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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. Who are the Norwegian soldiers attacking?
(a) Sweden.
(b) Poland.
(c) Denmark.
(d) England.

2. While explaining Hamlet's crime to his courtiers, why does Claudius say he has to be gentle with Hamlet?
(a) Gertrude will be upset if they are hard on him.
(b) He is still a prince.
(c) He is crazy, but not a bad person.
(d) The people of Denmark love him.

3. As Laertes and Claudius discuss how to kill Hamlet, what news does Gertrude bring?
(a) Ophelia has died by stabbing herself.
(b) Ophelia has died by hanging herself.
(c) Ophelia has died by taking poison.
(d) Ophelia has died by drowning.

4. Watching the troops attacking, Hamlet decides that he is less of a man than their leader. Why does he say that?
(a) The leader is a common man, while Hamlet is a prince.
(b) Hamlet was never in the army, unlike the troops' leader.
(c) He has a better reason to fight than the leader, but he does not fight.
(d) Hamlet has only killed one man and the leader has killed many.

5. Where does Claudius want the body of Hamlet's first victim to be taken?
(a) To the police.
(b) To the graveyard.
(c) To the chapel.
(d) To the doctor.

Short Answer Questions

1. Claudius suggests a duel between Laertes and Hamlet, but that type of duel usually is not deadly. What does Claudius suggest they do to injure Hamlet?

2. Hamlet's mother tries to leave the room during their conversation in Act 3, Scene 4, but Hamlet stops her and says she cannot leave until he does what?

3. How does Hamlet act after he has killed someone?

4. After reading the letters brought by the sailors in Act 4, Scene 6, what does Horatio say he wants to do?

5. What additional method does Claudius suggest so that even if Hamlet wins the duel with Laertes, Hamlet will still die?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who is Yorick, and why does he come up in Act 5?

3. When Claudius hears about Polonius's death, what is his first thought?

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

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

6. In Act 4, Scene 3, what does Claudius reveal to the audience about his plans for Hamlet in England?

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

8. Who is the first person in Elsinore to find out that Hamlet is on his way back to Denmark instead of going to England? How does that person find out?

9. In Act 4, Scene 5, Claudius is almost overthrown by a violent mob. Who does the mob want to be king in his place?

10. What plan do Laertes and Claudius come up with in Act 4, Scene 7 to kill Hamlet?

(see the answer keys)

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