hamlet discussion questions, act 4 - lewispalmer.org · ms. kizlyk – ap language semester 2...

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?


Act 4, Scene 2

6) 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?

7) 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?


Act 4, Scene 3

8) In lines 1 – 11 Claudius speaks to a few of his men about Hamlet. Claudius remarks, “How dangerous is it that this man goes loose! / Yet must not we put the strong law on him.” A) What does he mean?

B) Claudius says, “He’s loved of the distracted multitude, / Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes. / And where ’tis so, th' offender’s scourge is weighed, / But never the offense” (lines 4 – 7). What does he mean here?

C) What does Claudius decide to do with Hamlet given the circumstances?

9) Claudius asks Hamlet what he has done with Polonius’ body. (lines 19 – 41)

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 politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We / fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves / for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is / but variable service—two dishes, but to one table” (lines 21 – 27). What does he mean here?


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?

10) How do you feel about the way that Hamlet talked about Polonius’s dead body with Claudius?

11) 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

12) What information do we learn about Fortinbras from the conversation between the Norwegian caption and Hamlet? (lines 1 – 30)

13) 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?


Act 4 Scene 5

13) Take a look at the discussion between the Gentleman, Horatio, and the Queen in lines 1 – 25. A) According to the Gentleman and Horatio, what is going on with Ophelia?

B) Why do you think the Queen does not wish to see Ophelia?

C) Gertrude says, "So full of artless jealousy is guilt, / It spills itself in fearing to be spilt." (lines 24

– 25). What is the queen trying to say about “guilt” and who might be guilty of something?

D) Why does the Queen finally agree to speak with her?

14) The fear of Polonius and Laertes has prevented Ophelia from sharing her true feelings throughout

the play; however, in her insanity, she speaks freely through song in lines 26 – 71. A) What do Ophelia’s songs seems to mean?


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

15) 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?

16) What news does the messenger bring Claudius? (lines 108 – 118)

17) Describe what Laertes, Claudius, and Gertrude speak about after Laertes storms in (lines 122 – 177).


18) What is significant about the flowers that Ophelia gives out to each person in lines 199 – 210?

19) What is the political deal Claudius offers Laertes at the end of his scene? (lines 226 – 245).

20) What does Claudius mean in line 244 when he says, “Where th’ offence is, let the great axe fall?” What is ironic about this?

21) 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

22) Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet (lines 13 – 31). A) What happened to Hamlet during his voyage to England? (lines 13 – 22)


B) What does he ask Horatio to do? (lines 22 – 26)

C) What does Hamlet say about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

23) It is plausible that Hamlet’s encounter with the pirate ship was part of the counter plot Hamlet alludes to earlier when talking with Gertrude at the end of Act 3 when he spoke of Claudius' plan to send him to England. A) Do you think Hamlet's capture truly a coincidence?

B) If Hamlet did have a counter plot ready, why would he not reveal it to Horatio?

Act 4 Scene 7

24) Claudius has convinced Laertes that Hamlet killed Polonius and that Hamlet wants to kill him (Claudius). Laertes asks why Claudius didn’t take immediate action against his Hamlet: “But tell me / Why you (proceeded) not against these feats, / So criminal and so capital in nature?” (lines 6 – 8). A) How does Claudius defend his actions? (lines 11 – 26)


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?

25) 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?

26) 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).


C) And what is Claudius’ back-up plan? (lines 169 – 186)

D) To what degree do you feel that Claudius is using Laertes?

27) What news does the Queen bring? Recount the scene she describes.

28) Do you believe Ophelia's death was an accident or suicide? Explain.

29) At the end of the scene, Laertes is obviously upset over hearing about his sister’s death. Claudius tells Gertrude: “Let’s follow, Gertrude. / How much I had to do to calm his rage! / Now fear I this will give it start again. / Therefore let’s follow” (lines 218 – 221). Do you think that Claudius is concerned over Laertes’ feelings? Could he have any other concerns?

hamlet discussion questions, act 4 - lewispalmer.org · ms. kizlyk – ap language semester 2...

Documents