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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. Where did Hamlet say the body of Polonius is?

2. To shouts of "The King rises...Give o'er the play!" and cries for Lights, lights, lights!" how do the lights come up?

3. How does Hamlet address Rosencrantz when he pulls him aside?

4. What does Guildenstern do with a dagger he takes from the Player?

5. What does Claudius tell Guildenstern and Rosencrantz?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the King orders Guildenstern to go and bring Hamlet?

2. The stage is dark when Act 3 begins. Describe what the audience hears.

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

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

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

6. What happens when Rosencrantz hears music?

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

8. What causes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to laugh over the new coin game?

9. What happens over the subject of money?

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 on how effectively you think Stoppard's use of Shakespeare's play works in ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD. Do you think it is necessary to see the Shakespearean play before reading or viewing Stoppard's play? How well do you think Stoppard's use of two otherwise minor characters as the leads works.

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper about the use of language styles in Stoppard's play. To what end does Stoppard utilize Elizabethan English in some scenes and modern English in others. Does this also help in identifying locations?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 640 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample