English 122

Hamlet Act 4 Questions for Study

Act 4

Scenes 1 & 2:

1. How does the queen protect Hamlet?

2. What does Claudius ask Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to do?

3. What does Hamlet mean when he calls Rosencrantz a "sponge"?

Scene 3:

4. Why does Claudius say he must hide the haste with which Hamlet is being sent away?

5. In lines 34-38, what does Hamlet tell Claudius he has done with Polonius?

6. What does Claudius arrange to happen to Hamlet when he arrives in England?

Scene 4:

7. Who does Hamlet meet in this scene?

8. What purpose unites Fortinbras's troops?

9. What effect does this meeting have on Hamlet?

Scenes 5 & 6:

10. What has happened to Ophelia?

11. Why does the Queen agree to go see her?

12. What are the problems Claudius lists in lines 77-94?

13. Why does Laertes break into Claudius's chamber?

14. What does Claudius tell Laertes to do?

15. What happens to Hamlet during his passage to England?

Scene 7:

16. In lines 5-9, what does Laertes ask Claudius?

17. What is the King's response?

18. What scheme is planned by Claudius and Laertes?

19. What is their back-up plan?

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

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