HAMLET ACT 4 Flashcards
What does Claudius decide to do with Hamlet after Polonius’s death?
Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England, where he secretly arranges for Hamlet to be killed
How does Gertrude describe Ophelia’s madness?
A: Gertrude says Ophelia speaks in disjointed songs and phrases, revealing her deep grief and descent into madness.
Q: What prompts Ophelia’s madness in Act 4?
A: The death of her father, Polonius, and Hamlet’s rejection of her.
Q: What is the significance of Hamlet’s soliloquy about Fortinbras?
A: Hamlet reflects on his own inaction compared to Fortinbras, who pursues a trivial cause with determination.
What does Claudius reveal in his aside after learning about Hamlet killing Polonius?
A: He acknowledges that Hamlet is dangerous and a threat to his own safety.
Q: How does Claudius manipulate Laertes when he returns to Denmark?
A: Claudius stirs Laertes’s anger toward Hamlet and plots with him to kill Hamlet in a duel.
Q: What orders does Claudius give to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern regarding Hamlet?
A: He gives them a sealed letter instructing the King of England to execute Hamlet.
Q: What news does the letter from Hamlet to Horatio reveal?
A: Hamlet has escaped the ship bound for England and is returning to Denmark.
Q: How does Hamlet describe Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Act 4?
A: He calls them “sponges,” soaking up the King’s orders and flattery, only to be wrung dry when no longer needed.
Q: What role does Fortinbras play in Act 4?
A: Fortinbras’s march to capture a small piece of land inspires Hamlet to reflect on action and honor.
Q: What is Gertrude’s reaction to Ophelia’s madness?
A: Gertrude is heartbroken and tries to comfort Ophelia, recognizing her grief and loss.
Q: How does Hamlet justify his decision to send Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths?
A: He argues that they were plotting against him and were complicit in Claudius’s schemes.
Q: What do the gravediggers in Act 4 symbolize in relation to the play’s themes?
A: (Note: Gravediggers appear in Act 5, not Act 4.) Focus here shifts to Ophelia’s madness and Hamlet’s comparison to Fortinbras.
Q: What does Ophelia distribute to the court during her madness?
A: Ophelia hands out symbolic flowers, each representing a different character’s traits or actions.
Q: How does Claudius plan to ensure Hamlet’s death during the duel with Laertes?
A: He and Laertes plan to poison the tip of Laertes’s sword and prepare a poisoned drink as a backup.
