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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Ophelia say about violets?
(a) The violets died when her father died.
(b) Violets are her favorite flower.
(c) Violets stand for remembrance.
(d) Violets stand for thoughts.

2. The first time the audience sees Hamlet after he has killed someone, he says "Safely stowed." What does he mean?
(a) He has scared Ophelia away from him forever.
(b) He has convinced his mother to help him.
(c) He has established proof that he is crazy.
(d) He has hidden the body.

3. Hamlet finally tells Claudius how to find the body of his first victim: "But indeed, if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby." How is Hamlet saying that they might find the body?
(a) Wait a month till the ground thaws and the grave will be revealed.
(b) Wait a month and you will smell where it is.
(c) Climb the stairs and you will see the body in the lobby.
(d) The body is waiting on the lobby stairs.

4. What message is the Norwegian Captain supposed to deliver to Claudius in Act 4, Scene 4?
(a) The armies of Norway will attack at dawn.
(b) The armies of Norway want passage through Denmark.
(c) The armies of Norway have defeated the Poles.
(d) The armies of Denmark must surrender their weapons.

5. At the end of Act 4, Scene 2, what does Hamlet agree to do?
(a) Go see the king.
(b) Go to England.
(c) See a doctor.
(d) Talk to Gertrude.

6. How does Hamlet manage to avoid his fate in England?
(a) He bribed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
(b) He got onto another ship.
(c) He killed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
(d) He made friends with the English queen.

7. At the end of the play, a messenger arrives from England with news. What is the news?
(a) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have arrived safely.
(b) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been executed.
(c) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have sent help to Denmark.
(d) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are on their way back to Denmark.

8. Who does Hamlet kill in his mother's room?
(a) Getrude.
(b) Laertes.
(c) Polonius.
(d) Fortinbras.

9. Who is Gertrude truly loyal to?
(a) No one.
(b) Claudius.
(c) Hamlet.
(d) Herself.

10. The sailors from the pirate ships deliver letters to Elsinore. Who are the letters from?
(a) Gertrude.
(b) Laertes.
(c) Hamlet.
(d) Horatio.

11. What additional method does Claudius suggest so that even if Hamlet wins the duel with Laertes, Hamlet will still die?
(a) Challenge Hamlet to a duel himself.
(b) Hire an assassin to kill Hamlet.
(c) Arrest Hamlet for Polonius's death.
(d) Give Hamlet a poisoned drink.

12. How does Hamlet act after he has killed someone?
(a) He is frightened that someone will now try to kill him.
(b) He is sorry for his crime.
(c) He is relieved to have finally done something.
(d) He does not seem sorry for his crime.

13. Watching the troops attacking, Hamlet decides that he is less of a man than their leader. Why does he say that?
(a) Hamlet has only killed one man and the leader has killed many.
(b) He has a better reason to fight than the leader, but he does not fight.
(c) The leader is a common man, while Hamlet is a prince.
(d) Hamlet was never in the army, unlike the troops' leader.

14. When Hamlet and his mother finally talk in Gertrude's room, she says, "Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended." Hamlet responds, "Mother, you have my father much offended." Why is that dialogue important?
(a) Gertrude is talking about the dead king, but Hamlet is talking about Claudius.
(b) Getrude is talking about Claudius, but Hamlet is talking about the dead king.
(c) Hamlet has decided to act crazy even with his mother.
(d) Gertrude is using the dead king to force Hamlet to behave himself.

15. As the funeral procession makes it way through the graveyard, Hamlet notices there are "maimed rites." What does that signify?
(a) That the person died from the plague.
(b) That the person who died was poor.
(c) That the person who died was very old.
(d) That the person died by suicide.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Claudius finds out Hamlet has killed someone, what is he most worried about?

2. After reading the letters brought by the sailors in Act 4, Scene 6, what does Horatio say he wants to do?

3. When Hamlet leaves his mother's room in Act 3, Scene 4, what does he take with him?

4. What does Ophelia she say about the herb rosemary?

5. What happens between Laertes and Hamlet in the graveyard scene?

(see the answer keys)

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