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Hamlet Discussion Questions, Act 4, Lecture notes of Acting

Baton Rouge Community CollegeActing

A) Hamlet says that Polonius is “at supper.” Then he goes on to explain that Polonius is “Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A / certain convocation of ...

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Ms. Kizlyk – AP Language Semester 2
Hamlet Discussion Questions, Act 4
Act 4, Scene 1
1) When Gertrude speaks with Claudius for the first time since her encounter with Hamlet, she tells
Claudius that Hamlet is “mad as the sea and wind when both contend / Which is mightier” and
killed Polonius (lines 7 & 8).
A) Did she betray Hamlet?
B) Do you think that she really believes that Hamlet is mad or is she trying to protect his secret?
2) How does the King react to hearing that Hamlet killed Polonius? (lines 13 – 24 & 29 – 33).
3) Does he show any grief over the death of Polonius?
4) How does this scene end?
5) What have we learned about Claudius’ character in this scene?
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Hamlet Discussion Questions, Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1

  1. When Gertrude speaks with Claudius for the first time since her encounter with Hamlet, she tells Claudius that Hamlet is “mad as the sea and wind when both contend / Which is mightier” and killed Polonius (lines 7 & 8). A) Did she betray Hamlet? B) Do you think that she really believes that Hamlet is mad or is she trying to protect his secret?
  2. How does the King react to hearing that Hamlet killed Polonius? (lines 13 – 24 & 29 – 33).
  3. Does he show any grief over the death of Polonius?
  4. How does this scene end?
  5. What have we learned about Claudius’ character in this scene?

Act 4, Scene 2

  1. After taking care of Polonius’s body, Hamlet runs into Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. A) Why does he call Rosencrantz a “sponge?” What does he mean? (line 12) B) What does Hamlet warn Rosencrantz of in lines 16 – 21?
  2. Hamlet’s murder of Polonius at the end of Act III is one of the most disturbing moments in the play. A) Considering that Hamlet has just killed someone and hidden the body, does that make him no better than Claudius? B) Do you consider Hamlet to be a hero at this point? C) Do you think Hamlet is justified in his anger towards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

B) When Claudius again asks Hamlet where Polonius is, Hamlet then says, “In heaven. Send hither to see. If your messenger / find him not there, seek him i' th' other / place yourself. But if indeed you find him not / within this month, you shall nose him as you go up / the stairs into the lobby” (lines 37 – 41). What does he mean?

  1. How do you feel about the way that Hamlet talked about Polonius’s dead body with Claudius?
  2. The scene ends with Claudius delivering a soliloquy in lines 63 – 77. He is asking for the king of England to execute Hamlet. A) Why does he think England will help him carry out his plan? B) Why do you think Claudius wants Hamlet executed instead of just being banished? C) Why would Claudius have Hamlet executed in England rather than Denmark?

Act 4, Scene 4

  1. What information do we learn about Fortinbras from the conversation between the Norwegian caption and Hamlet? (lines 1 – 30)
  2. Hamlet’s soliloquy at the end of this scene shows the effect this this conversation had on him in lines 33 – 69. A) What do you think was the point for Shakespeare to include this scene with Fortinbras at this point in the play? B) What does Hamlet believe has kept him from acting decisively against Claudius? C) Why does Hamlet admire Fortinbras? D) What is Hamlet’s resolve at the end of this scene? Do you think Hamlet is serious this time?

B) Do Ophelia's explicit songs give us a better sense of her relationship with Hamlet?

  1. After Ophelia leaves, Claudius discusses Ophelia and other problems with Gertrude. A) Is the death of Polonius the only reason for Ophelia's insanity, as Claudius believes in lines 80
  • 81? To what extent do you think her betrayal of Hamlet weighs on her mind? B) What are the problems Claudius lists in lines 82 - 103?
  1. What news does the messenger bring Claudius? (lines 108 – 118)
  2. Describe what Laertes, Claudius, and Gertrude speak about after Laertes storms in (lines 122 – 177).
  1. What is significant about the flowers that Ophelia gives out to each person in lines 199 – 210?
  2. What is the political deal Claudius offers Laertes at the end of his scene? (lines 226 – 245).
  3. What does Claudius mean in line 244 when he says, “Where th’ offence is, let the great axe fall?” What is ironic about this?
  4. Laertes and Fortinbras are both considered to be foils of Hamlet. How is Laertes seen as a foil to Hamlet in this scene? Act 4 Scene 6
  5. Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet (lines 13 – 31). A) What happened to Hamlet during his voyage to England? (lines 13 – 22)

B) After Laertes reminds Claudius of what he has lost, how does Claudius try to appease him? (lines 32 – 37) C) What does this show us about Claudius’ character? Why does he need Laertes on his side?

  1. Claudius reads the letter from Hamlet and learns that he is alive. Laertes says, “It warms the very sickness in my heart / That I shall live and tell him to his teeth, /’Thus diddest thou’” (lines 61 – 63). We know that Laertes wants revenge for his father’s murder. Think about how Claudius uses this for his own gain. A) What does Claudius initially say about his plans for getting rid of Hamlet? (lines 69 – 76) B) How does Claudius flatter Laertes? (lines 80 – 86 & 108 - 120)

C) Why do you think Claudius go to great lengths to flatter Laertes? D) Claudius asks Laertes if he loved Polonius beginning in line 126. Explain what Claudius is saying to Laertes in lines 126 – 143. E) How does Claudius use words to manipulate Laertes? For what purpose?

  1. Claudius tells Laertes that “revenge should have no bounds” in line 146. A) What scheme is Claudius’s scheme for Laertes? (lines 145 – 158) B) What does Laertes add to the plan? (lines 159 – 168).