Work for Mon. Dec. 12th: Hamlet: Act 4
Scene 1
1. What acting directions are given to Gertrude in Claudius' lines?
2. Quote the lines that show Gertrude is keeping Hamlet's secret.
3. What does the king mean when he says, "But, like the owner of a foul disease,/To keep it from divulging, let it feed / Even on the pith of life."
4. What lie does Gertrude tell Claudius?
5. What problem does the murder of Polonius cause for Claudius?
Scene 2
6. Hamlet calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern sponges. Why?
7. Find the pun spoken by Hamlet on p. 81. What does he mean in this pun?
Scene 3
8. Why can the King not "put the strong law" on Hamlet for murdering Polonius? Quote the lines that support your answer.
9. Explain Hamlet's answer on p. 82 to the King when he asks, "At supper? Where?"
10. Explain Hamlet's riddle to the King at the top of p. 83.
11. Quote the lines that show the King is using Polonius' death as a convenient excuse to send Hamlet to England.
12. Explain Hamlet's pun that begins, "My mother, Father and mother is man and wife, …"
13. Summarize the King's soliloquy on p. 83-84.
Scene 4
14. Why is Fortinbras in Denmark?
15. What is the Captain's answer when Hamlet asks why Fortinbras is attacking Poland?
16. Why does Hamlet think he has not yet killed the King (see soliloquy on p. 85)
17. What metaphor does Hamlet use to describe the land Fortinbras is attacking?
18. Explain how Hamlet uses Fortinbras as inspiration so that "from this time forth/My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth."
You can also work on your Acts 3 and 4 Character Development Chart, your Acts 3 and 4 Imagery Chart, and study for your Acts 1 – 3 Test (which is tomorrow!) Finally, you can work on your summative essay which is due this Friday.
Work for Mon. Dec. 12th: Hamlet: Act 4
Scene 1
1. What acting directions are given to Gertrude in Claudius' lines?
2. Quote the lines that show Gertrude is keeping Hamlet's secret.
3. What does the king mean when he says, "But, like the owner of a foul disease,/To keep it from divulging, let it feed / Even on the pith of life."
4. What lie does Gertrude tell Claudius?
5. What problem does the murder of Polonius cause for Claudius?
Scene 2
6. Hamlet calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern sponges. Why?
7. Find the pun spoken by Hamlet on p. 81. What does he mean in this pun?
Scene 3
8. Why can the King not "put the strong law" on Hamlet for murdering Polonius? Quote the lines that support your answer.
9. Explain Hamlet's answer on p. 82 to the King when he asks, "At supper? Where?"
10. Explain Hamlet's riddle to the King at the top of p. 83.
11. Quote the lines that show the King is using Polonius' death as a convenient excuse to send Hamlet to England.
12. Explain Hamlet's pun that begins, "My mother, Father and mother is man and wife, …"
13. Summarize the King's soliloquy on p. 83-84.
Scene 4
14. Why is Fortinbras in Denmark?
15. What is the Captain's answer when Hamlet asks why Fortinbras is attacking Poland?
16. Why does Hamlet think he has not yet killed the King (see soliloquy on p. 85)
17. What metaphor does Hamlet use to describe the land Fortinbras is attacking?
18. Explain how Hamlet uses Fortinbras as inspiration so that "from this time forth/My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth."
You can also work on your Acts 3 and 4 Character Development Chart, your Acts 3 and 4 Imagery Chart, and study for your Acts 1 – 3 Test (which is tomorrow!) Finally, you can work on your summative essay which is due this Friday.