15 Questions
Which time period is Hamlet set in?
Elizabethan Era
Who is Hamlet's most loyal friend?
Horatio
What is the major plot of Hamlet?
Hamlet's revenge for his father's death
What is the role of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Hamlet?
Spies for the King
What is the definition of dramatic irony?
When a reader is aware of something that a character isn't
Which of the following is a definition of tragedy?
A form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character
What is a tragic hero?
A character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that brings on a tragedy
What is a tragic flaw?
A weakness or limitation of character resulting in the fall of the tragic hero
What does the term 'peripeteia' refer to?
Reversal of fortune
What does the term 'hubris' mean?
Excessive pride leading to one's fall
Tragedy is a form of drama that focuses on the rise and success of a heroic or noble character.
False
Ophelia is Laertes' love interest in the play.
False
Anagnorisis refers to the moment when the tragic hero realizes their fatal flaw.
False
Diction is the movement, position, or tone of an actor as indicated in the stage directions.
False
A ________________ is long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage
Soliloquy
Study Notes
Shakespeare's Life
- Lived from 1564 to 1616
- Wrote 38 plays
- Wrote 154 sonnets
- Married to Anne Hathaway
- Had three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith
Hamlet Background
- Based on an old Danish legend
- Set in the English Renaissance period
- Takes place in Elsinore Castle, Denmark
Main Characters
- Hamlet: Prince of Denmark
- King Claudius: Hamlet's uncle and stepfather
- Queen Gertrude: Hamlet's mother
- Polonius: King's chief advisor
- Laertes: Polonius' son
- Ophelia: Polonius' daughter and Hamlet's love interest
- Horatio: Hamlet's most loyal friend
- Fortinbras: Son of the late King of Norway and nephew of the present King
Plot
- Major plot: Hamlet's revenge for his father's death
- Minor plot: Fortinbras' revenge for his father's death and Polonius' relationship with his children
Literary Terms
- Dramatic irony: when a reader is aware of something a character isn't
- Verbal irony: a figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant
- Soliloquy: a long speech expressing a character's thoughts when alone on stage
- Monologue: a speech by one actor
- Aside: a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on stage
- Foil character: a character whose main purpose is to highlight the strengths of another character
- Comic relief: a humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood
- Drama: a story written to be performed by actors
- Dialogue: conversation between characters
- Tragedy: a serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character
- Tragic hero: a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy
- Tragic flaw: a weakness or limitation of character, resulting in the fall of the tragic hero
- Peripeteia: reversal of fortune
- Hubris: excessive pride leading to one's fall
- Anagnorisis: recognition or discovery on the part of the hero; change from ignorance to knowledge
- Diction: a writer's or speaker's choice of words
- Stage directions: an instruction in the text of a play, especially one indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound effects and lighting
- Exeunt: used as a stage direction to indicate that a group of characters leave the stage
Test your knowledge of the background history of Shakespeare's play, Hamlet! Learn about Shakespeare's life, his works, and the inspiration behind Hamlet. Challenge yourself with questions about his family, the time period in which the play is set, and more. Study online at the provided link and see how much you know about this famous tragedy.
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