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Hamlet Act 4

Last updated about 6 years ago

12 questions

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Question 1

1.

When Rosencrantz asks Hamlet to tell them where he has hid the body, Hamlet replies,
“The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body.” What does Hamlet mean?

Polonius is with King Claudius in the chapel.

Polonius is with King Hamlet, the dead king not with Claudius the living king.

Polonius has gone to meet the Norwegian King.

Question 2

2.

What does Hamlet think of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

He calls them leeches, saying they associate themselves with the King to appear superior to other
commoners.

He calls them monsters, saying they are selfish and look for ways to destroy others.

Question 3

3.

Why must the King not put "the strong arm on" Hamlet?

He wishes to forget the guilt he feels for killing his brother by protecting his brother’s son.

He needs to save all of his strength for fighting the enemies from other countries.

Hamlet's mother would not want him harmed. The people of Denmark like him and would be upset if anything happened to him.

Question 4

4.

When the King asks Hamlet where Polonius is, what is Hamlet's answer?

First he says it is with the other vermin. Then he says it is on its way to England, so as not to desecrate good Danish soil.

Question 5

5.

What is written in the letters Claudius sends with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to England with
Hamlet?

The King sends money to the King of England to pay for Hamlet&#39;s upkeep for one year.

The King wants Hamlet to be killed as soon as he reaches England.

The King sends a document saying that Hamlet is mad, and asking that he be imprisoned in the Tower of London until he regains his sanity.

Question 6

6.

What does Hamlet tell Horatio in his letter?

He expresses his regrets about the way he has treated Ophelia, but says that he has acted this way for a greater good.

He asks Horatio to talk to the Queen for him; he thinks she might listen to Horatio.

He says he has escaped from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern onto a pirate ship, where he is being well treated. He asks Horatio to give letters to the King and Queen, and then to come to see him as quickly as possible.

Question 7

7.

What plan does Claudius and Laertes discuss to kill Hamlet?

They plan to frame Hamlet with the murder of King Hamlet and then let the people decide on his punishment.

They will hire the grave digger Yorick to murder him.

They plan to go to London and bring him back to Denmark and make him stand trial for Polonius’s murder.

Question 8

8.

The Queen tells Laertes that Ophelia is dead. How did she die?

She has fallen onto her own knife.

She has died of a broken heart.

She has taken poison.

She has drowned.

Question 9

9.

What reasons does Claudius give Laertes for not taking action against Hamlet?

Question 10

10.

Why does Hamlet hide Polonius’ corpse and then dash away when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
question him about it?

Question 11

11.

Compare and contrast the characters of Laertes and Hamlet. What do they have in common? How are their choices different?

Question 12

12.

Analyze the character of Claudius. How is he wicked? Self-serving? Power hungry? Cunning and
intelligent? What are his greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Polonius has gone to London to discuss politics with the King.

He calls them sponges that that soak up the king’s approval, his rewards, and his decisions.

He calls them monkeys, saying they follow the King's orders without thinking.

He is protecting his wife. He thinks that Hamlet might try to hurt her if he is provoked.

First he says it is "not where he eats, but where he is eaten" Then he tells the King to look for him in Heaven, and if he can't find Polonius there, to go "to the other place"(hell) himself.

First he says Polonius is now "keeping company with my dear dead father." Later he tells the King he has put the body on display in the marketplace for all the people to see, telling them that this is what happens to those who disobey the King.

First he says he has "brought the fair body to the chapel." Then he says it is in a place where no
harm will come to it.

It is a letter thanking the King of England for his help, and inviting him and his wife to visit Denmark the following spring.

He tells him that King Hamlet’s ghost has visited him on the pirate ship and asked him to return to Denmark and fight to retake him throne.

They plan to set up a duel between Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes will poison his sword in case he cannot honorably kill Hamlet, or, if Hamlet survives, the King will offer him a poison drink.