow of hats that we were making wasn't going to be enough to sell.

Words of the Day #2

Beguile - to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude; verb

The Joker beguile Batman into telling all his secrets.

Unction - an act of anointing, especially as a medical treatment or religious rite; noun

The unction of the serum in the Serum Run of 1925, was the most historic event of all time, because children were cured from diptheia. 

Words of the Day

Consummation - the act of consummating; completion; noun

The consummation of the homework last night lasted for two hours.

Contumely - insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment; noun

The contumely cat left the room when he didn't land on all four feet. 

HAMLET Act 3 Scene 3-4 Questions

1) What does Claudius plan to do with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Hamlet?

Claudius plans to send them all to England.

2) What is Polonius going to do while Hamlet speaks with his mother?

Polonius is going to hide in the Queen's chambers so he can listen in on the converstation.

3) List three important things about Claudius’ soliloquy.
a) Asking for forgiveness

b) Knows he can't get forgiveness, because he still wants the things that he killed for

c) Wants to go to Heaven, and not Hell

4) Why is it odd that Hamlet sees the king praying?

Hamlet is suppose to kill the king, and thinks he is pure evil, but seeing him praying is weird, because he is suppose to be this evil person.

5) Why doesn’t Hamlet take this opportunity for revenge?

Hamlet thinks that since the king is praying he will go to heaven afterwards, so Hamlet wants to wait until the king is doing something sinful in order to make sure he goes to Hell.

Scene IV
1) Describe Polonius’ advice to Gertrude.

To make sure Hamlet is sent away, and not to "spook" him.

2) What is the significance of the following quote: “How now, a rat? Dead! For a ducat, dead!

Hamlet knew someone was listening in on the converstation between his mother and him, so he kills the spy calling him a rat (Polonius).

3) What is odd about the following quote: A bloody dead; almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother.

Hamlet is saying that killing Polonius was almost as bad as the Queen helping Claudius kill the former king. 

4) Why might Gertrude say, “What have I done, that thou dar’st wag thy tongue in noise so rude against me.”

Gertrude doesn't understand why Hamlet is being so rude to her.

5) What descriptions does Hamlet use to compare his father and his uncle?
King Hamlet

- God like
- Worshipped
- Kind
- Warrior

Claudius

- Nasty
- Stayr
- Ugly
- Tryant

6) What point does Hamlet make by comparing the men?

That his father was a noble man, and his brother is a nasty man. 

7) What is disturbing about the following: Nay, but to live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed; stewed in corruption; honeying, and making love over the nasty sty.”

Hamlet is saying that his mother is making love to the man that killed her husband.

8) What stops Hamlet’s ranting and raving at Gertrude? What does this figure tell Hamlet?

The ghost of the former king appears. The ghost tells Hamlet to be easy on his mother, and to say goodnight.

9) By the end of the act, Hamlet has made many statements about humanity, in general. Explain a few of his points. Do his opinions reflect his madness.

Hamlet's opinions do not reflect madness. Hamlet has every right to get upset, because everyone is spying on one another, and there is no trust between anyone. The society of which Hamlet is trapped in, is making him go mad.

10) Explain the differences between the ghost in Act I with the ghost in Act III. Why might these differences reflect Hamlet’s insanity?

Ghost in Act 1 begs Hamlet to avenge him, but the ghost in Act III tells Hamlet to take it easy. 

Hamlet Vocabulary Words #2

Consummation - the act of consummating; completion; noun

Contumely - insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment; noun

Beguile - to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude; verb

Unction - an act of anointing, especially as a medical treatment or religious rite; noun

Cicatrice - new tissue that forms over a wound and later contracts into a scar; noun

Superflous - being more than is sufficient or required; excessive; adj.

Requiem - a celebration of this Mass; noun

Augury - an omen, token, or indication; noun

Felicity - a source of happiness; noun

Calamity - a great misfortune or disaster, as a flood or serious injury; noun

Hamlet Act 3 Questions Scene 1 & 2

Scene 1

1. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to Polonius?

They tell the King that there is something wrong with Hamlet, but he won't tell them what. He probably wouldn't tell them because he knew that they were spying on him.

2. How does Claudius react when Polonius says, "…with devotion's visage, And pious action we do sugar o'er/ The devil himself"?

He begins to feel really guilty because he realizes that he is always covering up his massive sin (murdering his brother) with his thoughts and words, just as Polonius is saying people usually do when pretending to believe in God.

3. What plan do Polonius, Claudius and Ophelia now put into action?

Ophelia is going to talk to Hamlet and try and figure out what is wrong with him while Claudius and Polonius spy on them.

4. What is the nature of Hamlet's soliloquy, lines 57-91?

It's very dark. He casually talks about taking action, suicide, and the afterlife. He is upset that his mother married his uncle, and he is upset with Ophelia because she is pretending not to love him though he knows she does.

5. What is Hamlet's main argument against suicide?

We don't know what happens after death. He doesn't know if death will be greater than life or worse than life, which is why he isn't willing to take his life.

6. Why does Hamlet treat Ophelia as cruelly as he does? What has changed him?

He knew that Polonius was using Ophelia to spy on him so he didn't want to get to close to her because of his plan of revenge on the King. He is also mad at her because she betrayed him.

7. What thinly veiled threat to Claudius does Hamlet voice, after he becomes of his hidden presence? (lines 148-150)

He says that all people, except one (Claudius), that are already married shall live.

8. At the end of this scene, what does the King decide to do with Hamlet?

He wants to send Hamlet to England.


Scene 2

9. What qualities in Horatio cause Hamlet to enlist his assistance?

Horatio hasn't given Hamlet a reason not to trust him. He understands what Hamlet is trying to do. Horatio is the only person that Hamlet trusts.

10. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do?

He asks him to observe King Claudius's reactions to the play. If he noticed the King getting nervous or acting strange, Hamlet will know that he is guilty of killing Old Hamlet and will have the proof he needs to be able to take action against him.

11. Summarize what happens in the play-within-a-play.

The play-within-a-play basically tells the story of Old Hamlet's murder. There is a little scene that acts out the story, sort of like a teaser (or a movie trailer). Then the actual play starts with a king an queen being all lovey-dovey to each other. Some words are exchanged, the queen leaves and the king falls asleep. Then, the king's nephew enters and puts poison in the king's ear killing him.

12. Why, in line 233, does Hamlet refer to the play-within-a-play as "The Mouse-trap"?

Because Hamlet has set a trap for King Claudius. Depending on the King's reaction will determine if he killed Old Hamlet.

13. What is the King's reaction to the play?

He brings the house lights and storms out of the theater making everyone leave. He basically confessed to the murder.

14. In lines 354-363, to what object does Hamlet compare himself? Why?

He compares himself to a recorder that people 'play'. He feels that even though people are trying to 'play' him, he will not stand for it. (he is much to smart for that and always a step ahead of everyone.

15. As Hamlet goes to his mother at the end of this scene, what does he admonish himself to
do?

He has pretty much lost all faith in her. He hates her, but he isn't going to kill her. He just wishes that she weren't alive anymore.