Explanation:
The play-within-a-play in Act III of Hamlet, also known as “The Mousetrap,” represents Elizabethan drama in several ways. First, it is a meta-theatrical moment that comments on the nature of theatre and its ability to hold a mirror up to reality. Second, it features many of the elements that were typical of Elizabethan drama, such as revenge, deception, and political intrigue. Finally, it serves as a way for Shakespeare to explore the themes of appearance vs. reality and the power of illusion.