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

2. What do the gravediggers say about Ophelia's burial?
(a) Her burial should get more ceremony and more attention than it is receiving.
(b) If she is a suicide, so she should not be buried in the churchyard.
(c) It is a shame that someone so young is dead.
(d) She should have been getting married, not buried.

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

4. Who are the Norwegian soldiers attacking?
(a) Sweden.
(b) England.
(c) Poland.
(d) Denmark.

5. 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) Laertes.
(b) Bernardo.
(c) Captain.
(d) Fortinbras.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Claudius tells Laertes there are two reasons why he has not ordered Hamlet killed. What are those reasons?

3. When he is asked where his first victim's body is, what does Hamlet do?

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

5. Watching the troops attacking, Hamlet decides that he is less of a man than their leader. Why does he say that?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Act 4, Scene 5, Claudius is almost overthrown by a violent mob. Who does the mob want to be king in his place?

2. As Hamlet travels to the boat for England, what or who does Hamlet find on a plain in Denmark?

3. List the major characters who die during the last scene of the play.

4. Who is Yorick, and why does he come up in Act 5?

5. Who is the first person in Elsinore to find out that Hamlet is on his way back to Denmark instead of going to England? How does that person find out?

6. How does Hamlet suggest that Claudius and his servants might find Polonius's body?

7. Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet is responsible for Polonius's death. Claudius says that there are two reasons why he cannot have Hamlet publicly arrested and punished. What are those two reasons?

8. What plan do Laertes and Claudius come up with in Act 4, Scene 7 to kill Hamlet?

9. In the last scene of Act 3, Polonius is killed. At the end of the scene, what happens to his body?

10. Hamlet finally confronts his mother in Act 3, Scene 4, speaking harshly to her as he tries to force her to realize her own complicity in the crime. What happens to change his tone?

(see the answer keys)

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