What is significant about the performance of "The Murder of Gonzago"?

It features a scene in which a character is murdered in a way very similar to how the late King Hamlet was murdered

It brings Hamlet closure on his father's death

Hamlet is given the role of Gonzago

What is Claudius's plan for Hamlet early in Act III?

to ship Hamlet out of the country to England

to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern kill him

What request does Hamlet make of Gertrude in Act III, Scene IV?

not to go to Claudius's bed that night

not to tell Claudius that he killed Polonius

not to tell Laertes who killed Polonius

What is the difference between the ghost in Act I of the play and the ghost in Act III?

only Hamlet sees the ghost in Act III; in Act I, others see it, as well

Act I's ghost did not look like the old King; this one does

Gertrude sees the ghost, but she did not see the ghost in Act I

the characters can only hear the ghost in Act III

What tendency of Polonius most directly leads to his death?

his tendency to meddle in the affairs of others

Claudius's prayer in Act III reveals what about his character?

That his conscience is weighing on him

That he is a callous, soulless individual

That he ranks among Shakespeare's greatest villains

That his hatred for Hamlet propels him to new heights of evil

Hamlet Act III Quiz

Authored by Samuel Matson

English

12th Grade

CCSS covered

Used 215+ times

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About

This quiz focuses on Shakespeare's *Hamlet* Act III, targeting 12th-grade students studying one of the most psychologically complex acts in English literature. The questions assess students' comprehension of key plot developments, character motivations, and thematic elements including revenge, madness, guilt, and moral corruption. Students need deep textual knowledge to analyze Hamlet's strategic decision-making when he chooses not to kill Claudius during prayer, understanding the theological implications of Hamlet's reasoning about salvation and damnation. The quiz requires students to track multiple character relationships and motivations, interpret Shakespeare's Early Modern English through direct quotations, and analyze the play-within-a-play device that serves as the act's dramatic centerpiece. Students must demonstrate their ability to distinguish between Hamlet's feigned madness and genuine emotional turmoil, understand Polonius's fatal character flaw of meddling, and recognize how Claudius's internal conflict reveals his psychological depth beyond a simple villain archetype. Created by Samuel Matson, an English teacher in the US who teaches grade 12. This comprehensive assessment tool supports rigorous literary analysis instruction by requiring students to synthesize plot knowledge with character development and thematic understanding. Teachers can deploy this quiz as a formative assessment following classroom discussions of Act III, as homework to reinforce reading comprehension, or as review material before summative examinations on the complete play. The mix of factual recall questions and interpretive analysis makes it effective for differentiated instruction, allowing teachers to gauge both basic comprehension and higher-order thinking skills. This quiz aligns with Common Core standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1 for textual evidence analysis, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3 for character development tracking, and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.4 for interpreting complex literary language, while supporting classroom discussions about Renaissance drama and universal themes of power, corruption, and moral responsibility.

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16 questions

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

In Act III, when Claudius is praying, Hamlet has the perfect chance to kill him, so why does he refrain from doing so?

Hamlet starts to have second thoughts about being a murderer because then he would be just as evil as Claudius

Hamlet realizes that his sword is not sharpened, so it would be a difficult job using a dull sword

Hamlet hears his mother calling him, and he changes his mind and decides to speak with her instead

Hamlet is worried that if Claudius is killed while in prayer, then he will go directly to heaven, thus thwarting Hamlet's quest for vengeance

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.7

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

In Act III, Claudius and Gertrude question Rosencrantz and Guildenstern again regarding what topic?

whether or not Hamlet intends to marry Ophelia

Norway's plans to attack Denmark

Hamlet's grades in college

the reasons for Hamlet's insanity

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Who does Hamlet kill in Gertrude's chamber?

Gertrude

Ophelia

Polonius

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

"It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go."
Who speaks this line?

King Hamlet's ghost

Prince Hamlet

Gertrude

Claudius

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

"It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go."
Whom is this line spoken about?

King Hamlet's ghost

Prince Hamlet

Gertrude

Claudius

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

"Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid bent: When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed; At gaming, swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation in't; Then trip him, that his heels may kick heaven, And that his soul may be as damn'd and black As hell, whereto it goes."
Who speaks the above passage?

King Hamlet's ghost

Prince Hamlet

Horatio

Claudius

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

"Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid bent: When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed; At gaming, swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation in't; Then trip him, that his heels may kick heaven, And that his soul may be as damn'd and black As hell, whereto it goes."
Whom is this passage spoken about?

King Hamlet's ghost

Prince Hamlet

Horatio

Claudius

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

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Hamlet Act III Quiz

In Act III, when Claudius is praying, Hamlet has the perfect chance to kill him, so why does he refrain from doing so?

In Act III, Claudius and Gertrude question Rosencrantz and Guildenstern again regarding what topic?

Who does Hamlet kill in Gertrude's chamber?

"It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go."
Who speaks this line?

"It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go."
Whom is this line spoken about?

What is significant about the performance of "The Murder of Gonzago"?

How does Claudius react to "The Murder of Gonzago"?

"Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me."
To whom is Hamlet speaking?

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Hamlet Act III Quiz

In Act III, when Claudius is praying, Hamlet has the perfect chance to kill him, so why does he refrain from doing so?

In Act III, Claudius and Gertrude question Rosencrantz and Guildenstern again regarding what topic?

Who does Hamlet kill in Gertrude's chamber?

"It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go."Who speaks this line?

"It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go."Whom is this line spoken about?

What is significant about the performance of "The Murder of Gonzago"?

How does Claudius react to "The Murder of Gonzago"?

"Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me."To whom is Hamlet speaking?

Access all questions and much more by creating a free account

Similar Resources on Wayground

Popular Resources on Wayground

Discover more resources for English

"It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go."
Who speaks this line?

"It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go."
Whom is this line spoken about?

"Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me."
To whom is Hamlet speaking?