Hamlet Act IV
Vocabulary
conjectures – (n) guesses, speculations
divulge – (v) to make known, to give information to someone
exhort – (v) to urge, demand
imminent –(adj) upcoming, at hand
impetuous – (adj) reckless, impulsive
peruse – (v) to examine, browse
superfluous –(adj) excessive, extra
SCENE 1
1. What are some of the fears that Claudius expresses after learning that Hamlet murdered Polonius?
2. Is Claudius more concerned with himself or the state of Denmark?
SCENE 2
1. Explain the analogy Hamlet uses comparing Rosencrantz to a sponge.
2. Now that Hamlet has had time to digest his deed, how is he feeling?
SCENE 3
1. Discuss Hamlet’s replies to Claudius when he asks him where Polonius’s body is. How do these replies fit
in with his disposition?
2. What is the real reason Claudius sends Hamlet to England? Does Hamlet catch on to this?
3. Think back to the very end of Act III. What does Hamlet expect of the king’s plan to send him to
England?
4. At this point, after committing a murder, do you think Hamlet needs to keep up the act of madness?
SCENE 4
1. What is the goal of the Norwegian troops? What do we learn about Prince Fortinbras’ character (as in a
trait)?
2. Hamlet’s mood in his final soliloquy is very different from the previous three. Explain the difference and
its causes.
SCENE 5
1. Describe the mental state of Ophelia at the beginning of this scene.
2. Take a close look at the content of the nonsensical songs Ophelia sings. It becomes progressively more and
more____________________. What do we learn about Ophelia’s character? Maybe you’re not surprised.
3. Describe Laertes reaction to his father’s death. How is it different than Hamlet’s?
4. At the end of the scene, what does Claudius promise to Laertes? Does this make him a wise ruler?
SCENE 6
1. Describe Horatio’s reaction to Hamlet’s letter?
SCENE 7
1. Laertes asks Claudius why he did not take action against Hamlet’s crime. How does he reply to Laertes’s
question?
2. What does Hamlet’s letter to Claudius say? What does he mean by the word “naked”?
3. What skill of Laertes does Claudius praise?
4. What plan do the two of them devise?
5. What do we learn of Ophelia at the end of this scene?