Hamlet 3.1 Word Nerd: Quietus

The transcript explores the evolution of the term 'quietus' from its classical Latin meaning of being quiet or discharged of debt, through its medieval financial usage, to its interpretation in Shakespeare's Hamlet as settling one's debt to God through death. The modern English meaning of 'quietus' as death is derived from this Shakespearean context, and the phrase 'to give or put the quietus' now means to end something.

What did the term 'quietus' signify in classical Latin?

• A state of silence

• A legal document

• A religious ritual

• A settled debt

Which period saw the use of 'quietus' to mean a settled account?

• Medieval

• Modern

• Ancient Greek

• Renaissance

In the context of Hamlet, what does 'quietus' imply?

• A financial transaction

• Settling a debt to God by ending one's life

• A philosophical debate

• A peaceful state of mind

How has the meaning of 'quietus' evolved in modern English?

• It refers to a state of tranquility

• It signifies a legal settlement

• It denotes a financial gain

• It means death

What does the phrase 'to give or put the quietus' mean today?

• To initiate a conversation

• To create a disturbance

• To put an end to something

• To start a new beginning