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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 shocking news does the ghost deliver to Hamlet in Act 1, Scene 5?
(a) Ophelia killed Hamlet's father.
(b) Hamlet's mother killed Hamlet's father.
(c) Laertes killed Hamlet's father.
(d) Claudius killed Hamlet's father.

2. Early in the play, what country does Claudius send messengers to?
(a) England.
(b) France.
(c) Denmark.
(d) Norway.

3. After Claudius and Polonius watch Hamlet interact with Ophelia in Act 3, Scene 1, what does Claudius say about Hamlet's behavior?
(a) He is convinced Hamlet is crazy because of love for Ophelia.
(b) He is convinced that Hamlet needs to see a doctor.
(c) He is suspicious that Hamlet is not really crazy.
(d) He does not think Hamlet is crazy because of love for Ophelia.

4. Polonius asks Claudius to arrange for Hamlet to go somewhere after the play's performance. Where is Hamlet supposed to go?
(a) To see Ophelia.
(b) To see his mother.
(c) To see a doctor.
(d) To see Claudius.

5. After watching the players give a speech about Hecuba and Priam, what does Hamlet say impresses him the most?
(a) How confident they are in their performances.
(b) How quickly they can learn new lines in a script.
(c) How much emotion they are able to summon up for a performance.
(d) How intelligent they are.

Short Answer Questions

1. What message do the ambassadors bring Claudius back from Norway?

2. The ghost appears to Horatio and his companions in Act 1, Scene 1, but something seems to scare it into disappearing. What causes it to disappear?

3. In Act 1, Scene 3, where is Laertes going?

4. At the end of Act 1, Scene 1, what does Horatio say he intends to do?

5. Before he returns to school, what does Laertes tell Ophelia about her boyfriend?

Short Essay Questions

1. During Hamlet's first conversation with the ghost, the ghost asks for revenge. Who does the ghost want revenge on and why?

2. After hearing Ophelia describe Hamlet's behavior in Act 2, Scene 1, what does Polonius decide is the cause of Hamlet's behavior and what does he decide to do about it?

3. Early in the play, Laertes gives Ophelia advice about her love life. What does she say in response?

4. In Act 1, Scene 2, how does Hamlet act toward Claudius and Gertrude? When he is left alone, what does he say about his feelings toward them?

5. When Hamlet meets Ophelia after the "To be or not to be" speech, he is polite or gentle with her at first. What happens to change his attitude? How does his attitude change? What does he say?

6. In Act 2, Scene 1, how does Ophelia describe Hamlet's appearance?

7. What is the point or theme of Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech?

8. What does Claudius learn about Norway when the Ambassadors he sent at the beginning of the play return?

9. When Hamlet first sees the ghost, he tries to talk to it. How does the ghost respond?

10. Laertes and Polonius are both concerned about Ophelia's romance. In Act 1, Scene 3, what do they tell her?

(see the answer keys)

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