Soliloquys
Plot
Notable Quotables
No Fear Shakespeare
Potpourri
100

Finish the line: "To be or not to be..."

What is "...that is the question"

100

This person kills Polonius.

Who is Hamlet

100

"What, frighted with false fire!": who says this + whose actions are being described?

Who are Hamlet + Claudius

100

Claudius describes Polonius and himself as "lawful espials". What is an espial?

What is a spy

100

Laertes comes up with this plan to kill Hamlet.

What is poison the tip of his sword?

200

DOUBLE JEOPARDY!

Act III, scene iii contains the first soliloquy not delivered by Hamlet. Who is speaking?

Who is Claudius

200

This person suddenly returns from France

Who is Laertes

200

"I will speak daggers to her, but use none": who says this + who are they speaking about?

Who are Hamlet + Gertrude

200

The Queen tells Hamlet that he has "cleft [her] heart in twain": what does this mean?

What is 'breaking [her] heart'

200

This person helps Hamlet keep an eye on Claudius during the play.

Who is Horatio?

300

Upon seeing Fortinbras' army, Hamlet launches into a soliloquy where he states that humans are no better than what if we do not our ability to reason?

What is a beast

300

Hamlet runs into Fortinbras' army on their way to seize what?

What is a small, unimportant patch of land in Poland

300

"Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind": who says this + what is the context for this quote?

Who is Ophelia + she is trying to return Hamlet's 'remembrances' to him.

300

Hamlet tells Claudius that he may "nose [Polonius] as [he goes] up the stairs into the lobby". What does "nose" mean?

What is smell

300

DOUBLE JEOPARDY!

Laertes tells Claudius that he would be willing "to cut [Hamlet's] throat in the church". How does this statement contrast him with Hamlet in a previous scene?

How is Hamlet could not kill Claudius as he was 'praying'.

400

Claudius describes his offence as having "the primal eldest curse upon it,/ A brother's murder". What is he alluding to?

What is the biblical story of Cain + Abel (the original betrayal where Cain murders his brother Abel)

400

In order to convince Laertes that he is innocent, Claudius suggests that Laertes do this to judge him.

What is gather his smartest friends and judge Claudius together

400

DOUBLE JEOPARDY!

"How dangerous is it that this man goes loose! Yet must not we put the strong law on him: he's loved of the distracted multitude": who says this + what does it mean?

Who is Claudius + Hamlet is dangerous but we must be careful with how we punish him as he's loved by the general public.

400

"To my sick soul, as sin's true nature is,/ Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss". What does "prologue to some great amiss" mean?

What is 'this is a warning sign of more bad things to come'

400

Ophelia gives Laertes imaginary/invisible these in her mad state.

What are herbs + flowers.

500

Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius while he is 'praying'. Instead, he decides to do it when Claudius is sinning. Name three possible sins that Hamlet describes.

What are being drunk, raging, enjoying 'incestuous pleasure', gaming, and/or swearing

500

Hamlet returns to Denmark due to a pirate attack. This is an example of a very convenient and random seemingly divine intervention, also known as:

What is deus ex machina

500

"'Tis a knavish piece of work. But what of that? Your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches us not": who says this + what does it mean?

Who is Hamlet + those of us with a clean conscience should not feel offended by this play

500

"I bought an unction of a mounteback". What are 'unction' and 'mounteback'?

What are 'ointment/poison' and 'a travelling quack doctor'

500

There are two characters who are foils to Hamlet. Who are they + what do they all have in common?

Who are Fortinbras & Laertes + they all have murdered fathers and are seeking revenge.

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