ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Synopsis: In Gertrude’s room, Polonius hides behind a tapestry. Hamlet’s entrance so alarms Gertrude that she cries out for help. Polonius echoes her cry, and Hamlet, thinking Polonius to be Claudius, stabs him to death.

Detailed explanation-2: -Killing Polonius. Hamlet expects the spy to be King Claudius, when he pulls back to the curtain to reveal Polonius’ dead body he says. “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell!” Hamlet continues by expressing disappointment in Polonius whom he had previously thought to be a better man.

Detailed explanation-3: -The jury of volunteers from the audience agreed-and they went further. Not only was Hamlet criminally responsible for Polonius’ killing, jurors said he might also be guilty of driving Ophelia to her death.

Detailed explanation-4: -Hamlet draws his sword and thrusts it through the tapestry, killing Polonius. When Hamlet lifts the wallhanging and discovers Polonius’ body, he tells the body that he had believed he was stabbing the King. He then turns his attention to punishing Gertrude.