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WorksheetsHamlet- Act 1
Total questions: 95
Worksheet time: 1hrs 10mins
Who joins Bernardo, a watchman, on his watch of the castle?
Francisco and Horatio
Marcellus and Horatio
Prince Hamlet and Marcellus
Francisco and Prince Hamlet
What do Marcellus and Bernardo want to show Horatio?
Their wives
Prince Hamlet
A ghost
Other watchmen
What proves to Horatio that the ghost is that of King Hamlet?
His accent
His resemblance of Prince Hamlet
His story
His armor
How does Horatio explain the appearance of King Hamlet's ghost?
He says it's a warning sign
He says it's a sign of peace
He claims it's a sign of the King's wishes for his son
He calls it a sign of the occult
What does King Claudius say he is in mourning over?
The death of his father
The death of his son
The death of his brother
His recent marriage
What do Claudius and Gertrude want Prince Hamlet to do?
Go back to school
Approve of their marriage
(Theme: Appearance vs Reality)
Become king
Get married
What does Prince Hamlet contemplate doing because he is upset?
Killing himself
Running away
Eloping
Attacking Fortinbras
Where does Hamlet go to school?
France
Wittenburg
Fortinbras
Elsinore
In Act 1, Scene 5, how does the ghost say he died?
What is the most important event that occurs prior to the beginning of the play?
The marriage of Hamlet's uncle and mother
The mysterious death of King Hamlet
The conflict between King Hamlet and Fortinbras
The breakup of Hamlet and Ophelia
Who is Horatio?
A guard of the castle Elsinore
adviser to King Claudius
diplomat for Denmark to France
best friend and classmate of Hamlet
What strange event has happened twice at night near the castle?
The ghost of King Hamlet has appeared
Hamlet and Ophelia have been spotted spending time alone together
An unexplained light has appeared near the grave of King Hamlet
Prince Hamlet has had an emotional meltdown
Why does Horatio want to inform Hamlet about the ghost?
He is the Prince of Denmark and as a ruler, deserves to know
He is Horatio's best friend and Horatio can tell him anything
He is the son of the dead King Hamlet who looks like the ghost
Hamlet has experience with ghosts and the supernatural
Why does King Claudius say that the kingdom should not worry after the death of King Hamlet
King Claudius will be a better king than King Hamlet
King Claudius will defend Denmark from the invasion of Sweden
The royal family will remain the same since Claudius married his sister-in-law
Prince Hamlet will still be next in line for the throne after Claudius
From how Hamlet describes his father, which is the best answer for how we know he was a good person?
He always made good decisions for the Kingdom
He was a loving and protective husband to the queen.
He was a warrior who conquered other countries
Everyone in the kingdom adored King Hamlet
What is Hamlet's reaction to the news that his father's ghost has appeared?
He is depressed and confused
He is interested and determined
He is upset and angry
He is skeptical and bored.
Where is Laertes going in Scene 3?
To Norway to confront Fortinbras
To Sweden to fight in the Danish-Swedish war
To France as a diplomat for the King
To Finland for entertainment
What is the best summary of Laertes' advice for his younger sister?
Hamlet is a jerk and she should give him the cold shoulder
She should follow her heart in regard to Hamlet
Because Hamlet is the prince, she must guard her heart to not fall in love with him
She should become a nun.
What is Shakespeare's famous line in Polonius' speech to Laertes?
"This above all, to thine own self be true."
"Neither a borrower nor a lender be."
"Give thy thoughts no tongue."
"Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice."
What does Polonius ask his daughter about her relationship with Hamlet?
If she is pregnant with Hamlet's child
What is going on between Hamlet and Ophelia
Is she loves Hamlet or not
If it is wise to hang out with someone so emotionally messed up.
What command does Polonius give Ophelia at the end of Scene 3?
She should get Hamlet to marry her
She should be careful to not be alone with Hamlet
She should have a "Define the Relationship" talk with Hamlet
She should totally stop hanging out with Hamlet
Why does Marcellus think Horatio should speak to the ghost?
Marcellus thinks Horatio should speak to the ghost because Horatio is the most religious of them.
Marcellus thinks Horatio should speak to the ghost because he is the only one who does not believe in ghosts, so he is the only one who is not afraid.
Marcellus thinks Horatio should speak to the ghost because he is a scholar and should know the proper way to address a ghost.
Marcellus thinks Horatio should speak to the ghost because his parents are dead; he may have more influence with the ghost.
What does young Fortinbras want to do?
Fortinbras wants to regain the lands his father had lost.
Fortinbras wants to avenge his father's death by killing Hamlet.
Fortinbras wants to receive payment from Hamlet.
Fortinbras wants to conquer Denmark.
Who do the soldiers/guards want to tell about the ghost?
They want to tell Hamlet Jr.
They want to tell the Queen.
They want to tell the priests.
They want to tell the Commander.
Where does Claudius send Cornelius and Voltimand?
He sends them to Rome to get the Pope's blessing for the upcoming battle.
He sends them to Norway to ask the King to keep Fortinbras from going to battle.
He sends them to England to ask for money.
He sends them to Sweden for reinforcements.
What does the King tell Hamlet?
He suggests that Hamlet think about going to England to go to the University at Cambridge.
He tells Hamlet that he should go on a pilgrimage to honour his father.
He tells him that the Queen never really loved King Hamlet, and is only pretending to grieve for him. She secretly loved Claudius all along.
He tells Hamlet to stop grieving for his father's death, and to think of him as his father.
Hamlet is upset for two reasons. What are they?
His mother has been ignoring him, and his fiancée has cancelled the wedding plans.
His father has died, and his uncle has declared war on Fortinbras.
He wants to travel for about a year, but he is afraid to leave his mother because she has been acting strangely since the King's death.
His father has died, and his uncle has married his mother less than two months after his father's death.
Murdered prior to the beginning of the play.
King Hamlet
Marcellus
Francisco
Horatio
What is Laertes' advice to Ophelia?
He warns her to stay away from Hamlet and tells her to protect her virtue.
He tells her that Polonius is secretly in love with her.
He tells her she would be better off going to a convent than marrying any one of her suitors.
He tells her to take time to look over all of the young men before she makes a choice.
At the end of Scene III, Ophelia agrees to obey Polonius' wish. What will she do?
She will marry Fortinbras.
She will go into a convent for a year of prayer.
She will stay away from Hamlet and reject his affections.
She will befriend the Queen to spy on her.
Prince Hamlet swears Horatio to two things. What are they?
Hamlet asks Horatio to promise to protect his mother, and to defend the country against
Fortinbras.
Hamlet asks Horatio to promise to attend Mass for him everyday for a year if he dies, and to
marry Ophelia.
Hamlet asks Horatio not to reveal the events of the evening, and to go along with him
(Hamlet) if he pretends to be crazy.
Identify the speaker of the quote.
“O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew.”
Hamlet
Laertes
Polonius
Identify the speaker of the quote: “O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason,/ Would have mourn’d longer,—married with mine uncle, /My father’s brother; but no more like my father/Than I to Hercules:”
Hamlet
Polonius
Laertes
Identify the speaker of the quote: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”
King Hamlet
Claudius
Hamlet
Horatio
"Thou art a ___, speak to it ___."
1. prince 2. Hamlet
1. scholar 2. Horatio
1. king 2. Claudius
1. soldier 2. Marcellus
Horatio has a theory of the reason for the appearance of the Ghost. What is it?
Possible invasion by young Fortinbras.
That the old king is displeased with Gertrude's marriage to Claudius.
That the old king is displeased with Hamlet's friendship with Horatio.
Possible invasion by 'Old Norway'
Why does Claudius thank his courtiers?
For defeating young Fortinbras.
For mourning his brother's death.
For going along with his marriage to his sister-in-law.
For keeping Claudius' murder of the old king secret.
"With ___ in funeral and with ___ in marriage, in equal scale weighing ___ and ___"
1. mirth 2. dirge 3. delight 4. dole
1. dirge 2. mirth 3. dole 4. delight
1. delight 2. dole 3 dirge 4. mirth
1. dole 2. mirth 3. delight 4. dirge
Who are Cornelius and Voltemand?
Sons of Polonius
Friends of Hamlet
Ambassadors
Fortinbras's allies
Claudius asks "What wouldst thou have, Laertes?" What does Laertes want?
To return to Wittenburg.
To return to France.
To kill Hamlet.
To marry Ophelia.
"The ___ is not more native to the ___, the ___ more instrumental to the ___, than is the throne of Denmark to thy father."
1. mouth 2. head 3. heart 4. hand
1. heart 2. head 3. hand 4. mouth
1. head 2. hand 3. heart 4. mouth
1. head 2. heart 3. hand 4. mouth
Why does Laertes doubt Hamlet's affections for Ophelia?
Because Hamlet told Laertes that he was just playing with Ophelia.
Because Hamlet is the Prince and must marry a suitable wife.
Because Laertes is already married to Ophelia.
Because Hamlet is already married to Gertrude.
What do Hamlet's friends do when the Ghost beckons him away?
Urge him to follow.
Attack the Ghost.
Run away.
Urge him not to follow.
"The time is out of ___. O cursed ___, That ever I was ___ to set it right
1. frame 2. night 3. born
1. time 2. light 3. charged
1. whack 2. s---e 3. meant
1. joint 2. spite 3. born
What does young Fortinbras want to do?
Fortinbras wants to regain the lands his father had lost.
Fortinbras wants to avenge his father's death by killing Hamlet.
Fortinbras wants to receive payment from Hamlet.
Where does Claudius send Cornelius and Voltimand?
He sends them to England to ask for money.
He sends them to Norway to ask the King to keep Fortinbras from going to battle.
What does the King tell Hamlet?
He tells him that the Queen never really loved King Hamlet, and is only pretending to grieve for him. She secretly loved Claudius all along
He suggests that Hamlet think about going to England to go to the University at Cambridge
He tells Hamlet to stop grieving for his father's death, and to think of him as his father.
Hamlet is upset for two reasons. What are they?
His father has died, and his uncle has declared war on Fortinbras.
His father has died, and his uncle has married his mother less than two months after his father's death.
What is Laertes' advice to Ophelia?
He warns her to stay away from Hamlet and tells her to protect her virtue.
He tells her she would be better off going to a convent than marrying any one of her suitors.
He tells her she would be better off going to a convent than marrying any one of her suitors.
Hamlet swears Horatio to two things. What are they?
Hamlet asks Horatio to promise to protect his mother, and to defend the country against Fortinbras
Hamlet asks Horatio not to reveal the events of the evening, and to go along with him (Hamlet) if he pretends to be crazy.
Hamlet asks Horatio to promise to attend Mass for him everyday for a year if he dies, and to marry Ophelia.
Complete the following famous line from Hamlet: Something is rotten in the state of...
Denmark
England
Europe
Where was Hamlet studying before he returned to Denmark?
Wittenberg
London
Who recites the following line?: "to thine ownself be true"
Polonius
Gertrude
Hamlet
Ophelia
Which word best describes the setting of the opening scene?
Ominous
Sincere
Sinister
Welcoming
Why does Horatio not believe the guards about what they have seen?
He doesn't believe in ghosts
He knows that people can scare easily in the middle of the night
The guards are not educated or reliable sources of information
He has not seen the ghost with his own eyes
What unhelpful piece of advice do both the king and queen give Hamlet for his grief?
Everyone dies, so the death of his father is nothing special
It is weak and lame to grieve so long
It is against God's plan to mourn for his father so long.
Hamlet has a new father because of the king and queen's marriage
What do we find out about the King in Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 3?
None of the answers are correct.
Hamlet is his nemesis
He loves his wife
He is very different than his brother.
What contributes to the tragic flaw?
misreadings, supernatural suggestions and chance.
opposing forces, chance and misreadings
opposing forces, accidents and misreadings
none of the answers are correct
Who is Ophelia
Polonius' daughter
Claudius' daughter
Hamlet's cousin
none of the answers are correct
How do Horatio and the guards know that the ghost is that of Old King Hamlet?
The ghost puts the idea into Horatio's mind.
The ghost has the Old King's face.
The ghost tells them.
The ghost is wearing the Old King's battle armor.
Whom does the ghost accuse of murder?
Fortinbras, his enemy
Gertrude, his wife
Claudius, his brother
Polonius, his advisor
Speaking to Hamlet in scene 4, what does Horatio say might be worse than death?
knowing the truth
going insane
having to take revenge
accepting Claudius as his step-father
Why does Hamlet say he will follow the ghost regardless of the danger?
He loves danger & welcomes adventure.
He suspects Old King Hamlet will reveal his murderer.
He is truly out of his mind.
He gives no value to his life anyway, since his father is dead.
The ghost says not to harm Queen Gertrude.
true
false
How does the ghost of Old King Hamlet claim that he was murdered?
He was smothered in his bed.
Poison was poured in his ear while he slept in the garden.
He was stabbed with a poisoned sword.
He sipped from a poisoned goblet of wine.
Three times, the ghost calls ______________ from the grave in scene 5.
"My Gertrude."
"Nevermore."
"Die Claudius."
"Swear."
What do the men believe the ghost is trying to foretell?
The death of Prince Hamlet
Misfortune for the kingdom
A forthcoming battle
Prosperity for the kingdom
What does Gertrude mean when she tells Hamlet to "cast off his nightly colour"?
Change clothes
stop mourning for his father
How does Prince Hamlet feel about his mother's marriage to his Uncle?
Happy
unhappy
Indifferent
"It is not, nor it cannot come to good;
But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue!":
This is from Hamlet's first soliloquy. Hamlet is speaking of how no good can come from or is signaled by his mother's swift re-marriage. But he cannot speak of the matters, or grieve, due to the King and the Queen's wishes.
Hamlet says this to Horatio, upon asking why Horatio has come to Denmark.
"This bodes some strange eruption to our state."
Horatio says this to Marcellus after seeing the ghost.
Marcellus says this to Francisco after sighting they ghost
"that the Everlasting had not fixed/ His canon against self-slaughter”
Hamlet is aware that it will hurt his mother bitterly if he were to kill himself
Hamlet He is so depressed that he contemplates suicide, but won’t go through with it because it’s a sin.
“Frailty, thy name is woman" Explain why Hamlet expresses this.
He deems his mother a weak, easily influenced and seduced
He considers his mother a strong woman
“O God, God,
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!”
Hamlet expresses that life is not worth living for.
His father is dead and his mother has married his uncle
Hamlet expresses that he cannot understand the action of man nor women
“He waxes desperate with imagination.” – Why are Hamlet’s friends fearful of his reaction to the sight of the ghost?
They fear Hamlet might be fooled by the ghost especially since the ghost appears to be Hamlet's dead father
They fear that Hamlet is not thinking clearly
They fear Hamlet might be too emotionally involved to make a rational judgement
The ghost must be an apparition from hell
“Murder most foul, as in the best it is. But this most foul, strange and unnatural.” Place this quote in context
The ghost had appeared to the guards and now Hamlet
He informs Hamlet that his death unnatural- He was murdered
The ghost has asked Hamlet's friends to swear not to tell anyone about the events which has transpired that night
The ghost appears to the guards and informs them that his death was unnatural and not to share this news with Hamlet
“The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown” Identify and explain the figure of speech.
Metaphor
Claudius' action to kill Old Hamlet was devious and deadly
Simile
Claudius is being compared to a slippery snake
"To put an antic disposition on” What is Hamlet's plan of action?
He will pretend to mad without any detection of his real plan
He will act as though he heard nothing of the ghost
“There needs no Ghost, my lord, to come from the grave to tell us this”-
Horatio
Shakespeare alludes us into believing that the scholar knew foul acts were committed to attain the crown
Marcellus
The subjects disregard Claudius as their king
Who is the first person to verify the identity of the ghost?
Hamlet
Horatio
Marcellus
Gertrude
Why does Hamlet say he will follow the ghost regardless of the danger?
He is out of his mind
He gives no value to his life anyway
He suspects his father will reveal his murderer
He loves danger and welcomes the adventure
What is Claudius doing while Horatio and Hamlet wait for the return of the ghost?
Plotting war
Sleeping
Partying
What central theme of Hamlet appears most prominently in Act 1, Scene 4?
Love
Loyalty
Grief
Madness
How is the ghost's appearance in Act 1, Scene 4 of Hamlet interpreted?
As a figment of Hamlet's imagination
As a sign of future misfortune
As a sign of something wrong in the kingdom
As a symptom of madness
How does Hamlet interpret indulgence and enjoyment at the beginning of the scene 4?
Hamlet connects indulgence of desires to corruption. What looks like enjoyment only hides internal corruption.
Hamlet supports the fact that his mother needs to move on. In addition, he wants her to be happy in celebrating her new marriage.
How does Horatio foreshadow the downfall of Hamlet and of the other characters in the play?
"What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord?"
"Flood" suggests downfall and inescapable death. The extent of a "flood" also suggests widespread, rather than individual downfall.
"He waxes desperate with the imagination"
"desperate" suggests that Hamlet is too needy for his father to tell him what happened. The need will lead to his downfall.
What does Hamlet's pursuit of the Ghost demonstrate about his character?
In the pursuit of truth and answers, Hamlet is fearless and is willing to act. It is therefore his morality and not cowardice which prevents him from acting upon revenge.
This relates to the theme of Action vs inaction.
In pursuit of the truth, Hamlet is determined to know what happened to his father. He demonstrates his ability to act without deliberation.
What reason does Claudius give for marrying Gertrude?
She was always his number 1
It would impress upon the rest that the kingdom is united
