Act 4 - Here is the package. PDF

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U3 Homework: Act Four Questions

Gary Guo Sunday, April 25, 2021 ENG4U Julia Atkinson

Act Four Questions Scene 1 (p. 187-189)

1. What two things does Claudius admit to being worried about, when Gertrude reveals Hamlet has struck Polonius dead? (187-188) When Gertrude revealed how Hamlet’s had stuck Polonius dead, Claudius was worried about two things. First, he feared for his own life. If he had been there instead of Polonius, he would have met the same fate as Polonius. Second, Claudius is worried about damage control and his reputation. Though Hamlet was the one who committed the murder, Claudius would also be blamed for not properly restraining his new son. 2. What punishment does the King decide he will bring upon Hamlet? (189) As punishment for his crime, the King decided to ship Hamlet off to England as soon as the sun sets.

Scene 2 (p. 191-193) 1. To what purpose do you infer Hamlet is hiding the location of the body from Guildenstern and Rosencrantz? (191-193) There are several reasons why Hamlet is hiding the body from Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. First, he is recovering from the after shock of his actions. Murder can be traumatizing and difficult to process. Hamlet likely haven’t recovered and was not ready to embrace it. Second, he no longer trust Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as friends. Since he views them as traitors and Claudius’s pawns, he wouldn’t want to disclose important information. 2. Why is Hamlet being so difficult towards his two former friends? What things does he compare them to? (191-193) Hamlet was being difficult to his two former friends because he felt betrayed by them. Since they are childhood friends, Hamlet formed a deep bond with them from a young age. However, one order from the King is enough to destroy all of their years of friendship. Since Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are clearly under Claudius’s control, its enrages Hamlet even more.

Scene 3 (193-199) 1. What reason does Claudius give for not acting with swift and bloodthirsty justice against Hamlet? (193)

Due to his dashing good looks and charm, Hamlet is beloved by the people of Denmark. If Hamlet is punished, they will only focus on the severity of the punishment, not the severity of the crime. Therefore, Claudius cannot afford to act with swift and bloodthirsty justice. Instead, he must act carefully to make it seem like a considered move.

2. What is the literal and implied meaning of Hamlet in line 31, "Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar"? (195) From a literal perspective, it means that a King can go through the guts of a beggar. This is because after someone pass away, their body becomes a part of the food chain, and it is recycled through the chain, over and over. The implied meaning is that from a biology perspective, a king and a beggar have an equal amount of importance in the cycle of life. 3. What's the irony in Hamlet's answer to the King's question, "Where is Polonius?" The irony in Hamlet’s answer is when he told the king if he cannot find Polonius in heaven, he can check hell himself. This is ironic because it implies that King Claudius will eventually end up in hell himself. 4. What's the King's plan to be rid of Hamlet forever? Who will aid him, and why? King Claudius planned to eliminate Hamlet by writing a letter to the King of England, with instructions to kill Hamlet immediately. In order for the plan to work, the King of England must aid him, which he will because he fear and respect Denmark.

Scene 4 (199-203)

1. Upon what errand does Fortinbras send the Captain of his army? (199) Fortinbras send the Captain of his army to give the Danish king his greetings and inform him that Fortinbras asks permission to move his troops across Denmark. 2. To what purpose is Fortinbras invading this small plot of land in Poland, according to the Captain? (201) According to the captain, the reason Fortinbras is invading a small plot of Poland is pride and glory. While the patch of ground is not valuable, neither of the countries wanted to stand down. 3. In Hamlet’s soliloquy ending this scene, what parallel does he make between the coming battle and his own internal conflict? In Hamlet’s soliloquy, the parallel he makes between the coming battle and his own internal conflict is the driving force behind war and revenge. Hamlet scolds himself of his cowdarish and

lack of action. If twenty thousand men can march to their death for a reason as frivoulous as pride, then he should have avenged his father by killing his murderer. Scene 5 (205-220)

1. What is the subject of Ophelia's songs, that she sings about in her madness to the King and Queen? (207-209) The subject of Ophelia’s songs that she sings about in her madness to the king and queen is her dead father. 2. Why does Claudius claim he has acted foolishly ("greenly") in his hasty and secret burial of Polonius? (211) The reason Claudius claim he has acted foolishly ("greenly") in his hasty and secret burial of Polonius is that the people are spreading rumours about Polonius. Without a proper state funeral and explanation, the people have little clue of Polonius’s cause of death.

3. What's Laertes meaning in the line, "That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard" (p. 213, line 122) addressed to the Queen? In the line, "That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard", Laertes revealed many things about himself. First, he revealed how furious he is at the situation by anncouning he has only one drop of calm blood. Second, he expressed his shame by calling himself a bastard. Before he avenged his father’s death, he must not be his real son. 4. Explain the irony behind Claudius' invocation of protection "There's such divinity that doth hedge a king…" against Laertes (213).

The situation is incredibly ironic, because if God protects the King so that traitors cannot hurt him, them King Hamlet shouldn’t have been murdered by his own brother. Claudius contradicted himself.

5. Whom does Laertes swear he will revenge, and at what cost? (215-217) Laertes swears he will avenge his father, at the cost of his allegiance to the King, his vows, his conscience, his soul, and his afterlife. In other words, he would give up everything to avenge his father. 6. What does the King proposition, to sooth Laertes' temper for now, and further his own ends? (219-221)

The King asked Laertes to choose his wisest friends and have them listen to his story. At the end, if they still feel like Claudius is the culprit behind Polonius’s murder, then Claudius will give up everything, including his kingdom, crown, and life.

Scene 6 (221-223)

1. What has happened to Hamlet en route to England? What does he wish Horatio to do? (221-223) On his way to England, Hamlet’s ship encountered pirates and were forced to fight. In the aftermath, Hamlet was captured by the pirates and held prisoner. The pirates want Hamlet to do a favor for them. Hamlet wished Horatio to deliver the letters to the King and meet Hamlet as fast as possible. Scene 7 (223-237)

1. What two reasons does the King give to Laertes for not dealing immediate justice to Hamlet for killing Polonius, and ostensibly pursuing the King's life? (225) The first reason is the Queen, who is devoted to Hamlet. Claudius loves her dearly and cannot live apart from her. The second reason is the public. He fears that his actions might end up hurting himself instead of Hamlet.

2. What does Hamlet's letter to the King reveal? (227) Hamlet’s letter to the King revealed that he is going to return to Denmark and explain the reason when he gets back.

3. What plot does the King hatch with Laertes? (229-233)

4. Why does Claudius mention Lamord? (229-231) Claudius wants to build up to his point, which is Laertes’s talent at fencing. 5. What backup plan does Claudius create? (233-235) The backup plan Claudius created is to poison Hamlet’s cup when he replenishes to quench his thirst. 6. What has happened to Ophelia? How did it happen? (235)

Ophelia drowned. She used a wrath to hang from a branch above a brook. Then she fell into the water, and eventually her wet dressed dragged her down. 7. How can what happened to Ophelia be read as something other than an accident? (235) The queen stated that she did not struggle in the water or called for help. She was still singing, as if she was unaware of the danger she was in, or that she was accustomed to danger. Her lack of struggle could indicate suicide....