Hamlet Act IV and Act V Questions

Answer the following questions after reading Hamlet Act IV and Act V.
Use specific words/phrases from the text and explain your answer.

1. Why doesn’t the king confront Hamlet immediately after the death of
Polonius?
2. How does Hamlet use humor as a kind of weapon when he faces Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern?
3. What does Hamlet decide after his encounter with a captain in Fortinbras’
army?
4. What is the subject of Ophelia’s songs?
5. Who becomes Claudius’s new ally in the plot against Hamlet? Why?
6. According to Gertrude at the end of the act, what happens to Ophelia? (
7. How is the political situation changed by the death of Polonius and the removal
of Hamlet from the scene?
8.“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” What do these words
mean, and how to they relate to Ophelia, Hamlet, and Gertrude?

Act V

9. What do the Gravediggers discuss as they go about their work?
10. Why is Ophelia denied the complete rites of the church?
11. Who is Yorick? How does Hamlet speak of him?
12. How does Hamlet take care of Rosencrantz andGuildenstern?
13. How does the king propose to rid himself of Hamlet?
14.What effect does the Gravedigger’s scene have on the tone of the play?
15.Based on his conversation with Horatio, what can you tell about Hamlet’s
feelings toward Laertes?
16.What does Gertrude do at the end of the duel scene? Why does she do this?

In addition, complete the handouts for Act IV and Act V. (Distributed in class)