AWR 201
Dr. Le Van
hailey lake
Hamlet Act IV Worksheet/Probing Questions for Close Reading
Act 4 Scene 1
1) How do you see conventional, humoral manliness appear within Hamlet’s soliloquy, starting
at line 33? [hot/cold; moist/dry; black bile (feminine, melancholy), phlegm (feminine,
phlegmatic), blood (masculine, sanguine), and yellow bile (masculine, choleric)]
In Hamlet’s soliloquy starting at line 33, I notice a lot of the use of conventional manliness such
as blood (masculine, sanguine) and coldness when addressing Fortinbras. Hamlet exclaims,
“Witness this army of such mass and charge,” as well as “Excitements of my reason and my
blood.” There is some use of femininity in the passage, but overall Hamlet is showcasing his
manliness by letting Fortinbras know how he feels.
4.2
1) Claudius seems to think Ophelia’s madness is due to the death of her father. Do you agree?
Reflect carefully on the songs she sings. Has she been “read” correctly? Cite specific lines.
I agree with this, due to the fact that Ophelia and her father had a close relationship and the
passing of a loved one can make anyone go mad. Ophelia expresses her mourning by singing the
song that reads “He is dead and gone lady, he is dead and gone. At his head a grass green turf, at
his heels a stone.” Ophelia’s singing of the song shows that she is upset about he father’s
passing.
2) How does Laertes’s speech starting on 4.2.152 echo Hamlet’s soliloquy in the previous scene?
(think humors, manliness, etc.)
In the previous scene, Hamlet is seen exhibiting his “manliness” by expressing his urge to get
revenge on Fortinbras. Laertes’s speech echo’s this theme because as he’s addressing Ophelia he
uses the same commanding and angry tone as Hamlet did.
4.3
1) Hamlet finally seems to take charge of his fate. But we only read it in a letter. Why do you
think Shakespeare does this?
Dr. Le Van
hailey lake
Hamlet Act IV Worksheet/Probing Questions for Close Reading
Act 4 Scene 1
1) How do you see conventional, humoral manliness appear within Hamlet’s soliloquy, starting
at line 33? [hot/cold; moist/dry; black bile (feminine, melancholy), phlegm (feminine,
phlegmatic), blood (masculine, sanguine), and yellow bile (masculine, choleric)]
In Hamlet’s soliloquy starting at line 33, I notice a lot of the use of conventional manliness such
as blood (masculine, sanguine) and coldness when addressing Fortinbras. Hamlet exclaims,
“Witness this army of such mass and charge,” as well as “Excitements of my reason and my
blood.” There is some use of femininity in the passage, but overall Hamlet is showcasing his
manliness by letting Fortinbras know how he feels.
4.2
1) Claudius seems to think Ophelia’s madness is due to the death of her father. Do you agree?
Reflect carefully on the songs she sings. Has she been “read” correctly? Cite specific lines.
I agree with this, due to the fact that Ophelia and her father had a close relationship and the
passing of a loved one can make anyone go mad. Ophelia expresses her mourning by singing the
song that reads “He is dead and gone lady, he is dead and gone. At his head a grass green turf, at
his heels a stone.” Ophelia’s singing of the song shows that she is upset about he father’s
passing.
2) How does Laertes’s speech starting on 4.2.152 echo Hamlet’s soliloquy in the previous scene?
(think humors, manliness, etc.)
In the previous scene, Hamlet is seen exhibiting his “manliness” by expressing his urge to get
revenge on Fortinbras. Laertes’s speech echo’s this theme because as he’s addressing Ophelia he
uses the same commanding and angry tone as Hamlet did.
4.3
1) Hamlet finally seems to take charge of his fate. But we only read it in a letter. Why do you
think Shakespeare does this?
