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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the Prince of Norway's name?
(a) Marcellus.
(b) Claudius.
(c) Fortinbras.
(d) Horatio.

2. Who does the ghost claim to be?
(a) Hamlet's grandfather.
(b) Hamlet's father.
(c) The ghost of kings of Denmark past.
(d) A tortured spirit.

3. What is the real reason for the last king's death?
(a) Poison poured in his ear.
(b) A knife in the back.
(c) Poison poured down his throat.
(d) A heart attack.

4. Claudius says his crime "hath the primal eldest curse upon't." What does he mean?
(a) Stealing your brother's wife is an especially bad crime.
(b) A brother's murder is an especially bad crime.
(c) Killing your oldest brother is an especially bad crime.
(d) Killing the king is an especially bad crime.

5. How does Horatio describe the ghost to Hamlet?
(a) More sad than angry.
(b) Frightening.
(c) Exciting.
(d) More angry than sad.

Short Answer Questions

1. In their first conversation together, what important information does Hamlet reveal to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

2. In Act 1, Scene 1, why does Marcellus bring Horatio to talk to Francisco and Bernardo?

3. How many times does the ghost appear in Act 1, Scene 1?

4. Who is Claudius?

5. After his first meeting with the ghost, what does Hamlet ask his friends to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Hamlet first sees the ghost, he tries to talk to it. How does the ghost respond?

2. When Hamlet rants about love and marriage to Ophelia, he is talking about more than just his own relationship with her. What else is Hamlet talking about?

3. In Act 2, Scene 1, how does Ophelia describe Hamlet's behavior?

4. When Hamlet meets Ophelia after the "To be or not to be" speech, he is polite or gentle with her at first. What happens to change his attitude? How does his attitude change? What does he say?

5. What is the point or theme of Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech?

6. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do during the play-within-a-play?

7. Who does the ghost tell Hamlet NOT to seek revenge on?

8. Once alone after the play-within-a-play, Claudius bemoans his crimes and falls to his knees in prayer. But at the end of the scene, what does he say about his praying?

9. When Hamlet follows the ghost, what do his friends decide to do?

10. Polonius sends Reynaldo to Laertes with very specific instructions. What does Polonius tell Reynaldo to do, and how does Polonius tell him to do it?

(see the answer keys)

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