Question

hamlet, part 5: characteristics of elizabethan drama
and tell you what i know. (40)
claudius: thanks, dear my lord. exit polonius.
o! my offence is rank, it smells to heaven;
it hath the primal eldest curse upon t;
a brother’s murder! pray can i not,
though inclination be as sharp as will: (45)
my stronger guilt defeats my strong intent;
and, like a man to double business bound,
i stand in pause where i shall first begin,
and both neglect. what if this cursed hand
were thicker than itself with brother’s blood, (50)
is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
to wash it white as snow? whereto serves mercy
but to confront the visage of offence?
what does polonius plan to do while hamlet visits queen gertrude in her chambers?
options:

• send rosencrantz and guildenstern to spy on hamlet
• hide behind a tapestry and eavesdrop on hamlet’s conversation
• make preparations for hamlet’s journey to england
• question ophelia about what hamlet has said to her

Explanation:

To answer this, we recall the plot of Hamlet. When Hamlet visits Queen Gertrude in her chambers, Polonius plans to hide behind a tapestry (or arras) to eavesdrop on the conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude. The other options do not match Polonius's action in this scene: sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy is a different plot point, preparing for the journey is not his action here, and questioning Ophelia is also not related to this specific scene.

Answer:

B. hide behind a tapestry and eavesdrop on Hamlet’s conversation