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WorksheetsHamlet Act 5, Scene 1 (Armbrust College Prep)
Total questions: 17
Worksheet time: 13mins
The scene opens with a riddle: Who builds stronger, more long-lasting houses than a stonemason, a shipbuilder, or a carpenter?
a gravedigger
a murderer
a priest
the gallows
The Priest (or "Doctor" in some versions) feels that because Ophelia died of suicide they should not pray over her grave, but rather... (line 235)
have the procession walk in silence to mourn her
throw flowers and garlands on top of her body
ring bells for her
throw rocks and glass shards into it
What does Hamlet think is strange when he first sees the gravedigger?
that there is another body in the grave
that the skeleton's head was separate from its body
that the man is singing even though his job is digging graves
that Ophelia is being buried instead of cremated
Why does Hamlet bring up Alexander the Great and other famous dead people?
He realizes death is the great equalizer -the ashes of those once noble could now be used as clay to plug a beer keg!
He is worried that his body will smell to high heaven - death is disgusting and gruesome.
Alexander the Great is who Hamlet tries to emulate in both life and death, so he eternalizes his memory.
Hamlet hates these men and hopes they rot in hell.
Where do Hamlet and Laertes fight?
On Ophelia's grave
In a nearby pond
INSIDE the King's Castle
They never actually fight - they only have a battle of wits.
Both men brawl on the very grave of the woman they loved. Their hamartia in the fight scene is
lust
greed
selfishness
gluttony
"Lay her i' th' earth, / And from her fair and unpolluted flesh / May violets spring!" Violets are a symbol of
sadness and sorrow
fidelity and faithfulness
hatred and hypocrisy
greed and bankrupcy
What happens at the beginning of Act 5?
Gravediggers make fun of burying a suicide in holy ground.
Laertes & Hamlet fight & struggle at Ophelia's grave.
Hamlet picks up & contemplates the skull of Yorick.
Gertrude scatters flowers & says, "Sweets to the sweet."
What does Gertrude say at Ophelia's grave?
Fly like a dove, farewell!
Body and bread of Christ.
Why, oh why?
Sweets to the sweet, farewell!
What does Hamlet say he'd eat in order to upstage Laertes in outwardly displaying his sorrow?
a crocodile
a cat
a worm
a rock
According to the gravedigger, what career will cause your body to decay at a slower rate? (You'll last nine years if you're a _____.)
a baker
a tanner
a printer
a gravedigger
Which does NOT apply to Yorick?
Hamlet kissed him many times.
He was the King's jester.
Hamlet holds his skull.
He was a gambler.
Who says, "Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son."
King Hamlet
King Claudius
The Doctor
Horatio
What does Hamlet mean when he says to Horatio, "How absolute the knave is! We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us." (5.1.139-140)
He means they must take their time and talk slowly and loudly because the gravedigger is slightly deaf.
He means they must get their swords ready, for they are unsure of the gravedigger's intentions.
He means they must speak clearly and carefully because the gravedigger plays wittily with words.
He means to play cards with the gravedigger.
Previously, Hamlet spoke of death as "sleep." Now, he seems to feel more
hopeless because it is inevitable and happens to all - rich or poor.
happy - seeing the court jester reminded Hamlet of his happy childhood.
hopeful - he is reminded death leads us to heaven.
crazy - seeing skulls in the graveyard led him to complete lunacy.
The first part of Act 5, Scene 1 provides ____ - which is needed here, as it comes right after the announcement of Ophelia's death.
parallelism
foreshadowing
comic relief
irony
What does Hamlet contemplate while he holds the skull?
The beauty of nature
The inevitability of death
The meaning of life
The consequences of his actions
