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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. How does Claudius die?
(a) He kills himself.
(b) He drinks poisoned wine meant for Hamlet.
(c) He is forced to drink poisoned wine and is stabbed with a poisoned sword.
(d) Laertes kills him with a poisoned sword.

2. Claudius finally gives Rosencrantz and Guildenstern sealed orders for how to handle Hamlet. What do those orders say?
(a) Hamlet should be exiled from Denmark.
(b) Hamlet should be put on trial for murder.
(c) Hamlet should be locked away forever.
(d) Hamlet should be put to death.

3. How does Hamlet act after he has killed someone?
(a) He is sorry for his crime.
(b) He is frightened that someone will now try to kill him.
(c) He is relieved to have finally done something.
(d) He does not seem sorry for his crime.

4. What does Polonius tell Gertrude to do in Act 3, Scene 4 regarding Hamlet?
(a) Convince Hamlet to talk about Ophelia.
(b) Be stern with Hamlet about his behavior.
(c) Be kind to Hamlet and invite him to confide in her.
(d) Make sure Hamlet knows that Polonius is listening to their conversation.

5. When Hamlet and his mother finally talk in Gertrude's room, she says, "Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended." Hamlet responds, "Mother, you have my father much offended." Why is that dialogue important?
(a) Getrude is talking about Claudius, but Hamlet is talking about the dead king.
(b) Hamlet has decided to act crazy even with his mother.
(c) Gertrude is talking about the dead king, but Hamlet is talking about Claudius.
(d) Gertrude is using the dead king to force Hamlet to behave himself.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the end of Act 4, Scene 2, what does Hamlet agree to do?

2. What are the Norwegian soldiers fighting over?

3. Laertes comes up with another idea to make sure his duel with Hamlet will result in Hamlet's death. What is it?

4. Where does Claudius want the body of Hamlet's first victim to be taken?

5. What does Ophelia she say about the herb rosemary?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Hamlet hears about Fortinbras and his attacks on Poland, what does he say about Fortinbras and about himself?

2. After Polonius's death, Ophelia comes to see Gertrude. What do we learn about Ophelia in that scene?

3. List the major characters who die during the last scene of the play.

4. How does Hamlet avoid going to England?

5. After Polonius's death, who is sent to find Hamlet?

6. Whose burial does Hamlet witness in Act 5?

7. After Polonius's death, what does Gertrude tell Claudius about Hamlet?

8. How does Hamlet suggest that Claudius and his servants might find Polonius's body?

9. In the last scene of Act 3, Polonius is killed. At the end of the scene, what happens to his body?

10. Hamlet calls Rosencrantz and Guildenstern "a sponge." Why does he say that?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 784 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample