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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 Rosencrantz's observation about Hamlet?
(a) That hamlet is just play acting.
(b) That the problem is more than Hamlet's father's death.
(c) That Hamlet just like to be the center of attention.
(d) That Hamlet is suffering from amnesia.

2. What does Guildenstern say will eventually turn the game around?
(a) The law of relativity
(b) The law of Hammurabi
(c) The law of gravity
(d) The law of diminishing returns

3. What is the ridiculous conversation Rosencrantz initiates about fingernails and beards?
(a) Whether they grow before birth and after death
(b) Whether they should be worn long or short
(c) Whether they grow at the same rate
(d) Whether they are like toenails

4. What assumption does the Player make about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
(a) The Player states that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are surely fellow artists.
(b) The Player says that they are notable patrons of the arts.
(c) The Player says that they are runaway criminals and he has seen their pictures.
(d) The player says that they are Lords and he recognizes them.

5. What is Rosencrantz's emotional condition as a result of his encounters?
(a) He is confident that everything will now turn out all right.
(b) He is apologetic for winning all of Guildenstern's money.
(c) Rosencrantz continues to feel stressed and seems to feel a death is coming.
(d) He understands everything that is happening around him.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens when the troupe sees the coin?

2. When Guildenstern assures Rosencrantz that they will be all right, what is Rosencrantz's reply?

3. What does Gertrude tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

4. Trying to determine what Rosencrantz wants to see, what does the Player mention not too subtly?

5. If they discover what is troubling Hamlet, what does Rosencrantz want to know?

Short Essay Questions

1. What appears to be the relationship between the two men?

2. What does Guildenstern's comment that he is afraid today is his day mean?

3. Describe the dialogue that shows the confusion of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at this point.

4. How does the audience understand that Rosencrantz is quite naive?

5. Throughout the play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern never leave the stage. What stops them from following the Queen's attendants to go find Hamlet?

6. Why are Guildenstern and Rosencrantz on this road and what has Guildenstern been expecting?

7. What rather unusual encounter do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern then have in the undisclosed location?

8. Guildenstern asks Rosencrantz if he appears to be contradicting himself. What is Rosencrantz's odd reply?

9. How does the subject of fear affect both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

10. Describe Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as the play opens.

(see the answer keys)

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