Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1 Close Reading Worksheet

Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, explore literary devices, and improve critical thinking skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Act 3, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and emphasizing the protagonist’s internal conflict as expressed in his famous soliloquy: “To be, or not to be?”. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Consider using this resource as an in-class group activity; it may facilitate deeper conversations about characters, plot developments, and literary craft. By engaging with this close reading analysis activity, students will:

• Read for literal comprehension
• Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed
• Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
• Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
• Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor
• Determine the function of a given excerpt
• Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
• Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision