1. After Hamlet's behavior during the play-within-a-play, what do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to do with Hamlet?
(a) Take him to a doctor.
(b) Take him to England next summer.
(c) Kill him.
(d) Take him to England right away.

2. At the start of Act 4, Scene 4, the audience finally sees a character that has been talked about since the start of the play. Who is this character?
(a) Captain.
(b) Laertes.
(c) Fortinbras.
(d) Bernardo.

3. After his first meeting with the ghost, what does Hamlet ask his friends to do?
(a) Keep his secret.
(b) Tell the world about the last king's death.
(c) Help him avenge the murder.
(d) Help him break the news to his mother.

4. Hamlet says of Claudius: "He took my father grossly, full of bread; With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May." What does Hamlet mean by that?
(a) Claudius killed Hamlet's father when he was sleeping after a heavy meal.
(b) Claudius killed Hamlet's father before Hamlet's father could repent his sins.
(c) Claudius killed Hamlet's father by poisoning him with a heavy meal.
(d) Claudius looks like Hamlet's father.

5. Hamlet enters about halfway through Act 3, Scene 3. When he comes in, what is Claudius doing?
(a) Eating.
(b) Sleeping.
(c) Talking to Polonius.
(d) Praying.

Short Answer Questions

1. After the play, Claudius meets with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to discuss Hamlet's condition. Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern more sympathetic to Claudius, Hamlet, or someone else?

2. In Act 1, Scene 5, what does the ghost ask Hamlet to do?

3. During their first conversation, what does the ghost tell Hamlet about his mother?

4. On his way to see his mother in Act 3, Scene 3, Hamlet finds Claudius. What does Hamlet decide not to do in that scene?

5. Hamlet says "The time is out of joint: O cursed spite/ That ever I was born to set it right!" What does that mean?

(see the answer key)

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