THE DISCOVERY OF THE GHOST
The play opens late at night on the castle ramparts where a group of guards and scholars are watching. What country is the setting of the play, Hamlet?
A. England
B. Scotland
C. Denmark
D. Norway
Denmark
Who is Hamlet's uncle that quickly married his mother, Gertrude, to become the new king?
A. Polonius
B. Horatio
C. Cladius
D. Fortinbras
Cladius
In his famous instruction, Polonius tells his son Laertes, "This above all: to thine own self be ____."
A. true
B. king
C. heart
D. enemy
true
What is the main advice Hamlet gives the group of visiting actors about how to perform a speech?
A. Act natural and don't overdo the emotion.
B. Be loud and exaggerate every line.
C. Ignore the script and improvise most of the lines.
D. Focus only on making the audience laugh.
Act natural and don't overdo the emotion.
Hamlet kills Polonius by stabbing him while the old man is hiding where?
A. Behind a tapestry in Gertrude's room.
B. In the castle dungeons.
C. In the King's orchard.
D. At the grave of the late King Hamlet.
Behind a tapestry in Gertrude's room.
What is the main concern of the watchmen, Marcellus and Barnardo, that prompts them to ask Horatio to join them?
A. They are worried about Young Fortinbras invading Denmark.
B. They have repeatedly seen an ghost resembling the late King Hamlet.
C. They are bothered by the new King Claudius's loud parties.
D. They suspect Polonius is spying on them.
They have repeatedly seen an ghost resembling the late King Hamlet.
Claudius sends ambassadors to Norway with a letter for Fortinbras's uncle. What is the letter's main purpose?
A. To warn the uncle about Young Fortinbras's unauthorized plan to raise an army against Denmark.
B. To formally invite Fortinbras and his uncle to a royal celebration.
C. To propose a marriage alliance.
D. To demand that Norway cease all trade with Poland.
To warn the uncle about Young Fortinbras's unauthorized plan to raise an army against Denmark
Laertes warns his sister Ophelia that Hamlet's love for her is likely temporary, calling it a "toy" and a _____.
A. a solemn vow
B. a passing whim
C. a clever trap
D. a holy union
a passing whim
What famous line is Hamlet speaking as he enters, just before confronting Ophelia in the lobby?
A. "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
B. "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."
C. "Frailty, thy name is woman."
D. "To be, or not to be, that is the question."
"To be, or not to be, that is the question."
During their confrontation in Act 3, Hamlet repeatedly orders Ophelia to go to a ______ (or convent).
A. England
B. France
C. Nunnery
D. Prison
Nunnery
What is the actual cause of the late King Hamlet's death, as revealed by the Ghost?
A. He was bitten by a poisonous snake while sleeping in his orchard.
B. He died of a sudden illness while hunting.
C. He was killed in a battle with Fortinbras of Norway.
D. He was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who poured poison into his ear.
He was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who poured poison into his ear.
For what explicit purpose do Claudius and Gertrude summon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to Elsinore?
A. To serve as new guards on the castle ramparts.
B. To provide entertainment to cheer up the moody prince.
C. To find out why Hamlet is acting strangely and if a solution exists.
D. To deliver the final word on the Norway situation.
To find out why Hamlet is acting strangely and if a solution exists.
Polonius decides Hamlet's madness stems from unrequited love because Ophelia did what he told her to do. What did he tell her to do?
A. To spy on the King for him.
B. To accept Hamlet's gifts and letters.
C. To reject Hamlet's letters and refuse to see him.
D. To leave Denmark and travel to France.
To reject Hamlet's letters and refuse to see him.
Claudius's immediate reaction upon seeing the Player King poisoned during The Mousetrap is to do what?
A. Accuse Hamlet of ruining the performance.
B. Rise in panic, shout for lights, and abruptly leave.
C. Begin laughing wildly.
D. Whisper to Gertrude that the scene is familiar.
Rise in panic, shout for lights, and abruptly leave.
When Hamlet finds Claudius kneeling, why does he decide not to kill him?
A. He believes Claudius is asleep.
B. Claudius begs for mercy.
C. He believes killing Claudius while praying would send him to heaven, which is not true revenge.
D. He worries the sound of the sword would alert the guards.
He believes killing Claudius while praying would send him to heaven, which is not true revenge.
What is the Ghost's specific instruction to Hamlet regarding his mother, Gertrude?
A. He must leave her punishment to God and her own guilt.
B. He must kill her immediately for her treachery.
C. He must seek her counsel in planning the revenge.
D. He must force her to confess her sins to Claudius.
He must leave her punishment to God and her own guilt.
What is Laertes's request to Claudius and Gertrude after the coronation?
A. To be named heir to the throne of Denmark.
B. To be allowed to return to his studies in France.
C. To be given a high position in the military.
D. To seek revenge against Young Fortinbras.
To be allowed to return to his studies in France.
When Ophelia describes Hamlet's strange visit to her (unbuttoned shirt, pale face, knocking knees), what specific action does he perform before leaving?
A. He shouts at her father who is hiding nearby.
B. He gives her a miniature portrait of his father.
C. He sighs like it was his last breath and leaves the room while looking at her.
D. He sings her a vulgar, drunken song.
He sighs like it was his last breath and leaves the room while looking at her.
The play is The Murder of Gonzago, but Hamlet gives it what catchy nickname?
A. The Serpent's Sting
B. The Guilty Scene
C. The King's Folly
D. The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap
What does Hamlet show Gertrude to shame her, comparing his late father to Claudius?
A. Two portraits of the two brothers (Claudius and the Late King Hamlet).
B. A royal decree signed by Claudius.
C. The letter Polonius had intercepted.
D. A map of the stolen territory.
Two portraits of the two brothers (Claudius and the Late King Hamlet).
What plan does Hamlet immediately tell Horatio and Marcellus he might implement after speaking with the Ghost?
A. He may pretend to be crazy or act strangely.
B. He will leave Denmark immediately to avoid danger.
C. He will seek out Young Fortinbras for an alliance.
D. He will demand a duel with Claudius at once.
He may pretend to be crazy or act strangely.
How does Hamlet respond when Polonius asks him what he is reading?
A. He recites a long passage of Latin poetry.
B. He tells him "Words, words, words," and then offers insulting descriptions of old men.
C. He pretends he cannot read or remember his own name.
D. He shows him a letter praising Ophelia's beauty.
He tells him "Words, words, words," and then offers insulting descriptions of old men.
Polonius suggests that he and Claudius secretly observe Hamlet's interaction with Ophelia to confirm the cause of his madness. Where are they planning to hide?
A. On the ramparts.
B. In the chapel near the altar.
C. In the King's garden.
D. Behind the tapestry (the arras).
Behind the tapestry (the arras).
What is the purpose for putting on the play, which Hamlet confirms with Horatio?
A. To use it to uncover the conscience of the King.
B. To publicly proclaim Hamlet's love for Ophelia.
C. To impress Claudius with the visiting actors.
D. To raise money for the traveling troupe.
To use it to uncover the conscience of the King.
After the death of Polonius, what is the primary action Claudius says he will take toward Hamlet?
A. He will call for a public trial and execution.
B. He will officially forgive Hamlet and allow him to inherit the throne.
C. He will confine him to the castle dungeons for a year.
D. He will ship him off to England as soon as the sun sets.
D. He will ship him off to England as soon as the sun sets.