wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Hamlet Act 1 Quiz

Total questions: 44

Worksheet time: 21mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Where does this play take place?

a)

The United States

b)

Australia

c)

Denmark

d)

England

2.

In Scene 1 we have two men on guard and one man following. What are the guard's names and what is the other man called?

a)

Marcellus, Bernardo, and Horatio

b)

Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude

c)

Cassius, Casca, Brutus

d)

Laertes, Ophelia, Polonius

3.

The ghosts speaks to Horatio and the guards.

a)

True

b)

False

4.

Act 1 Scene 2: What is the name of the new King?

a)

King Claudius

b)

King Hamlet

c)

King Fortinbras

d)

King Horatio

5.

King Claudius is Hamlet's uncle and now his stepfather after marrying Hamlet's mom.

a)

True

b)

False

6.

King Claudius sends a message to Norway to try and get Prince Fortinbras to stop attacking Denmark.

a)

True

b)

False

7.

Prince Hamlet agrees to stay in Denmark.

a)

True

b)

False

8.

What is Prince Hamlet's reaction to hearing that Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo saw the ghost of the King?

a)

He wants to go on the night watch to see the ghost

b)

He gets too scared and doesn't want to see the ghost

c)

He doesn't speak to them about the ghost

d)

He parties instead of listening to them

9.

Act 1 Scene 3: Laertes and Ophelia are brother and sister.

a)

True

b)

False

10.

Who interrupts Ophelia and Laertes' discussion about Hamlet?

a)

Polonius

b)

Hamlet

c)

Horatio

d)

King Claudius

11.

What is Polonius' job at the royal court in Denmark?

a)

He is the King's advisor

b)

He is a janitor

c)

He does not work at the court

d)

He is a babysitter

12.

Act 1 Scene 4: What does the ghost do when it appears to Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo?

a)

He motions for Hamlet to follow him

b)

He doesn't appear

c)

He speaks to them all

d)

The ghost dances for them

13.

Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo do not think it is a good idea to follow the ghost.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

When Prince Hamlet follows the ghost Marcellus says they should follow him to make sure he is safe.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

What does this iconic line mean?


"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

a)

Something is wrong in Denmark

b)

Everything in Denmark is great

c)

People are getting rotten food in Denmark

d)

Denmark's crops got ruined

16.

Act 1 Scene 5: What does the dead King ask Hamlet to do?

a)

Get revenge for the King's murder

b)

Go celebrate his mother's marriage

c)

Leave Denmark

d)

Do nothing

17.

Who killed the King?

a)

Polonius

b)

Horatio

c)

Hamlet

d)

Claudius

18.

Why does Hamlet make Horatio and Marcellus swear not to tell anyone about the ghost?

a)

He wants to make sure he can get revenge without anyone knowing it was him

b)

He thinks they will forget about it

c)

He is confused and didn't actually see the ghost

d)

He wants to throw a party after

19.

Hamlet agrees to get revenge on King Claudius for killing his father.

a)

True

b)

False

20.

Why are Bernardo and Marcellus so worried during their night watch?

a)

They've seen the ghost of King Hamlet twice

b)

They know Prince Fortinbras is there

c)

They are afraid of Horation

d)

They are afraid of King Cladius

21.

Why does Marcellus think Horatio should speak to the ghost?

a)

Marcellus thinks Horatio should speak to the ghost because his parents are dead; he may have more influence with the ghost.

b)

Marcellus thinks Horatio should speak to the ghost because he is a scholar and should know the proper way to address a ghost.

c)

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.

d)

Marcellus thinks Horatio should speak to the ghost because Horatio is the most religious of them.

22.

Why is Prince Fortinbras on his way to Denmark with an army?

a)

He wants to take over Denmark

b)

He wants to kill Hamlet

c)

He wants to reviece payment from Hamlet

d)

He wants to regain the lands his father lost to Old King Hamlet

23.

Who is King Claudius?

a)

Hamlet's uncle

b)

The Lord Chamerlain- counsel to the king

c)

Hamlet's father

d)

Laertes's father

24.

Who is Laertes?

a)

A guard soldier

b)

Hamlet's cousin

c)

Polonius's son

d)

Hamlet's true, best friend

25.

Who is Gertrude?

a)

Hamlet's mother

b)

Polonius's wife

c)

Ophelia's mother

d)

A chamber maid

26.

Hamlet is upset for two reasons. What are they?

a)

His mother has been ignoring him, and his fiancée has cancelled the wedding plans.

b)

His father has died, and his uncle has declared war on Fortinbras.

c)

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.

d)

His father has died, and his uncle has married his mother less than two months after his father's death.

27.

What advice do Laertes give Ophelia before leaving for France?

a)

He tells her to stay away from Hamlet and protect her honor

b)

He tells her that she should look at the other young men in Denmark

c)

He tells her that she should become a nun

d)

He tells her that Horatio is in love with her

28.

What did the ghost tell Hamlet?

a)

that King Hamlet was murdered by Claudius, and it asked Hamlet to avenge the murder.

b)

that he was not really the son of King Hamlet. The Queen had lied, and Hamlet was really the son of Claudius.

c)

that Fortinbras is the rightful ruler, and asks Hamlet to help him gain the throne.

d)

that he should take his mother and flee to Sweden, where they will be safe.

29.

Hamlet swears Horatio to two things. What are they?

a)

promise to protect his mother, and to defend the country against Fortinbras.

b)

promise to attend Mass for him everyday for a year if he dies, and to marry Ophelia.

c)

not to reveal the events of the evening, and to go along with him (Hamlet) if he pretends to be crazy.

d)

to defend him in battle, and to kill Claudius if he (Hamlet) does not do it first.

30.

Who is Ophelia?

a)

Hamlet's mother

b)

Claudius's wife

c)

Polonius's daughter

d)

A chamber maid

31.

What is the most important event that occurs prior to the beginning of the play?

a)

The marriage of Hamlet's uncle and mother

b)

The mysterious death of King Hamlet

c)

The conflict between King Hamlet and Fortinbras

d)

The breakup of Hamlet and Ophelia

32.

Of which country does Hamlet's family rule over?

a)

Norway

b)

France

c)

Denmark

d)

Sweden

33.

Who is Horatio?

a)

A guard of the castle Elsinore

b)

adviser to King Claudius

c)

diplomat for Denmark to France

d)

best friend and classmate of Hamlet

34.

What strange event has happened twice at night near the castle?

a)

The ghost of King Hamlet has appeared

b)

Hamlet and Ophelia have been spotted spending time alone together

c)

An unexplained light has appeared near the grave of King Hamlet

d)

Prince Hamlet has had an emotional meltdown

35.

Why does Horatio not believe the guards about what they have seen?

a)

He doesn't believe in ghosts

b)

He knows that people can scare easily in the middle of the night

c)

The guards are not educated or reliable sources of information

d)

He has not seen the ghost with his own eyes

36.

Why does Horatio want to inform Hamlet about the ghost?

a)

He is the Prince of Denmark and as a ruler, deserves to know

b)

He is Horatio's best friend and Horatio can tell him anything

c)

He is the son of the dead King Hamlet who looks like the ghost

d)

Hamlet has experience with ghosts and the supernatural

37.

Why does King Claudius say that the kingdom should not worry after the death of King Hamlet

a)

King Claudius will be a better king than King Hamlet

b)

King Claudius will defend Denmark from the invasion of Sweden

c)

The royal family will remain the same since Claudius married his sister-in-law

d)

Prince Hamlet will still be next in line for the throne after Claudius

38.

What unhelpful piece of advice do both the king and queen give Hamlet for his grief?

a)

Everyone dies, so the death of his father is nothing special

b)

It is weak and lame to grieve so long

c)

It is against God's plan to mourn for his father so long.

d)

Hamlet has a new father because of the king and queen's marriage

39.

From how Hamlet describes his father, which is the best answer for how we know he was a good person?

a)

He always made good decisions for the Kingdom

b)

He was a loving and protective husband to the queen.

c)

He was a warrior who conquered other countries

d)

Everyone in the kingdom adored King Hamlet

40.

What is Hamlet's reaction to the news that his father's ghost has appeared?

a)

He is depressed and confused

b)

He is interested and determined

c)

He is upset and angry

d)

He is skeptical and bored.

41.

Where is Laertes going in Scene 3?

a)

To Norway to confront Fortinbras

b)

To Sweden to fight in the Danish-Swedish war

c)

To France as a diplomat for the King

d)

To Finland for entertainment

42.

What is the best summary of Laertes' advice for his younger sister?

a)

Hamlet is a jerk and she should give him the cold shoulder

b)

She should follow her heart in regard to Hamlet

c)

Because Hamlet is the prince, she must guard her heart to not fall in love with him

d)

She should become a nun.

43.

What does Polonius ask his daughter about her relationship with Hamlet?

a)

If she is pregnant with Hamlet's child

b)

What is going on between Hamlet and Ophelia

c)

Is she loves Hamlet or not

d)

If it is wise to hang out with someone so emotionally messed up.

44.

What command does Polonius give Ophelia at the end of Scene 3?

a)

She should get Hamlet to marry her

b)

She should be careful to not be alone with Hamlet

c)

She should have a "Define the Relationship" talk with Hamlet

d)

She should totally stop hanging out with Hamlet