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

Short Answer Questions

1. What assumption does the Player make about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

2. What is Rosencrantz's observation about Hamlet?

3. What is the fanciful conversation started by Guildenstern when Rosencrantz hears a sound.

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

5. How is it obvious that the two men have been playing the gambling game for a long time?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why is Guildenstern so repulsed by the Player's immoral suggestions for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

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

5. Why do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern speak differently to Claudius and Gertrude?

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

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

8. What is the Player's misconception about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

9. How does Guildenstern take advantage of the Player?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper about premonitions and foreshadowing. Using examples from Stoppard's play, discuss how the recurring theme of death actually forecasts the outcome of the play. How does even the title of the play add to that idea?

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper about friendship. Using Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as examples, describe how one friend is usually dominant. Also write about how even the best of friends often quarrel or bicker.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper contrasting chance and destiny. Do you believe in destiny or fate? If so, why, and if not, why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 762 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample