Hamlet Act 4 Reading Questions

1. What is the real reason, as revealed at the end of 4.3, Claudius has sent Hamlet away?

Hamlet has been sent away to England to be killed there on Claudius’ orders.

2. What has Hamlet done with the body of Polonius? What kind of a funeral did Polonius receive, according to the King (4.5)?

Hamlet his the body near the stairs in the lobby/foyer area of the castle. Polonius received a quick, improper funeral in return to get rid of the (stinking) corpse.

3. On his way out of Denmark, Hamlet encounters a captain from the army of Fortinbras (4.4). Where are they headed? What are they fighting for?

Fortinbras’ army is headed to Poland through Denmark to fight over a small section of the country that, apparently, isn’t worth anything really at all.

4. How is Ophelia described in the stage direction that marks her entrance to 4.5? What does she sing about in her songs? What does she hand out to the court?

She is described as being “distracted”, and sings songs about love and sexuality (with the occasional rhyme about death) while handing out flowers like daisies and columbines to the court.

5. What news does the Messenger bring of Laertes in 4.5? Has he returned to Denmark alone? Compare his state to Hamlet’s report at 4.7.

The Messenger says that Laertes has come back to Denmark with a mob following him demanding that Claudius be replaced by Laertes as king of Denmark. While Laertes is enraged, however, Hamlet seems to plan to come back on bended knee to apologize to Claudius and company and explain why he suddenly came back.

6. Note how Laertes describes his motivation for revenge in 4.5. What is driving him?

The fact that his father died and was buried under suspicious circumstances while he was away is driving him to revenge. Ophelia’s madness isn’t helping either.

7. What turn of events does Hamlet report to Horatio in his letter in 4.6?

Hamlet says that while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still on their way to England, he has been kidnapped by pirates.

8. Claudius comes up with a very complicated plan for Laertes to execute his revenge in 4.7. What is it? Notice what Laertes wants to do (4.7)!

Laertes is to fence with Hamlet upon his return (something Hamlet has apparently always wanted to do against Laertes) and pierce through him with the foil tipped in poison. If that doesn’t work, Claudius plans to have Hamlet drink poison if he manages to avoid getting pierced. Laertes, on the other hand, wants to kill Hamlet in church.

9. How do we learn of Ophelia’s death? What are its odd circumstances?

The audience (along with Laertes and Claudius) learn of Ophelia’s death from Gertrude rushing back in. However, the circumstances are odd, as Ophelia apparently drowned due to her clothes being heavy from wetness while picking more flowers near a brook.