Final answer:
Without a specific quote from Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet', it's unclear who Hamlet states Polonius is when questioned. However, Hamlet often uses wit to describe Polonius, generally recognizing him as a meddling and overbearing figure in the court.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hamlet's Recognition of Polonius
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, when Polonius asks Hamlet if he knows him, Hamlet responds with recognition. However, the student's question does not specify the exact line where Hamlet says who he thinks Polonius is. Usually, Hamlet describes Polonius using sharp wit, but without an exact quote from the play, we can't determine who Hamlet says Polonius is.
In Hamlet, Polonius is the Lord Chamberlain of Claudius's court, a position of high status, and he is also the father of Ophelia and Laertes. Hamlet's responses to Polonius often include insults and mocking, as Hamlet sees through Polonius’s façade and perceives him as a meddling old man.
If the student can provide the specific act and scene or the lines in question, a more precise answer can be given regarding how Hamlet refers to Polonius at that particular moment in the play.