Hamlet Act IV Study Guide
Scene 1 & 2
1. How does the queen protect Hamlet?
2. What does Claudius ask R & G to do?
3. What does Hamlet mean when he calls Rosencrantz a “sponge”?
4. What is Claudius’ main fear in the immediate aftermath of Polonius’ death?
5. What does Hamlet refuse to tell R & G?
Scene 3
1. Why does Claudius say he must hide the hast with which Hamlet is being sent away?
2. In lines 19-29, what image does Hamlet use to warn Claudius that he is only king temporarily?
3. In lines 35-39, what does Hamlet tell Claudius he has done with Polonius?
4. What does Claudius arrange to happen to Hamlet when he arrives in England?
5. Claudius ends the scene by writing a letter: to whom and what order does it contain?
Scene 4
1. Who does Hamlet meet in this scene?
2. What purpose unites Fortinbras’s troops?
3. What effect does this meeting have on Hamlet?
4. What is value of the land Fortinbras army is trying to capture (l. 20)? What will the invasion cost? (l. 25)
5. Hamlet’s soliloquy is self-critical; summarize his main fault.
Scene 5 & 6
1. Ophelia’s song during her first appearance in this scene deals with love, death, and sex. What does this tell us about her at this moment?

2. What happened to Ophelia? Why does the Queen agree to see her?
3. What are the problems Claudius lists in line 76-96?
4. Why does Laertes break into Claudius’s chamber?
5. What does Claudius tell Laertes to do?
6. In scene 6, Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet explaining HOW he escaped from R & G…how did he?
Scene 7
1. What reasons does Claudius give Laertes for Hamlet’s killing of Polonius? (lines 1-4)
2. In lines 6-9, what does Laertes ask Claudius? What are his reasons for NOT charging Hamlet with murder
(l. 9-24)?
3. Claudius reveals that Laertes is famous for his skill with the rapier (a fencing weapon) and that Hamlet is envious of this fame. How does Claudius exploit this envy to give Laertes a chance for (public) guiltless revenge? (l. 126-38) How does Laertes refine that plan?
4. What news does the Queen bring?
Overall
1. Considering Ophelia’s actions throughout Act IV, do you believe her death was accident or suicide? Explain.
2. Consider Ophelia’s words, “We know what we are but know not what we may be”. Analyze how this relates to herself, Hamlet, and Gertrude, as well as one of the main themes.
3. “Frailty, thy name is woman.” Hamlet says these words early in the play and gives his appraisal of the strength of women. Would you say that the events of Act III and Act IV support or dispute Hamlet’s words?
Why or why not?