View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Guildenstern summarize that day?
(a) Right after breakfast they got a summons for jury duty.
(b) They got a message to come quickly but it did not tell them where.
(c) They were awakened at dawn with a message, a summons, and a new record for heads and tails.
(d) they were sleeping and suddenly found themselves on a road they don't know.

2. What concession do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern make to Claudius and Gertrude?
(a) They will get the troupe to help them.
(b) They will play one game of coins.
(c) They will not tell Hamlet what Gertrude said.
(d) They commit to stay and to do whatever they can do to assist.

3. What is the source of the sounds Rosencrantz had heard?
(a) Six travellers who claim they saw a unicorn
(b) Six men on white horses with bells
(c) Six "Tragedians" or traveling actors, musicians, and their leader
(d) Six milkmaids heading for the market

4. After everyone else has left the stage, how does the speech of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern change?
(a) They revert to common language.
(b) They speak in riddles.
(c) They stop speaking French.
(d) They sound terrified.

5. When the troupe moves on, why does the Player stand in one place?
(a) He's waiting for guildenstern to pay him.
(b) He is drunk and cannot walk.
(c) His foot is on Guildenstern's coin.
(d) He waits for Guildenstern to give him permission to leave.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rosencrantz say that Guildenstern must be feeling?

2. What blunder does Rosencrantz make with the introductions?

3. What does Rosencrantz remember about Hamlet?

4. Grabbing hold of the Player angrily, how does Guildenstern excuse himself?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What type of show does the Player attempt to offer Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

2. What does Guildenstern say that emphasizes their helplessness in a situation they do not understand?

3. Trying to make sense of their situation, to what does Guildenstern think back?

4. What comic relief does the dialogue about home provide for the play?

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

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

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

8. How does Guildenstern attempt to change the subject away from the coins?

9. What things are troubling Rosencrantz as he and Guildenstern are once again left alone on the stage?

10. How does Gertrude reinforce the idea that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends of Hamlet's?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 857 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample