Nexus resource
Hamlet Act 4
Scene summaries
Subject:
Age range:
Topic:
English
12–14 15–16
Hamlet
Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2015
Source | This resource was originally developed by Ruth Wilson for Wolverhampton Local Authority
and has been adapted by EAL Nexus. Images are from Self-Made Hero’s Manga Shakespeare
series.
Hamlet Act 4:
Scene summaries
Scenes 1, 2 and 3: Elsinore Castle
Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius. Gertrude
tells Claudius that Hamlet has gone mad. She is afraid of him.
Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to fetch Hamlet.
Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that they always do what
the king wants.
Claudius asks Hamlet where Polonius’s body is. Hamlet tells Claudius
to look for Polonius in hell.
Claudius sends Hamlet to England with Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern. When Claudius is alone he tells the audience that he
has sent a letter to the King of England. The letter tells the King of
England to kill Hamlet when Hamlet arrives in England.
Key words or phrases with pictures
a letter
©British Council 2015
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
afraid of
to arrive
to fetch
Scene 4
A plain in Denmark
While Hamlet is on his way to England, he sees Fortinbras, the
Prince of Norway. Fortinbras and his army are travelling through
Denmark to attack Poland.
This makes Hamlet feel guilty that he hasn’t got revenge for his
father’s murder.
Key words or phrases with pictures
Fortinbras’s army
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Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to attack
Scene 5
Elsinore Castle
Ophelia has gone mad. She sings songs in front of Gertrude and
Claudius. Laertes comes back from France. He is very angry and
wants revenge for his father’s death. Ophelia comes back in and
gives everyone flowers. Laertes sees that Ophelia has gone mad and
becomes even more angry.
Key words or phrases with pictures
a flower
Ophelia and the flowers
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to sing a song
even more angry
©British Council 2015
Scene 6
Elsinore Castle
Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet. Some pirates helped Hamlet
to escape from the boat to England. Hamlet is coming back to
Denmark.
Key words or phrases with pictures
Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to escape
a boat
some pirates
Scene 7
Elsinore Castle
Claudius finds out that Hamlet is still alive. Claudius thinks of
another plan to kill Hamlet. Claudius makes a plan with Laertes.
Laertes is going to kill Hamlet in a fencing match. He is going to use
©British Council 2015
a sword with poison on the tip. Claudius is going to give Hamlet a
poisoned drink too.
Gertrude comes in and says that Ophelia is dead. She has drowned.
Key words or phrases with pictures
a sword
to fence (fight with a sword)
Claudius makes a plan with Laertes
tip (of a sword)
Ophelia is dead
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to drown
©British Council 2015