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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. Who are the last to die?

2. What props are on the stage as the lights finally come up on Act III?

3. What is the new game Rosencrantz and Guildenstern play with a coin?

4. What does Claudius tell Guildenstern and Rosencrantz?

5. Why does Rosencrantz think he can leave?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the hilarious scene involving the belts of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

2. What transpires when Rosencrantz brings up the subject of death?

3. What prophetic remark does Rosencrantz make while they wait for instructions?

4. When the lights finally do come up in Act 3, what does the audience see?

5. What is Guildenstern's rationale for not catching Hamlet?

6. How does the audience know what the stage setting is in Act 3?

7. What are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern doing at the beginning of Act 2?

8. When Hamlet enters in Act 2, what does he say?

9. How does Rosencrantz initiate a new coin game?

10. What is Rosencrantz's dark question on the subject of death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper about minimalist staging of a play. In ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, there is little in the way of background or props. What methods are used to indicate locations? Why does the audience accept this kind of staging?

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper on political revenge. Discuss in your paper the reasons Claudius had for wanting Hamlet dead. Also address the position of Gertrude as Claudius' wife as well as being Hamlet's mother.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper describing the characters of Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and the Player as you see them? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How well do you like them? Can you recall people from real life that are similar?

(see the answer keys)

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