AP ENGLISH
HAMLET – ACT IV
ACT 4 Scene 1
During the rest of the play, watch for recurring images of ulcers and abscesses which
burst and spread infection and decay.
1. How does the queen explain Hamlet’s acts to the King? Do you think she is trying
to protect him or do you believe she thinks he is really mad? Explain.
ACT 4 Scene 2
2. To what does Hamlet compare Rosencrantz?
ACT 4 Scene 3
3. What does Claudius ask the king of England to do? Note that each King addresses
the other by the name of his country.
ACT 4 Scene 4
4. What does Fortinbras ask of the king of Denmark?
5. Hamlet’s next soliloquy describes his greatest weakness; what is this weakness?
How does he compare himself to Fortinbras? Hamlet is now absent from the
stage until Act V. Such absences in Shakespeare’s plays, according to one critic,
Maynard Mack, usually warn us that the character will be changed on his return.
ACT 4 Scene 5
6. Describe all the things that have happened to Ophelia. Do you think they are
sufficient cause for madness?
7. What role is Laertes beginning to play? What is the difference between his
reaction to his father’s death and Hamlet’s reaction to his father’s death?
ACT 4 Scene 6
8. What has happened to Hamlet on his voyage to England?
ACT 4 Scene 7
9. What TWO reasons does the king give for not punishing Hamlet for killing
Polonius? Is the king’s reasoning justified? Explain. Note that the king does not
admit to Laertes that he (the king) had arranged for Hamlet’s death in England.
10. How does the king now plot with Laertes for Hamlet’s death?
11. The king, unlike Hamlet does not philosophize “To be or not to be…” Instead he
says, “That we would do/ we should do when we would for this world changes.”
Which philosophy do you find more effective?
12. Why do you think Shakespeare chooses the queen to describe Ophelia’s death?
Act 4 has seen a number of decisive actions. From now on the events simply play out
the inevitable results of these actions.