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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is "poor Yorick"?
(a) Hamlet's servant, who is old and tired.
(b) Hamlet's grandfather, now dead.
(c) The king's jester, now dead.
(d) The gravedigger who is old and tired.

2. When Hamlet visits his mother in her room in Act 3, Scene 4, he speaks very harshly to his mother. What makes him stop?
(a) Getrude kills herself.
(b) The ghost appears.
(c) Claudius enters the room.
(d) Ophelia enters the room.

3. 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.

4. In the letter that the sailors deliver in Act 4, Scene 6, it says: "when thou shalt have overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the king: they have letters for him." What is the writer of the letter asking?
(a) This letter is meant for the king. You should not read it.
(b) Give the sailors a tip for delivering the letters.
(c) Help the sailors get in to see the dead king's body.
(d) Help the sailors get in to see Claudius.

5. When Laertes returns after his father's death, what do the common people say about him?
(a) They think he should lead the armies against Norway.
(b) They want to make him king.
(c) They want to kill him.
(d) They think he is to blame for the last king's death

6. Where does Claudius want the body of Hamlet's first victim to be taken?
(a) To the chapel.
(b) To the graveyard.
(c) To the police.
(d) To the doctor.

7. While explaining Hamlet's crime to his courtiers, why does Claudius say he has to be gentle with Hamlet?
(a) Gertrude will be upset if they are hard on him.
(b) He is crazy, but not a bad person.
(c) He is still a prince.
(d) The people of Denmark love him.

8. 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.

9. Claudius suggests a duel between Laertes and Hamlet, but that type of duel usually is not deadly. What does Claudius suggest they do to injure Hamlet?
(a) Damage Hamlet's armor so he is vulnerable.
(b) Bribe the referee.
(c) Force Hamlet to drink poison before the fight.
(d) Fix Laertes's sword so it is sharp.

10. What does Claudius say about Laertes and Ophelia's death?
(a) He is worried Ophelia's death will enrage Laertes.
(b) He thinks Laertes is responsible for Ophelia's death.
(c) He is afraid Laertes may kill himself because of Ophelia's death.
(d) He knew about Ophelia's death, but did not want to tell Laertes.

11. 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) The body is waiting on the lobby stairs.
(d) Climb the stairs and you will see the body in the lobby.

12. What happens to Ophelia after her father's death?
(a) She blames Claudius for her father's death.
(b) She goes crazy.
(c) She gets sick.
(d) She wants to kill Hamlet.

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

14. After talking to Hamlet in her room, what does Gertrude say about Hamlet?
(a) He is mad with love for Ophelia.
(b) He is not crazy.
(c) He is determined to get revenge.
(d) He is crazy.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. After the murder, Claudius tells Hamlet to leave right away. Where should Hamlet go?

2. At the end of Act 4, Scene 2, what does Hamlet agree to do?

3. How does Claudius die?

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

5. Hamlet's mother tries to leave the room during their conversation in Act 3, Scene 4, but Hamlet stops her and says she cannot leave until he does what?

(see the answer keys)

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