| What actions does Claudius take after learning about Polonius’s death? | He wants to find the body and get rid of ithe also wants to send Hamlet away to England |
| In her report of the death of Polonius, how does Gertrude try to protect her son? | She said that he was mad when he did itAlso she said he called out “rat!” right before implying that hamlet thought that a rat was behind the curtain, not polonius |
| Summarize Scene 1 | -Gertrude and Claudius are speaking-She tells him of Polonius’s murder-He is worried and says they’ll blame them because they knew Hamlet was mad and didn’t keep him on a tight leash-They decide they need to get people to forgive Hamlet-Claudius summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find out where the body is |
| How does Hamlet show a complete disrespect for Rosencrantz and guildenstern? | He uses the sponge analogy and implies that their only use is to soak up information and report it back to the kingOnce the king gets the info, they’re useless |
| Summarize Scene 2 | -Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ask Hamlet where the body is-Hamlet insults them, basically calling them useless and gives them a couple riddles-He then asks them to bring him to Claudius |
| How would you describe Hamlet’s behavior when he is face to face with Claudius following Polonius’s death? | He is hostile, threatening ClaudiusHe even tells him that he’s going to hell/go to hell |
| What reason does Claudius give Hamlet for sending him to England? What is his real purpose? | He now says he is sending him there for Hamlet’s safety and to protect himBUT he is actually sending Hamlet there to be killed |
| Where is the body of Polonius? | Up the stairs in the lobby |
| Who is going to kill Hamlet and why? | Claudius is making the King of England kill himThey have to do this because they were at war with Denmark and lost badly so they need to pay their respects to Denmark by obeying him |
| Summarize scene 3 | -Hamlet comes and tells Claudius where the body is (after insulting him)-Claudius tells him that he’s going to England-Hamlet seems happy to go, and he leaves with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern |
| How valuable is the land in Poland Fortinbras hopes to gain by going to war? | It is not valuable at all |
| In his soliloquy, what comparison does Hamlet draw between himself and Fortinbras? | Unlike Fortinbras, who is fighting for honor, he has better, more valid reasons to fight (avenge his father’s death) |
| Summarize scene 4 | -Fortinbras and Norway arrive to pass through and sends a captain to tell the king of their arrival-The captain runs into Hamlet and tells him of the land they hope to acquire-Hamlet has a soliloquy in which he reveals that he thinks their plan is a waste of fighting and he has more to fight for |
| What has happened to Ophelia? What reason does Claudius give for what had happened? | She has gone crazy because of her father’s deathHe says she’s sad over her father’s death |
| Why does Gertrude initially refuse to see Ophelia? Why does she finally agree? | She feels guilty because she knows the exact way that Polonius died and can’t tell Ophelia (O does not know)She agrees to see her because Ophelia is spreading rumors about what happened to her dad and she again feels guilty that she doesn’t know anything |
| “When sorrows come, they come not single spies but in battalions” | Claudius to GertrudeWhen bad things occur, they always come in groups |
| What five major troubles does Claudius list that must be simultaneously dealt with? | 1. Ophelia’s dad is dead (His burial was quick, no ceremony)2. Hamlet is gone3. Laertes is secretly back4. Ophelia has gone mad5. People are talking (rumors about how Polonius died) |
| What kind of entrance does Laertes make into the castle? Why? | He breaks the door down and barges inHe is surrounded by tons of townspeople all chanting and yelling that Laertes should become the king He’s armed |
| Why is Laertes angry? What does he want? | He is mad because his dad is dead and he wants to know why. He wants to avenge his father |
| What is Laertes’s reaction to the sight of Ophelia? | He is upset, and angry. He’s worried because she is crazy |
| What does Ophelia do when she comes back? | She gives out many different kinds of flowers to the people in the room (Queen, King, Laertes) |
| What do we learn about Polonius’s funeral? | They buried him without a ceremony |
| What does Claudius promise Laertes in order to calm him down? | That if Claudius is in any way related to Polonius’s murder, he will allow Laertes to become king |
| What news of Hamlet does Horatio receive? | Hamlet’s ship was attacked by pirates and Hamlet went with them. Since he is prince they are treating him well and sending him back to Denmark(He is alive and coming home) |
| Where are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? | They are still on their way to England |
| Summarize Scene 6 | -A sailor gives Horatio a stack of letters from Hamlet-Horatio reads his and learns of Hamlet’s return-He then sets out to hand out the others |
| What two reasons does Claudius give Laertes for not punishing Hamlet? | 1. People would be mad2. Gertrude would be heartbroken**This shows Claudius loves Gertrude |
| What does Hamlet’s letter to Claudius say? | It says that he is coming back, alone |
| Learning that Hamlet has returned home, what plot do Claudius and Laertes devise? | -They are going to set up a fencing match between the two-On Laertes’s sword, they will put poison on the tip and not put the cap on, so it will look like an accident when Hamlet gets stabbed-If that does not work, they’ll put poison in Hamlet’s drink |
| Why does Claudius suggest this plan? | It will make Hamlet’d death look like an accident. It will look like they weren’t trying to kill Hamlet |
| Why does Claudius ask Laertes if his father was dear to him? What does Laertes say? | He wants to make sure the Laertes is set on getting revenge and will definitely go through with the planLaertes says yes and that he would even kill Hamlet in a place as holy as a church if he had to, showing his determination to get the job done |
| What dramatic purpose is served by having the news of Ophelia’s death come when it does? | It makes you worry that Laertes will be so angry, he’ll go off and kill Hamlet without a good reason |
| How did Ophelia die? | -She was along a brook, picking flowers-She was reaching for a branch, when it broke and she fell in-Her heavy clothes weighed her down, they were heavy with water and eventually pulled her to a “muddy death” |
| Was Ophelia’s drowning an accident or a suicide? Why? | Suicide because once she fell into the brook, she did not try to get out. She just let herself die (a brook is very shallow so it is difficult to drown in one) |
| What do the king and queen do at the end of the act? | They go follow Laertes to make sure he doesn’t make any rash, poor decisions |
| “Oh, from this time forth, my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth” | Hamlet to himselfFrom now on, he will be cruel and mean to everyone and do anything to fight for his cause |
hamlet act 4 study guide
July 9, 2019