These scenes accomplish the following purposes-

a- It shows us further unfortunate effects of Hamlet's murder of Polonius- Ophelia's madness and Laertes vowed revenge.
b- Both effects serve as foils to show Hamlet's greater virtue.  By showing us how similar situations shatter Ophelia's sanity and lead Laertes into behavior both criminal and damnable, we are able to see Hamlet's extraordinary grip on himself.  Having shown us Hamlet's flaws with the greates of detail, Shakespeare is now beginning his rehabilitation as a tragic hero worthy of our admiration.

Act IV: Scene V1 and VII

These last two scenes serve to sharply distinguish Hamlet from Claudius and Laertes.  While Hamet is , as Claudius notes, " Most generous, and free from all contriving," Claudius and Laertes busy themselves with treacherously planning his death.  The rehabilitation of Hamlet begun in the previous scene is continued in these scenes, even in the face of Ophelia's death.

Ophelia's Distribution of flowers:
 

The following is a list of flowers that Ophelia distributed to King Claudius:

 Rosemary- faithfulness and remembrance
 Pansies- thoughts
 Fennel- flattery and sorrows
 Columbine-ingratitude and forsaken love
 Rue- repentance and regret
 Daisy- deception
 

Ophelia mentioned Violets(which stands for faithfulness and death), however, did not distribute it.
 
 
 

Write a diary entry from Ophelia's point of view to Hamlet after she found out her father was killed-
 

Dear Diary:

     This has been the most dreadful day ever. My love, my dear insane love Hamlet has just killed my father. Why?  Did he not realize how much I needed my father. My poor defenseless father, he would have not been able to go up against Hamlet, who is insane. Imagine Hamlet, a well mannered person, speak to me the way he did in the play, he must be crazy. But, what could have triggered Hamlet to kill my father? I just can't seem to understand!  Maybe, Hamlet killed my father because he tried to break us up. Hamlet really never liked my father, maybe it's all my fault. I should have been the one killed.  It was my fault,  not my father's. He died because of me. What am I going to do without him? And the worse part of it all is that  I can't even ask Hamlet what had happened. Maybe I should ask his mother. Perhaps she may be able to tell me. I feel that pretty soon I may end up like Hamlet, insane! Oh, why do I even bother.  Sometimes,  I wish I wasn't even alive. So much pain and suffering, with no one to talk to. And now,  I don't have any company without my father, brother, nor Hamlet. Why does my life have to be this way? It is not fair.  I cannot bear this loneliness.  Maybe I'll go to the garden and relax.  Hopefully that will make me feel a little better.
 

 
 Write a news article for Elsinore post about what is going on in the castle-
 

1st Article:

    After our beloved King Hamlet died from a poisonous snake bite. His wife Gertrude married his brother Claudius, according to our traditions and religion this is an incestuous marriage. Then the title of the King is given to Claudius rather than to Hamlet. We feel rather bad for Hamlet because he did not get to forget his father's death for long when his mother married. This incestuous marriage has everyone in Denmark upset but we cannot say a word against this marriage. Furthermore, our local enemy from Norway, young Fortinbras is threatening to take back what his uncle lost in the wars. We have our ambassadors dealing with the situation. Back to the main topic, Prince Hamlet has gone insane. We believe that it is because of his father's death and his mother's marriage to his uncle.

2nd Article:

    Our King's private counselor Polonius was murdered by our prince Hamlet. It seems that Hamlet was having a discussion with his mother but Polonius was hiding in the room apparently Hamlet heard him and stabbed through the area where Polonius was hiding, which instantly killed him. The King is sending Hamlet to England in order to protect him. The day that they plan to send him is also the day that Fortinbras is marching through Denmark in order to fight Poland for a patch of land. Consequently, Hamlet's fiancé Ophelia, has also gone insane. Sad but true. Now there won't be any marriage between them. They are both insane.

3rd Article:

    The King, Queen, Ophelia, Laertes and our future King, Hamlet have died. They have died because of the King's plotting. King Cladius killed our King Hamlet. Hamlet eventually found out about the murder of his father and according to his friend Horatio, Hamlet acted insane to cover his plans of avenging his father's death. But, Claudius was suspicious from the beginning and he had some friends come over and investigate but they didn't find any reasons why Hamlet was crazy. Claudius also had spies especially Polonius who died while spying on Hamlet and the Queen.
    Claudius eventually found out about Hamlet's feigned insanity and tried to get him killed by sending him to England. We thought that it was to protect Hamlet, we guessed wrong. Claudius then seeing that Hamlet escaped, told Laertes to have a fencing fight with Hamlet, but to poison the tip of his sword. Claudius said if that didn't work that he would give Hamlet a poisoned goblet of wine if he became thirsty.
    What happened was that Hamlet was winning the fencing fight. Laertes was frustrated seeing that he was losing and that Hamlet wasn't drinking from the poisoned cup, decided to cut Hamlet when he was off guard, which poisoned Hamlet. At that moment according to eyewitnesses the Queen drank from the poisoned goblet. She died instantly. Hamlet angry, cut Laertes with the poisoned sword. Laertes knowing that he was going to die told Hamlet the plot that the King and he had to kill Hamlet. Laertes then dies and Hamlet before dying avenged his father's murder by making Claudius drink from the poisoned goblet. After the King dies, Hamlet dies. Now young Fortinbras is going to take over our Denmark. Now the question remains: What will become of Denmark?