Hamlet Reading Questions: Act 5

Act V
1. At the opening of act five, one of the two Clowns (rustics, or men of lower class, not clowns as we understand the word) is puzzled that Ophelia will receive a proper burial. Why? How does the Second Clown explain this treatment (5.1.22)? (Also, note the Priest’s reluctance in the proceedings)
They are puzzled because in the time of Shakespeare’s time, people who committed suicide were not giving a Christian burial. The second clown explains the treatment by saying that although they say that she didn’t commit suicide and therefore it’s ok to give her a Christian burial, the real reason why she is receiving a Christian burial is because she is rich and if she wasn’t rich she wouldn’t of have gotten a burial.

2. Whose skull does Hamlet recognize in the graveyard?
Hamlet recognizes Yorick. He was a former court jester’s.

3. How long has the “grave-­‐maker” been working at his craft? What events coincided with his first day on the job?
The grave-maker begins to work at his craft the day King Hamlet defeated Fortinbras, which was the same day Hamlet was born.

4. Hamlet imagines that the dirt that the Clown is digging could actually be who? What happens to these great figures in Hamlet’s imagining?
Hamlet imagines that the dirt could be Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. He says that it’s sad that these man die and then become dirt and then materials that are used to fix things without much importance like turning into clay to fix holes on the wall.

5. There are two surprising stage directions in 5.1: Laertes, then Hamlet, “leaps into the grave.” What are they fighting over?!
They are fighting over Ophelia who is dead but they fight for who loves her more and how would do more to show how sad they feel.

6. Hamlet did inherit something from his father that proves quite useful in his stratagem against Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. What is it?
He inherited his father's signet ring, which he used to seal a letter that he wrote to England that was saying to condemn the messengers to death, which are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

7. What causes Hamlet’s death (and is also the cause of death for the entire Danish court (including Hamlet I))?
Poison is the cause for their death. The elder King Hamlet is killed by poison and so it Hamlet but slightly different, he was stabbed by a poisoned sword and so was Laertes and Claudius killed the same way. Gertrude had drunk the wine that contained poison.

8. What is Laertes’s dying wish? Is it fulfilled?
His dying wish was for Hamlet to forgive him and set a peace between them. Hamlet says “Heaven make thee free from it” but he doesn’t necessarily forgive him.

9. Just before Hamlet dies, he offers his “dying voice” to Fortinbras. What does he mean by this? What is going to happen to Denmark after the play?
He means that he gives him the vote to be the Danish King. He wants him to be the king of Denmark. Denmark after the play will have a new king.

10. What orders does Fortinbras give at the end of the play? What is the significance, do you think, of this action?

He orders 4 captains to carry out Hamlet like solider onto the stage. He says that he would have been a great King if he had gotten the chance. He orders for Hamlet to have military music and military rites that will speak of his heroic actions. This is a significant action because it represents peace since that’s what Hamlet was asking for in the letter and this was Fortinbras way of showing the agreement of peace.