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Mrs. WileyName______

Hamlet – Act Four Study Guide

Scene 1

  1. What does Gertrude tell Claudius?
  1. What does Claudius realize about Hamlet? Whom does Claudius think will be blamed for Hamlet’s crime? What will Claudius’s excuse be?
  1. What is Hamlet doing at this time?
  1. How is Claudius’s speech a reflection of his selfishness?

Scene 2

  1. What insult does Hamlet use to refer to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Explain his meaning.
  1. What does Hamlet say about Claudius?
  1. Based on this scene, is Hamlet sane or not? Support your answer.

Scene 3

  1. What is Claudius’s problem with punishing Hamlet?
  1. Where is Polonius?
  1. How does “…a king may go a progress through the gut of a beggar” (lines 33-34)? What do you think is Hamlet’s intent when he says this to Claudius?
  1. Claudius tells Hamlet he is being sent where? What is the king to do with Hamlet?

Act Four/Scene 4

  1. Young Fortinbras shows up for the first time on his way to fight with Poland. What is the Captain’s opinion of their mission?
  1. Hamlet’s soliloquy in this scene is about what? Against what does he measure his issues this time?
  1. What problem do you see with Hamlet’s continued delay for vengeance?

Scene 5

  1. Who wants to see Gertrude? Why? What does Gertrude say about the power of guilt? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
  1. Ophelia is crazy. What can we infer from her songs about her relationship with Hamlet? Does this change your opinion of her? Why/Why not?
  1. Claudius speaks of grief coming in “battalions.” List the tragedies thus far.

a)b)

b)d)

What tragedy is he forgetting that caused them all?

  1. How has Laertes become a problem for Claudius?
  1. What does Laertes want to know? How does his attitude contrast with Hamlet’s?
  1. Claudius is certain to emphasize to Laertes what? How is this inaccurate?
  1. How does Ophelia’s madness affect Laertes?
  1. What does Claudius promise Laertes?

Act Four/Scene 6

  1. What news does Horatio receive from Hamlet? What is Horatio to do?
  1. Many experts have been critical ofShakespeare’s use of this plot angle. How could this development have been handled differently? Describe.

Scene 7

  1. What two reasons does Claudius give Laertes for not immediately punishing Hamlet for the death of Polonius? Do you agree/disagree with these reasons? Why?
  1. What does Claudius assure Laertes?
  1. What is the message to Claudius from Hamlet?
  1. Claudius says, “There lives with in the very flame of love / A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it; / And nothing is at a like goodness still; / For goodness, growing to a pleurisy, / Dies in his own too much…”(lines 125-129). What is he saying about any type of passion or desire? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
  1. How does Claudius plan to use Hamlet’s jealousy of Laertes’ swordsmanship to bring about Hamlet’s death?
  1. How does Laertes add to the plan? What’s Claudius’s backup plan?
  1. What news does Gertrude bring? How did it happen? What advice would you have given Ophelia had she come to you?
  1. What is your reaction to Claudius’s final words in this scene?