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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Guildenstern do with a dagger he takes from the Player?
(a) He cuts the Player's throat.
(b) He uses it to slice bread.
(c) He plunges it into the Player all the way to the hilt.
(d) He cleans his nails.

2. What does Rosencrantz demand of the troupe?
(a) That must provide an excellent performance at court, and may not present their usual smutty acts.
(b) That they use court language when they address Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude.
(c) That they clean their costumes before they perform at court.
(d) That they must not mention having met them on the road to the court.

3. Who is standing upstage and lights a lantern?
(a) Claudius
(b) The Player
(c) Hamlet
(d) Alfred

4. What two different meanings do they seem to apply to the word madness?
(a) Either fear or excitement
(b) Either hate or love
(c) Either jealousy or revenge
(d) Either insanity or anger

5. Who do the two dead spies on stage turn out to be?
(a) Guildenstern and Rosencrantz
(b) Hamlet and Ophelia
(c) Alfred and the Player
(d) Claudius and Gertrude

6. What happens after the Player dies?
(a) He gets up and brushes himself off.
(b) They throw him overboard.
(c) Everyone shouts for joy.
(d) Alfred dances around his body.

7. Who are in the barrels?
(a) Stowaways from Denmark
(b) Hamlet's bodyguards
(c) The Player, the troupe, and the musicians
(d) Ophelia and Gertrude

8. What happens to the troupe still dressed in their costumes?
(a) They drag Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to center stage.
(b) They join the audience.
(c) They walk off the stage.
(d) They all die in different ways.

9. Back inside the castle, what does Rosencrantz declare?
(a) That Hamlet has given himself up.
(b) That Claudius is not angry anymore.
(c) That they are now done with them.
(d) That he does not remember coming inside.

10. What question does Guildenstern put to the Player?
(a) He asks the Player what he and Rosencrantz are supposed to do.
(b) He asks where they can find Hamlet.
(c) He asks what he and Rosencrantz need to know.
(d) He asks which way is north.

11. What is seen in their failure to trap Hamlet with their belts?
(a) That Rosencrantz wears his pants too large
(b) That Guldenstern is wearing two belts
(c) That they are clever but unlucky
(d) That they are once again inept or helpless

12. What is Guildenstern's reply when Rosencrantz says they have nothing to do?
(a) Guildenstern says someone will come tell them what to do.
(b) Guildenstern says they can put on a play.
(c) Guildenstern reminds him that they are taking Hamlet to England.
(d) Guildenstern suggests they write letters.

13. Up to this point, how have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern proven to be?
(a) Effectual in carrying out Claudius's orders
(b) Helpless and powerless to influence events around them
(c) Sure of themselves and their whereabouts
(d) Very knowledgable about Shakespeare

14. How does the audience know that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern still do not know where they are?
(a) Rosencrantz asks if they are in China.
(b) Guildenstern asks if he is there and Rosencrantz asks where.
(c) Rosencrantz thinks they are in a hospital.
(d) Guildenstern thinks they are in a jail but he cannot see.

15. Talking about acting on assumptions, what does the Player ask the two men?
(a) He asks them if they are ready to assume.
(b) He asks them what it is that they assume.
(c) He asks them if they understand the word, assume.
(d) He asks them why they didn't know that.

Short Answer Questions

1. Still in the dark, what do the two realize?

2. In what kind of death does the Player say people only believe?

3. What does Guildenstern explain to Rosencrantz about Hamlet's whereabouts?

4. What play does Hamlet ask the Player if his troupe can perform?

5. What does Guildenstern say about death?

(see the answer keys)

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