View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Hamlet manage to avoid his fate in England?

2. Some sailors arrive at Elsinore from a pirate ship in Act 4, Scene 6. Who do they deliver a letter to?

3. As Gertrude lays flowers at Ophelia's grave, what does she say?

4. As Laertes and Claudius discuss how to kill Hamlet, what news does Gertrude bring?

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?

Short Essay Questions

1. After Polonius's death, Ophelia comes to see Gertrude. What do we learn about Ophelia in that scene?

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

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

4. When Hamlet hears about Fortinbras and his attacks on Poland, what does he say about Fortinbras and about himself?

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

6. 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?

7. When Claudius hears about Polonius's death, what is his first thought?

8. Hamlet calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern "a sponge." Why does he say that?

9. 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?

10. After Polonius's death, who is sent to find Hamlet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Study some of the basics of Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince" and apply them to the political situation in Denmark. What would Machiavelli say about Claudius? Polonius? Fortinbras? Hamlet?

Essay Topic 2

Sigmund Freud put forward the idea of the "Oedipus complex," based on the character of Oedipus from Greek tragedy. Freud also asserted that Hamlet has a serious Oedipus complex. Research the idea of the Oedipus complex and write an essay in which you do the following:

-- Explain what the Oedipus complex is.

-- State whether or not you think Hamlet has an Oedipus complex.

-- Support your view with information from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the characters of Gertrude and Ophelia, focusing on the following points:

-- To what extent is each of them a victim of what happens?

-- To what extent does each of them cause what happens?

-- Does Gertrude affect Hamlet's relationship with Ophelia? If so, how? Does Ophelia affect Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude? If so, how?

-- How do the other men in the play treat Gertrude and Ophelia? How does that contribute to our overall sense of them? Focus specifically on the ghost, Claudius, Laertes, and Polonius.

-- Does it matter that these are essentially the only two female characters in the play? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 854 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample