1. Act IV

2. Who is who? And What is what? Prince HamletGhost (Old King Hamlet I) King ClaudiusQueen Gertrude PoloniusOphelia HoratioThe Mousetrap Rosencrantz and Guildenstern The Players Prologue of PlayClowns

3. “There’s matter in these sighs you must translate” King Claudius

4. “Mad as the sea and wind when both contend which is the mightier.” Queen Gertrude

5. “His liberty is full of threats to all, to you yourself, to us to all.” King Claudius

6. “Whose whisper… transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name and hit the woundless air...” King Claudius

7. “Take you me for a sponge, my lord.” Rosencrantz

8. “…that soaks up the King’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities.” “…but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.” Prince Hamlet

9. “Not where he eats, but where he is eaten.” Prince Hamlet *Be able to explain ALL of the joke here. It is the circle of life.

10. “…you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby.” Prince Hamlet 1.Also compare/contrast their actions (what they do). How are they the same and how are they different? Provide specific evidence to support your claims.

11. “If your messenger find him [Polonius] not there, seek him i ‘th’ other place yourself.” Prince Hamlet 1.Also compare/contrast their actions (what they do). How are they the same and how are they different? Provide specific evidence to support your claims.

12. “…for thine especial safety… everything is bent for England.” King Claudius

13. “Farewell, dear mother.” Prince Hamlet Who is he talking to? What’s his meaning?

14. “…England, if my love thou hold’st at aught…by letters…the present death of Hamlet. Do it, England. For like the hectic in my blood he rages, and thou must cure me.” King Claudius

15. “Go, Captain, from me greet the Danish king. Young Fortinbras

16. “We go to gain a little patch of ground that hath in it no profit, but the name.” Captain

17. “I do not know why yet I live to say “This thing’s to do,” sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means to do ‘t.” Prince Hamlet

18. “Behold this army…exposing what is mortal… even for an eggshell.” Prince Hamlet

19. “O, from this time forth my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!” Prince Hamlet

20. “He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone….” Ophelia

21. “They say the owl was a baker’s daughter.” Ophelia

22. “Quoth she ‘Before you tumbled me, you promised me to wed.’” Ophelia

23. “He answers: ‘So would I ‘a done, by yonder sun, an thou hadst not come to my bed.” Ophelia

24. “Her brother is in secret come from France…” King Claudius

25. “The rabble call him ‘lord,’... They cry, ‘Choose we, Laertes shall be king!” Messenger

26. “This is counter, you false Danish dogs.” Queen Gertrude

27. “Give me my father!” Laertes

28. “Laertes, why thou art incensed.” King Claudius

29. “Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged.” Laertes How is he another foil?

30. “…I am guiltless of your father’s death…” King Claudius

31. “…is ‘t possible a young maid’s wits should be as mortal as (an old) man’s life?” Laertes

32. “…his means of death, his obscure funeral …that I must call ‘t in question.” Laertes

33. Understand the meaning of Hamlet’s letter to Horatio.

34. “…you must put me in your heart for friend... he which hath your noble father slain pursued my life.” King Claudius

35. “ The Queen his mother lives almost by his looks.” King Claudius

36. “The other motive…is the great love the general gender bear him,…” King Claudius

37. “To cut his throat i’ the church. Laertes

38. “…for (that) purpose, I’ll anoint by sword. I bought an unction of mountebank…” Laertes

39. “One woe doth tread upon another’s heel... Your sister’s drowned, Laertes.” Queen Gertrude

40. Understand Gertrude’s story about how Ophelia has died.

41. “Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, … I forbid my tears.” Laertes

42. “When these are gone, the woman will be out.” Laertes

43. Compare/Contrast the decision-making/actions of Claudius and Hamlet (Leadership: Who would make the better king?)

44. Compare/Contrast Laertes’ circumstances and reactions to his father’s murder to that of Hamlet’s. (Revenge, Action vs. Contemplation)

45. Compare/Contrast Young Fortinbras’ circumstances and reactions to his father’s murder to that of Hamlet’s. (Revenge, Action vs. Contemplation)

46. Compare/Contrast Ophelia’s madness to that of Hamlet’s. (Appearances vs. Reality, Cause and Effect)

47. Why has Ophelia died? Is her death a suicide? In what two ways is Hamlet responsible for Ophelia’s death?

48. Deaths in Act IV Who dies? How is Hamlet responsible for these deaths?

49. Shakespeare uses many figures of speech, such as metaphors, similes, puns, and allusions. In his plays, Shakespeare often pokes fun at himself and includes references to the time in which he lived.

50. Hamlet as a tragic hero: A tragic hero has a tragic flaw… What is Hamlet’s tragic flaw? It needs to encompass all his “flaws.”