Hamlet Act V and IV Journal

1. What common event takes place in the lives of Hamelt, Fortinbras, and Laertes? How are the reactions of three similar? How does each cope differently in the the event?
All three of their fathers die. They all have some sort of anger about the situation, but Laertes throws a tantrum, Hamlet pouts, and Fortinbras just takes action.
2. How do Hamlet's views of death develop from the "To Be or Not To Be" soliloquy in Act III to his answers about the whereabouts of Polonius's body in Act IV to the graveyard in Act V sc i to his finals words in the last scene? What questions about the nature of life and death did the play make you think about?
He knows at the end that he had a point to living whereas before, he didn't think so. This play made me think about what our purposes are on earth.
3. Is Hamlet right to admire Fortinbras's actions in Act IV sc iv? Why or why not?
I think that it is good to have someone inspire you, so I thought it was a good thing.
4. What role do literal poisons have throughout the play? In a more abstract and metaphorical way, what and who else is 'poisoned' throughout the play?
The actual poisons are used to kill people. Most of the peoples minds are poisoned so that they do things that they would not normally do.
5. Does Hamlet redeem himself at the end of the play? Does he deserve a soldier's funeral that Fortinbras gives him?
I would say that he gains his honor and that he deserves the proper funeral.
6. A lot of characters die in the play. Which characters bring their deaths upon themselves and which ones are mere victims of fate? Explain your answers.
Polonius and Claudius and Laertes bring their deaths upon themselves because they have done some bad things. All the others are victims of fate because of the actions of the others.
7. Overall, did you like this play? Why or why not?
I liked the beginning but it got less and less exciting at the end because the people in the story just kept making stupid decisions and for some reason that makes me not like a story.