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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Rorik believe that Horwendil is a good match for his daughter?

2. Why does Feng leave Denmark?

3. When Rorik asks Gerutha about the state of her marriage, how does she respond?

4. Where do Gerutha and Horwendil go immediately after their wedding?

5. Why does Gerutha use the phrase ". . . no woman wants to be a mere piece of furniture, to be bartered for and then sat upon?"

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Gerutha think that Feng and herself are in similar situations?

2. Describe Gerutha's prediction of Horwendil as a husband.

3. What does Gerutha find disturbing about falconry?

4. Describe how the conversation during the sleigh ride displays the difference in the personality between Horwendil and Gerutha.

5. Why do Horwendil and Gerutha fight over Amleth leaving for school?

6. Describe King Rorik's view of love and marriage.

7. Describe Gerutha's physical appearance as a young woman when she is first introduced in the story.

8. Describe how the songbirds, a gift from Horwendil, demonstrate the difference between the personalities of Horwendil and Gerutha.

9. What does Gerutha see as different about her father when he gives her his blessing?

10. How does Gerutha respond to her father's apology before he dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Act 1 we meet King Rorik, Gerutha, and Horwendil. Of these characters, who do you think has the most accurate idea of love?

Part 1. Describe each character's position on love and perhaps what they think is love should be.

Part 2. Describe your idea or definition of love and how is it similar or different to each of the character's ideas.

Part 3. Explain why you think the character has the most accurate idea of love. Include examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The characters in the story make many assumptions and decisions that are questionable. Write an essay with the following parts.

Part 1. Describe one mistake that you think each character has made, Gertrude, Claudius, and King Hamlet. Explain why you think it's clear that these decisions were mistakes.

Part 2. How has each character's mistake affected their future?

Essay Topic 3

The are a multitude of events over the course of the story. Which events in the story provide the most important turning points that move the plot? Write a three part essay to discuss this question.

Part 1. Which events do you believe are key events in the story? Choose three or four events and describe why you think they are the most important.

Part 2. Describe how each of the key events affect the main characters in the story.

Part 3. If you had to choose a single or most important event, which would it be? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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