Hamlet Study Guide Act 4 with answers – Flashcards
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With whom does Hamlet speak in act IV scene iv? What does Hamlet learn from this person?
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A captain in Fortinbras' army. He learns that the army is fighting to gain a piece of worthless ground in Poland.
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How does Hamlet respond to this news?
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He feels that he must take action and stop stalling.
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In what condition is Ophelia when she comes before Gertrude and Claudius? What are the two subjects of Ophelia's songs?
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Ophelia seems to have lost her mind. Two subjects are of a death and a lost love.
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What might be the causes of Ophelia's madness?
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Her father's death and Hamlet telling her he doesn't love her and never has.
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Who has returned from France, and what are the people saying to this person?
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Laertes. A mob is crying that Laertes should be king.
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Why is Claudius so worried about what is being said to Laertes?
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Because he knows Laertes is popular with the people and he would lose the crown.
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What does Laertes seek when he bursts into the presence of the king?
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He wants to know where his father is.
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How does Laertes's reaction to the killing of his father differ from Hamlet's reaction to the killing of his father?
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He takes immediate action, whereas Hamlet finds reasons not to.
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What does Claudius tell Laertes to calm him down? What does Claudius say to Laertes at the end of scene V?
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That Polonius' death will be avenged to Laertes' satisfaction.
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Why might Claudius want to win Laertes over?
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Because he is popular with the people.
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How does Hamlet come to be back in Denmark?
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He boarded a pirate ship they were fighting and became a prisoner. The pirates are treating him well and bringing him home. He is going to return the favor.
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How does Claudius feel about Hamlet's return to Denmark?
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He is not happy. He thinks it might be a trick of some kind.
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What happens to Ophelia?
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Drowns.
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Is Ophelia's death a suicide?
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Not sure. She was sitting on a branch that broke and she fell in. Her clothes kept her afloat for a while, then pulled her down.
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What are the consequences of the killing of Polonius?
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Ophelia's death, Rosencrantz & Gildenstern's deaths, Hamlets
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Is Hamlet responsible for the death of Ophelia? Why or Why not?
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Matter of opinion: Yes: because he was mean to her and killed her father. NO: because he wasn't even in Denmark at the time.
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In scene 2, what does Hamlet call Rosencrantz. What does he mean?
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He calls him a sponge. He is saying that he soaks up the king's favor, then the king squeezes him again by using him to do his dirty work.
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In scene 5, when Claudius is talking to Ophelia, she sings two songs (approximately lines 54-70) that insinuates something happened between herself and Hamlet. What is it?
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She makes us think she slept with Hamlet because he promised her he was going to marry her. But afterward he was cold toward her and didn't keep his promise.
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In scene vii, Laertes asks Claudius why he hasn't punished Hamlet for Polonius' murder. What is his response?
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He says it's because Gertrude loves Hamlet so much and he (Claudius) loves Gertrude. He also says the public loves Hamlet.
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