Hamlet Act 4 Review Questions

Where does Hamlet tell Claudius that Polonius is? At first he says “at supper” then he goes on to say that he’s near the stairs in the lobby
Does Hamlet show remorse for killing Polonius? How can you explain Hamlet’s reaction? No, he kind of speaks about it jokingly
After telling Hamlet that he is to go to England, and after the exit of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, what does Claudius reveal when he is left alone on stage? In the letters that he has sent to England, they say to kill Hamlet
Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern aware of Claudius’s intentions? Why does Claudius feel certain that his request will be carried out? Doesn’t seem like it,he knows people there (“thou mayst not coldly set our sovereign process which imports at full, by letters congruing to that effect”)
With whom does Hamlet speak in act IV scene iv? What does Hamlet learn from this person? Hamlet speaks to a captain of Fortinbras. He learns that the land they are trying to get ( a part of Poland) is not worth anything, and they are trying to defeat it just for the glory
How does Hamlet respond to this news? He is very frustrated with himself and begins to compare himself to Fortinbras. He is frustrated because Fortinbras doesn’t have any reason to start a war or kill people, but he still does it for the glory, and Hamlet feels like he is weak because he has a reason, his fathers death, and hasn’t taken action yet.
In what condition is Ophelia when she comes before Gertrude and Claudius? What are the two subjects of Ophelia’s songs? Ophelia keeps babbling, she may be depressed, shes not in a good condition, she is starting to go crazy. The 2 subjects are Polonius and Hamlet.
What might be the causes of Ophelia’s madness? She has basically lost Hamlet, and now Hamlet killed her father
Who has returned from France, and what are the people saying to this person? Laertes has returned from France, people are telling him that Claudius killed Polonius.
Why is Claudius so worried about what is being said to Laertes? Laertes is starting a rebellion, Claudius doesn’t want to get blamed, or even worse killed
What does Laertes seek when he bursts into the presence of the king? He seeks his father
How does Laertes’s reaction to the killing of his father differ from Hamlet’s reaction to the killing of his father? Laertes is taking action immediately, while Hamlet still hasn’t even taken action
What does Claudius tell Laertes to calm him down? What does Claudius say to Laertes at the end of scene V? Claudius says that he isn’t guilty of killing Polonius. Claudius says “And where th’ offense is, let the great ax fall.”
Why might Claudius want to win Laertes over? He knows Laertes already had the power to potentially start a rebellion
How does Hamlet come to be back in Denmark? He was captured by pirates
How does Claudius feel about Hamlet’s return to Denmark? He’s confused, and somewhat angry. (” What should this mean? Are all the rest come back? or is it some abuse (trickery), and no such thing?”
What happens to Ophelia? She has drowned
Is Ophelia’s death a suicide? (opinionated question)
What are the consequences of the killing of Polonius? (opinionated question)
Is Hamlet responsible for the death of Ophelia? Why or Why not? (Opinionated question)
July 5, 2019