Act 4 Flashcards
Getrude talks to Claudius about Hamlets madness. Also says that Hamlet killed Polonius. King worries how he would hold the publics questioning without losing his place. King plans to ship Hamlet to England and try to cover up his doing.
“Mad as the sea and wind” “the owner of a foul disease”
Hamlet just finishes disposing of Polonius’ body. R + G come and ask Hamlet what he’s done with the body- he doesn’t give them straight answers. He calls them sponges that soak up the kings countenance. Hamlet allows them to escort him to Claudius
“Sponge” “soaks up the kings countenance”
Claudius tells Hamlet to reveal where the body is- Hamlet doesn’t speak straight. Hamlet finally tells them where it is. The king orders hamlet to be sent to England and Hamlet agrees. Claudius alone hopes that England will obey the sealed ordered he has sent via. R+G to kill Hamlet.
“Death of Hamlet” “cure me”
Fortinbras orders captain to ask the King for permission to travel through Denmark to Poland. Hamlet sees them and asks the basis of the attack- for a bit of land. Hamlet is shocked (soliloquy starts) says how humans can act so violently for something so insignificant- he also compares it to himself and how he is still unable to kill king. Hamlet declares that from now on his thoughts should be bloody.
“We go to gain a little patch of ground” “my thoughts be bloody or be worth nothing”
Gertrude and Horatio discuss Ophelia + her madness. Ophelia enters starts singing. Horatio states that her grief stems from her fathers death and that the people are suspicious about the death also. He notes that Leartes has secretly sailed back from France. Leartes bursts in + people are saying he should be king. Claudius tries to console Leartes by saying that polonius is dead. Ophelia returns without sanity and Leartes rages again for revenge. King gives his version of events and proceeds to say he will answer all his questions.
“Sings” “before you tumbled me” “revenge” and where th’offence is let the great axe fall”
What happens?
Sailors give Horatio a letter saying that the ship had been captured by pirates and they have taken him back to Denmark. He also says that he has lots to tell about R + G.
The king and Leartes speak about Polonius’ death. The king says that he buried polonius secretly and didn’t punish Hamlet for it because both the Queen and the people love Hamlet a lot. Messenger enters with a letter to say that Hamlet is returning tomorrow which pleases Leartes because he can take his revenge. King says Hamlet has been jealous of Leartes fencing skills in the past- King says that Hamlet should duel Leartes in a fencing match and that will give him a chance to kill Hamlet- L agrees. He will use a sharper sword so that even a scratch from it will kill Hamlet. The king comes up with a backup plan that if Hamlet wins- Claudius will offer him a poisoned cup of wine during the celebration- which will kill him. Gertrude enters- Ophelia has drowned in the river. The king is worried that Ophelias death with reawaken Leartes’ revenge.
“The queen his mother- lives almost by his looks” “envy” “Lamord.. the gem of all the nation.. gave you such a masterly report” “drink” “daisies, garlands, nettles” “drowned”
