3. In the most high and palmy state of Rome, A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets 4. The canker galls the infants of the spring Too oft before their buttons be disclosed, And in the morn and liquid dew of youth Contagious blastments are most imminent. 5. This above all, to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not be false to any man. 6. My fate cries out And makes each petty artere in this body As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve. 7. Something’s rotten in the state of Denmark. 8. Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge To prick and sting her. Now, select one of your analyses to submit for assessment. Assignment Folder: 3.2 Passage Analysis Assignment: Comprehension Questions Acts II and III For this activity, you will be reading Act II and III of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark. You will have to access your own text for this purpose. As you read, complete the questions attached below. Hamlet Act II Comprehension Questions Scene i Who is Reynaldo? What does Polonius want Reynaldo to do when he gets to France? What does this reveal about Polonius’ character? What has Ophelia so upset? What mistake does Polonius fear he may have made? Scene ii Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Why have the King and Queen invited them to Elsinore and what to they want them to do? How might you feel if your parents were to do something like this? How might you react? What news do Voltimond and Cornelius return with from Norway? How do the King and Queen react to Polonius’ hypothesis about what is wrong with Hamlet? What ‘plan’ does Polonius suggest to test is his suspicions are correct? What realization does Polonius come to about Hamlet’s madness (lines 204-205)? How do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern react to Hamlet’s questions about why they are there? How does this give his a ‘heads up’ to their purpose? What group arrives in Elsinore? What private request does Hamlet make of one of the players? What does Hamlet plan to add to the play? What plan does Hamlet reveal to the audience once he is alone on stage? Why does Hamlet feel it necessary to ‘test’ Claudius? Hamlet Act III Comprehension Questions Scene i Have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had any luck discovering what is bothering Hamlet? Closely examine Hamlet’s most famous soliloquy on page 137 (lines 57-91). Summarize the arguments he is contemplating in this speech. Do the arguments Hamlet contemplates still have merit in today’s world? Explain. How does Hamlet respond to Ophelia when she goes to return some of his gifts to him? Why does she say she must return them? How does Hamlet treat Ophelia in this scene? Is Claudius convinced that Polonius was correct about what ails Hamlet? What does the King plan to do about Hamlet at this point? Why do you think he wants to get Hamlet out of the picture? How does Polonius respond to the King’s suggestion?What reasoning does he offer for listening in? Scene ii What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do during the performance of the play? What has Hamlet done with the play and what is the play titled? How does Claudius respond to the play? Why does Hamlet feel his plan has been successful? Who does Rosencrantz say wants to see Hamlet privately? What does Hamlet reveal to the audience about this meeting? Scene iii What frame of mind is Claudius in as this scene opens? What plan does he have for Hamlet? How have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern showed their loyalty for the King and Queen but disloyalty for Hamlet? What truth does Claudius reveal about his crimes? What was the motivation behind them? At the close of this scene Hamlet plans to kill Claudius. What argument persuades him to wait? Scene iv Why does Polonius hide behind a curtain in the Queen’s bedchamber when Hamlet comes to see her (as she requested in 3.2)? Why is the Queen afraid of Hamlet in this scene? Why does Polonius yell from behind the curtain? What does Hamlet do to Polonius? Who did he think he was doing it to? What does Hamlet confront his mother about that shocks her? Why does King Hamlet’s ghost appear? What promise does Hamlet ask his mother to make? How does the scene end? Assignment Folder: 3.2 Comprehension Questions Acts II & III