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WorksheetsThe Tragedy Of Hamlet Unit Test
Total questions: 30
Worksheet time: 16mins
Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene ii.
Claudius: Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine,
And thy best graces spend it at thy will.
But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son,—
Hamlet: [Aside.] A little more than kin, and less than kind.
The aside reveals to the audience Hamlet’s
Respect for Laertes
Affection for Claudius
Jealousy of Laertes
Dislike of Claudius
Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene ii.
Horatio: My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral.
Hamlet: I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student;
I think it was to see my mother’s wedding.
Horatio: Indeed, my lord, it follow’d hard upon.
Hamlet: Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral bak’d meats
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
In the excerpt, Shakespeare characterizes Hamlet as
amused that he was able to attend his own mother’s wedding.
disgusted that Gertrude and Claudius married so quickly.
grateful that his mother did not have to remain a widow for long.
resentful that Gertrude and Claudius wasted so much food.
Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene i.
Marcellus: Is it not like the king?
Horatio: As thou art to thyself:
Such was the very armour he had on
When he the ambitious Norway combated;
So frown’d he once, when, in an angry parle,
He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.
’Tis strange.
Marcellus: Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,
With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.
Horatio: In what particular thought to work I know not;
But in the gross and scope of my opinion,
This bodes some strange eruption to our state.
What do Marcellus’s and Horatio’s characterization of the ghost imply?
That a large battle is looming
That someone is tricking them
That the kingdom is cursed
That something bad is going on
Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene ii.
Gertrude: Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off,
And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
Do not for ever with thy vailed lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust:
Thou know’st ’tis common; all that live must die,
Passing through nature to eternity.
Hamlet: Ay, madam, it is common.
Gertrude: If it be,
Why seems it so particular with thee?
Which is the best description of how Gertrude is characterized in this passage?
Gertrude is oblivious to her son’s grief and focuses on her own happiness.
Gertrude is sympathetic of her son’s obvious distress and tries to comfort him.
Gertrude is critical of her son’s continued mourning and urges him to move on.
Gertrude is saddened by her son’s unhappiness and tries to distract him.
Which excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene i is a stage direction?
A Platform before the Castle
Enter to him BERNARDO
Bernardo: Who's there?
FRANCISCO at his post
Which are structural elements that are unique to dramas? Check all that apply.
acts
scenes
sentences
stage directions
rising actions
To understand _____ in a drama, the reader must weigh a character's words against other information in the text.
acts
characterization
structure
setting
What best describes characterization?
the way a character should be performed
how a main character meets his or her downfall
how a main character overcomes a tragedy
the way a character is presented and developed
Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene ii.
[Hamlet:] Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on; and yet, within a month,
Let me not think on ’t: Frailty, thy name is woman!
A little month; or ere those shoes were old
With which she follow’d my poor father’s body,
Like Niobe, all tears; why she, even she,—
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 . . .
In this excerpt, Hamlet characterizes his mother as
Eager
Fickle
Loyal
Sickly
Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene i.
Enter Ghost.
Bernardo: In the same figure, like the king that’s dead.
Marcellus: Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.
Bernardo: Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio.
Horatio: Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder.
Bernardo: It would be spoke to.
Marcellus: Question it, Horatio.
From the interaction of the men, the reader can conclude that Horatio is
Feared
Respected
Envied
Bewitched
To determine the precise meaning of a word, what should the reader consider? Select 3 options.
Context clues
Ellipsis
Inversion
Tone
Word choice
To analyze tone, which things should the reader study? Select 4 options.
Connotations
Context clues
Diction
The speaker
The topic
After analyzing the context, what is the next step the reader should take to determine the meaning of an unknown word?
Predict the defintion
Consult a reference
Move on to the next section
Reread the entire passage
Read the passage from Hamlet, Act I, Scene iii.
[Laertes:] Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Or lose your heart ...
From the context in the passage, the reader can conclude that credent means
Heavy
Doubtful
Dishonest
Believing
Read the passage from Hamlet, Act I, Scene iii.
Laertes: Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister;
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The word shot, as used in the passage, makes Laertes’ argument more effective because it has a
Negative connotation of peril
Negative connotation of war
Positive connotation of excitement
Positive connotation of devotion
Read the passage from Hamlet, Act I, Scene v.
Hamlet: Remember thee!
Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat
In this distracted globe.
As it is used in the passage, globe can best be defined as a
Head
Map
Planet
Sphere
Read the passage from Hamlet, Act I, Scene v.
Ghost: I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres,
Thy knotted and combined locks to part,
And each particular hair to stand an end ...
Based on context, what is the meaning of harrow up?
vastly puzzle
highly please
greatly disturb
deeply enlighten
Read the passage from Hamlet, Act I, Scene v.
Hamlet: Why, right; you are i’ the right;
From the context, the reader can determine that the word i’ means
If
In
Is
It
Read the analysis of Hamlet, Act I, Scene v.
Shakespeare creates an anguished tone by repeating certain words in both Hamlet’s and the Ghost’s dialogue.
Which line provides the best evidence to support the analysis?
Ghost: O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!
Ghost: Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me.
Hamlet: O all you host of heaven! O earth!
Hamlet: That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain
Read the passage from Hamlet, Act I, Scene v.
Hamlet: And now, good friends,
As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers,
Give me one poor request.
Horatio: What is ’t, my lord? we will.
Hamlet: Never make known what you have seen to-night.
Which is the best definition of poor, as it is used in the passage?
Inexpensive
Meager
Pitiful
Unfortunate
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
And can say nothing; no, not for a king,
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damn’d defeat was made. Am I a coward?
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?
Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face?
Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i’ the throat,
As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this?
Which of these lines uses a simile to make a comparison?
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
And can say nothing; no, not for a king,
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damn’d defeat was made. Am I a coward?
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?
Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face?
Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i’ the throat,
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
But I am pigeon-liver’d, and lack gall
To make oppression bitter, or ere this
I should have fatted all the region kites
With this slave’s offal. Bloody, bawdy villain!
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!
O! vengeance!
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave
That I, the son of a dear father murder’d,
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words,
And fall a-cursing, like a very drab,
A scullion!
What is the effect of the figurative language used in this excerpt? Check all that apply.
It reveals Hamlet’s anger with himself.
It reveals Hamlet’s love for Ophelia.
It reveals Hamlet’s plan for vengeance.
It reveals Hamlet’s distrust of Gertrude.
It reveals Hamlet’s hesitation to act.
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
Rosencrantz: To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.
Hamlet: Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, come, deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak.
Guildenstern: What should we say, my lord?
What is the effect of Hamlet’s use of metaphors in this excerpt?
It establishes that Hamlet is poverty-stricken.
It establishes that Hamlet dislikes his friends.
It establishes that Hamlet suffers hardships.
It establishes that Hamlet has little gratitude.
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
In mincing with his sword her husband’s limbs,
The instant burst of clamour that she made—
Unless things mortal move them not at all—
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven,
And passion in the gods.
What does the excerpt about Hecuba suggest about her state of mind?
She is confused by the sight of her murdered husband.
She is deeply distraught by the sight of her murdered husband.
She is unaffected by the sight of her murdered husband.
She is joyful at the sight of her murdered husband.
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
In mincing with his sword her husband’s limbs,
The instant burst of clamour that she made—
Unless things mortal move them not at all—
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven,
And passion in the gods.
Hecuba is a figure in Greek mythology who was married to King Priam. In the excerpt, she is shown grieving for her dead husband.
What does this allusion suggest?
that Hecuba was too emotional when she saw her husband’s dead body
that Hecuba was determined to take revenge for the death of Priam
that Hecuba properly mourned the death of her beloved husband
that Hecuba did not show enough emotion after Priam was killed
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
Polonius: Well be with you, gentlemen!
Hamlet: Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too; at each ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts.
What is the effect of Hamlet’s use of metaphor in this excerpt?
The metaphor reveals that Hamlet respects Polonius.
The metaphor shows that Hamlet wants Polonius’s help.
The metaphor portrays Polonius as foolish and weak.
The metaphor establishes Polonius as angry and mean.
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
Guildenstern: Prison, my lord!
Hamlet: Denmark’s a prison.
Rosencrantz: Then is the world one.
Hamlet: A goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o’ the worst.
In this excerpt, Hamlet compares Denmark to a prison.
Which statement best describes the effect of this metaphor?
It indicates that Hamlet feels trapped.
It reveals that Hamlet is being forced to stay.
It proves that Hamlet’s father was killed.
It shows that Hamlet imagined the ghost.
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
He tells me, my sweet queen, that he hath found
The head and source of all your son’s distemper.
The figurative language in these lines is an example of
A metaphor
A simile
An apostrophe
Personification
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
Hamlet: My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?
Rosencrantz: As the indifferent children of the earth.
In this excerpt, Rosencrantz compares himself and Guildenstern to indifferent children.
Which statement best describes the effect of this simile?
It emphasizes that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Hamlet’s good friends.
It shows that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are innocent characters.
It reveals that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been friends since childhood.
It uses a strong image to show that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sneaky.
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet.
I have of late,—but wherefore I know not,—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
What is the effect of Hamlet’s use of metaphors in this excerpt?
The metaphors prove that Hamlet is angry with his mother.
The metaphors show that Hamlet is still feeling hopeful.
The metaphors reveal Hamlet’s plan to murder Claudius.
The metaphors emphasize Hamlet’s state of depression.
