Hamlet study questions on Act 4
Act 4 scene 1
Gertrude informs Claudius of Polonius’ murder 1-27
1.
What does Claudius ask his wife to “translate”?
2.
This short scene is the only time in the play that Claudius and Gertrude are alone
together. It is particularly significant therefore that they lie to each other. Show where they
are lying and about what.
3.
Give examples of Claudius’ self-centredness.
4.
How does Claudius signal a new separateness from Gertrude here?
5.
Give examples of Gertrude’s determination to stay loyal to her son.
6.
In line 21, Claudius uses a type of metaphor which has already been seen in the play,
but regarding a different theme. Why is this ironic?
7.
What does Gertrude compare Hamlet’s madness to?
Claudius decides that Hamlet should be sent away to England 28-45
8.
What time of day is it in this scene?
9.
How does Claudius justify sending Hamlet to England?
10.
In this section how does Claudius treat Gertrude?
11.
In lines 40-44, what does Claudius seem concerned about? What does this suggest
about his character?
Act 4 scene 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why does Hamlet hide the body of Polonius?
In line 11, Hamlet adapts a proverb to accuse Rosencrantz of what?
What does Hamlet compare Rosencrantz to?
What are the possible meanings of lines 27-8?
How does Hamlet insult the King in this scene?
Act 4 scene 3
1.
Why can’t Claudius “put the strong law on him” (put him on trial)?
2.
What does Claudius think of the Danish people?
3.
In lines 6-7, what theme does Claudius evoke and why is it ironic?
4.
What in Claudius’ language shows he cares about appearances?
5.
In taunting Claudius, how does Hamlet stress corruption?
6.
How does Hamlet show he understand Claudius’ words and sinister implications?
7.
Which lines reveal Hamlet’s obsession with his mother’s sexuality?
8.
What do Claudius’ final lines suggest about the relationship between England and
Denmark?
9.
Note once again the vocabulary of disease. What does it refer to this time?
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Act 4 scene 4
Hamlet meets Fortinbras’ army 1-31
1.
What does Fortinbras want from Claudius?
2.
Find examples of Fortinbras’ courtesy. Why do you think it is important that he be
thus portrayed?
3.
Why are the Poles and the Norwegians fighting?
4.
How does this passage express the idea of corruption?
5.
What does the sight of Fortinbras’ army provoke in Hamlet?
6.
What does this exchange with the Captain serve to remind Hamlet of?
Hamlet delivers his final soliloquy 32-66
7.
Hamlet’s fourth and last soliloquy contains five sections (Reminder: other soliloquies
are in 1.2.129-159 (“too too sullied flesh”), 2.2.547-603 (“What a rogue and peasant slave am
I”), 3.1.56-90 (“To be or not to be”) and this one 4.4.32-66). Find the lines which correspond
to these sections:
A) Everything I encounter prompts me to revenge:
B) Man has great intelligence, but somehow I delay, even though I have good cause:
C) Many examples prompt me, but this sight of Fortinbras’ army teaches me that honour must
be defended:
D) I have great cause, yet do nothing, but I see thousands of man about to die for a trivial
cause:
E) From now on, I will pursue only revenge:
8.
What is Hamlet referring to by “all occasions”?
9.
In line 33, what metaphor does Hamlet use to refer to his revenge?
10.
Hamlet defines what separates man from animals. What conclusion does he come to?
11.
Why is this soliloquy the supreme example of Shakespeare showing that what
someone says it not always what one believes?
12.
What is his dilemma?
13.
How does Hamlet rewrite what he has just seen?
14.
What can you say about the repetition of the word “straw”?
15.
Why is it significant that he speaks of “thoughts” being “bloody”?
Act 4 scene 5
The Gentleman describes Ophelia’s madness 1-15
1.
2.
What is Ophelia troubled by?
What gestures accompany her distressed words?
Gertrude’s guilty conscience 16-20
3.
Gertrude feels guilty, and speaks of her “sick soul”. What does she say about guilty
people?
4.
What could she be feeling guilty about?
2
5.
Look back at Act 1 scene 2, Act 2 scene 2, Act 3 scenes 1, 2, 4, and Act 4 scene 1;
Find evidence for and against the fact that she knows about Claudius’ crime.
Ophelia’s troubled state 21-74
6.
7.
8.
In the first Quarto, Ophelia enters “her hair down singing.” Why?
What two topics does Ophelia seem to be obsessed with?
Why is it possible to see Polonius’ children as foils to Hamlet?
The “sorrows” that besiege Claudius 75-97
9.
Claudius reflects that sorrows never come alone: “not single spies, / But in battalions”.
What troubles have beset him?
10.
What does Claudius fear in lines 89-97?
Laertes returns to avenge the murder of his father 98-154
11.
What does the messenger compare Laertes’ haste to in lines 100-104?
12.
What do the citizens want to do? What does it show about them?
13.
Why does Laertes say he is not his father’s son? (“proclaims me bastard” 119)
14.
In lines 122-154, find evidence of Claudius’ hypocrisy, Gertrude’s protectiveness, and
Laertes’ desire for revenge.
15.
Find the lines which Laertes speaks which are typical of the Revenge Tragedy.
16.
In lines 139-149, Claudius asks Laertes if in his revenge he will kill the innocent and
guilty alike, like reckless gamblers sweeping up all the stakes (“swoopstake”), whether they
have won or lost. Laertes replies using another image, that of the Pelican. Explain the image
and what it means about him.
Laertes and Ophelia 155-219
17.
What desire does the sight of his demented sister provoke in Laertes?
18.
What does he vow in lines 158-9?
19.
Have a look at this web page and see what the flowers look like.
http://www.tate.org.uk/ophelia/subject_symbolism.htm
Now link the symbolism of each flower to the events/themes in the play.
Rosemary:
Pansies:
Fennel:
Columbines:
Rue:
Daisy:
Violets:
20.
It has been argued that Ophelia’s songs show her true nature (which is quite different
from what she has shown up to Act 4). Make a list of the themes she evokes in them.
21.
The entrance of Ophelia and her effect on Laertes give Claudius the opportunity to
exploit the situation to his own advantage. What does he propose?
3
Act 4 scene 6
1.
Who is “th’ambassador” in line 10?
2.
What comment can you make of the expression “thieves of mercy” line 20?
3.
Why does Hamlet say “they knew what they did” in line 20?
4.
Explain the metaphor lines 24-5.
5.
How does Hamlet’s letter show a new outlook on life?
6.
We have seen Hamlet talking easily to the actors, pirates, sailors, and later on the
Gravedigger. What could this suggest about him?
Act 4 scene 7
Claudius and Laertes plot Hamlet’s death 1-162
1.
What are the “two special reasons” that Claudius gives Laertes for not punishing
Hamlet?
2.
What metaphor does Claudius use to refer to his relationship with Gertrude?
3.
In lines 19-24, Claudius uses two images to describe his difficulties with Hamlet.
Explain them.
4.
In lines 32-3, Claudius uses an image familiar to Elizabethans. What is it? And why is
it ironic?
5.
What is the tone of Hamlet’s “High and mighty” in line 43?
6.
What does Hamlet mean by “naked” in line 43?
7.
Claudius realises his plan to have Hamlet killed in England has failed. Now he sees he
can use Laertes’ desire for revenge to achieve his aim, but he doesn’t tell him immediately of
his plan. How does he proceed?
8.
How does Claudius make Lamord (note that it sounds like the French la mort) a
remarkable character?
9.
Claudius then makes two speeches (94-105, 109-125) intended to work on Laertes’
already inflamed emotions. Summarise them briefly and show how they affect Laertes.
10.
In these speeches, how does Claudius increase Laertes’ desire for revenge?
11.
Explain the metaphor lines 110-117.
12.
What speech do these reflections echo?
13.
What lines of Hamlet’s does Laertes’ “To cut his throat i’th’church” (125) contrast
strongly with? What does it show about both characters?
14.
What are the possible meanings for line 125?
15.
How does Claudius describe Hamlet in lines 133-138?
16.
In 3.3.61, while he was trying to pray, Claudius said “’tis not so above. / There is no
shuffling”, i.e. there is no trickery in Heaven. Now he uses this same expression in line 136.
What is the effect of this parallel?
17.
Find the language of deceit in lines 128-138.
18.
Find the theatrical metaphor used by Claudius.
Gertrude describes Ophelia’s death by drowning 163-194
19.
Lines 165-182 are much admired for their poetic quality. Analyse the literary
techniques in this passage and explain their meaning.
20.
What does Laertes say about crying?
21.
Where does Claudius lie to his wife? What idea does this reinforce?
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