Hamlet act 4

How does Claudius find out that Hamlet has killed Polonius? Gertrude told him
What is the King’s main concern when he finds out that Polonius has been killed? Why does he decide to turn to his “wisest friend”? How he will handle the public crisis without damaging his hold on Denmark. That would look bad in front of people.
Who is instructed to bring Polonius’s body to the chapel? Guildenstern and Rosencrantz
What does Hamlet tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about the location of Polonius’s body? Hamlet refuses to give them a straight answer, instead saying, “The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body.” He accuses them being spies of the king.
Hamlet agrees to go with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to see whom? Claudius
Why does Claudius tell his courtiers that Hamlet-mad as he is-must not be confined? The masses love Hamlet and would not like it.
How does Hamlet act when the king asks him about the location of Polonius’s body? Hamlet is by turns insane, coy, and clever, saying that Polonius is being eaten by worms, and that the king could send a messenger to find Polonius in heaven or seek him in hell himself.
What does Claudius want the English ruler to do with Hamlet? Do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern know that? Alone with Claudius’ thoughts, Claudius states his hope that English ruler will obey the sealed orders (putting him to death) he has sent to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
For what purpose does Fortinbras send his captain to greet Claudius? Ask for permission to travel through his lands.
What does Hamlet learn about the Norwegian soldiers when he questions the captain? That the armies will fight over “a little patch of land/ that hath in it no profit but the name.” They are going boldly to fight over a worthless piece of land.
What contrast does Hamlet note between Fortinbras and himself? Fortinbras and the army are seeking so little gain (bloody Omar over insignificant), but Hamlet has a great deal to gain from seeking his own bloody revenge on Claudius, and yet he still delays and fails to act toward his purpose. He declares that it’ll be bloody now.
Why does Gertrude state that she won’t see Ophelia? Why does she soon change her mind? Because Hamlet killed her father, Polonius and Ophelia will be depressed and sad. / Because Horatio says that Ophelia should be pitied, explaining that her grief has made her disordered and incoherent.
What is Claudius’s theory about why Ophelia is acting so oddly? Is he right? It’s b/c of her father’s death, he is right.
Why does Laertes return from France? TO avenge his father’s death
Why does Claudius figure he has to placate Laertes? What do Laertes’ followers want for Laertes? Otherwise Laertes might muster enough men to overthrow Claudius. Laertes followers want him to be Claudius successor.
How does Claudius calm down Laertes? What does he promise? Promises to help punish his father’s killer.
What happens to the ship Hamlet is on? Hamlet sent a letter that his ship was taken by pirates. -> Sailors gave a letter to Horatio.
How does Hamlet get back to Denmark? Pirates have returned him to Denmark.
How does Horatio find Hamlet? Sailors led Horatio to the countryside near the castle.
What two reasons does Claudius give Laertes for failing to apprehend Hamlet and punish him for Polonius’ death? Out of respect for Hamlet’s mom (it’ll hurt his mom if Claudius hurt Hamlet) and because the public adores Hamlet – he doesn’t want the uprising.
How does Claudius learn that Hamlet is back in Denmark? Hamlet sends a message to the king and one to the queen.
What is the King’s original plan for killing Hamlet? Arranging a fencing match in which supposedly blunt foil is sharpened
Laertes and the King come up with “backup” plans in case the sharpened foil, alone, does not kill Hamlet. How do they intend to make “triply” sure that Hamlet dies? They add poise to the trip of the foil and poison a cup of wine.
How does Ophelia die? She drowns while hanging flowers on a tree over a stream.
Poetry A type of literature that is written in meter
Quatrain A stanza or poem of four lines
Refrain A line or group of lines that is repeated throughout a poem, usually after every stanza
Romanticism The principles and ideals of the Romantic movement in literature and the arts during the late 18h and early 19th centuries. Romanticism, which was a reaction to the classicism of the early 18th century, favored feeling over reason and placed great emphasis on the subjective experience of the individual.
Simile A figure of speech in which two things are compared using the word “like” or “as”
Sonnet A lyric poem that is 14 lines long
Stanza Two or more lines of poetry that together form one of the divisions of a poem.
Stress The prominence or emphasis given to particular syllables. Stressed syllables usually have long.
Synecdoche A figure of speech in which a part is used to designate the whole or the whole is used to designate a part. For example, “all hands on deck” means “all men on deck.”
Trope A figure of speech, such as metaphor or metonymy, in which words are not used in their literal sense but in a figurative sense.
Verse A single metrical line of poetry, or poetry in general.
July 31, 2019