Hamlet: Act IV. Scene 1

Hamlet: Act IV. Scene 1

Examples of Figurative Language

Guiding Question

1. “Mad as the sea and wind when both contend”

2. “O'er whom his very madness, like some ore/Among a mineral of metals base,”

3. “Transports his poison’d shot, may miss our name,/And hit the woundless air.”

4. “The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch”

Why would Claudius be so worried about keeping his hold on Denmark? Does he fear that Hamlet will try to overthrow him?

Summary

Five Key Purposes

1) This scene shows how Gertrude disobeys her sons trust by telling Claudius what she has seen.

2) Gertrude and Claudius are now aware that Hamlet has killed Polonius.

3) Claudius comes to realization that if he was there at that time, it would have been him that would have been killed. (Hamlet has intention to kill him).

3) Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that Hamlet has killed Polonius.

4) Claudius wants to ship Hamlet to England, and have him killed.

5) Tells Gertrude that hopefully things will get sorted out, and there will not be a bad reputation on them or the kingdom because of Hamlet.

Frantic after her confrontation with Hamlet, Gertrude hurries to Claudius, who is conferring with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. She asks to speak to the king alone. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit, she tells Claudius about her encounter with Hamlet. She says that he is as mad as the sea during a violent storm; she also tells Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius. Aghast, the king notes that had he been concealed behind the arras, Hamlet would have killed him. Claudius wonders aloud how he will be able to handle this public crisis without damaging his hold on Denmark. He tells Gertrude that they must ship Hamlet to England at once and find a way to explain Hamlet’s misdeed to the court and to the people. He calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, tells them about the murder, and sends them to find Hamlet.

Multiple Choice Questions!

4. Which figurative language technique does this quote have?

1. Why is Claudius fearful of his life after he hears that Hamlet killed Polonius?

5. What does Claudius plan to happen to Hamlet once he is in England?

2. Where do Gertrude and Claudius plan to send Hamlet off to?

3. Besides his worry with Hamlet, what is Claudius also concerned about?

“Transports his poison’d shot, may miss our name,/And hit the woundless air.”

a) France

b) Belgium

c) England

d) Spain

a) build him a castle

b) send him flowers

c) have him arrested

d) have him killed

a) personification

b) simile

c) pun

d) hyperbole

a) Claudius is not fearful of his life at all

b) because Hamlet has tried to kill Claudius several times before

c) because Hamlet is crazy

d) because Hamlet would have killed Claudius if he was in the place of Polonius

a) His wife, and the people around them, for he fears Hamlet is a threat to everyone

b) How he will handle the crisis, and keep hold of Denmark

c) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, for he fears Hamlet will kill them

d) Both A and B