Hamlet, Day 10: Act 4, Scenes 1 to 4
Lesson plan for day 10 of the Hamlet unit. Claudius's fear of Hamlet, the death of Polonius, and Fortinbras as a model of action.
ENGLISH 11AP/Language and Literature
Daily Plan
UNIT: Hamlet
DAY: 10
Assignment to have been completed: Students should have read 4.1-4 of Hamlet while following the study guide questions.
Activities:
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A. Take attendance.
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B. Use the following questions (and answers) to facilitate a discussion of 4.1-4 of Hamlet.
Act IV, Scene i
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1. What insight into Claudius’ character may we infer from line 14?
This is an OPEN QUESTION. However, students should be led to see that Claudius’s first thought is of himself, not Polonius or Polonius’s children.
Act IV, Scene ii
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1. What is the tone of Hamlet’s lines in this scene?
Hamlet’s tone is a mixture of mockery and condescension as well as total indifference to the killing of Polonius and of Claudius’s commands.
Act IV, Scene iii
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1. Why has Claudius been slow to simply punish or get rid of Hamlet?
Claudius is aware that Hamlet is popular - probably far more popular than he since Claudius takes an opportunity to make a jab at the shallowness of the masses’ judgment [4 - 11].
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2. What is the tone of Hamlet’s lines in this scene? Of Claudius’ words in lines 62 - 68?
His tone is flippant and still mocking.
Claudius’s tone is deadly serious and commanding as he orders England to kill Hamlet.
Act IV, Scene iv
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1. Why does Fortinbras command his captain to “[g]o softly on”? (8)
Fortinbras commands his captain to go slowly perhaps because he wants to talk with Hamlet who quickly comes on stage, or perhaps he wishes to arouse no suspicions.
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2. What is Hamlet actually saying in his soliloquy (34 - 69)? What is the tone of his soliloquy?
He feels shamed by the willingness to act shown by Fortinbras, especially when the odds are so high and the reward too small. He sees in Fortinbras’s actions the stuff of honor, an honor he has not willingly arisen to in response to the ghost’s bidding regarding King Claudius. By the end of the speech, he swears that he will now take bloody action.
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Assignment for next class meeting: Read 4.5-6 of Hamlet. Do the corresponding study questions.