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Questions and Answers
What does Hamlet believe about women based on the provided text?
What is Hamlet's motivation for wanting Horatio to confirm his suspicions about the king?
What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern suggest as the cause of Hamlet's melancholy?
In what city does Hamlet attend school based on the text?
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Who returns Hamlet to Denmark after his exile according to the text?
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'The undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns' refers to what in Hamlet?
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What does Hamlet's aside 'A little more than kin and less than kind' reveal about his feelings towards Claudius?
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What does Hamlet imply by his comment that the outer signs of grief are 'actions that a man might play'?
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Why does Laertes warn Ophelia against Hamlet in Act I?
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How does the Ghost's speech in Act I affect Hamlet's view of his mother?
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In Act II, what is the real reason that Claudius has sent for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
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What is the dramatic irony in Act V of Hamlet's wanting the court to favor Laertes?
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In Hamlet's apology to Laertes before their duel, what does Hamlet say was to blame for the wrong he did to Laertes?
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What does Hamlet say will show Horatio's true friendship to him?
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What is the poetic justice in the last scene of the play?
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When Hamlet says that Fortinbras has his 'dying voice,' what does he mean?
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What motivates Hamlet's desire for the court to favor Laertes?
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Study Notes
Hamlet's Beliefs and Feelings
- Hamlet believes that women are deceitful and untrustworthy based on his experiences with his mother and Ophelia.
- Hamlet's aside "A little more than kin and less than kind" reveals his ambivalence towards Claudius, acknowledging their familial relationship but lacking affection.
Motivations and Suspicions
- Hamlet wants Horatio to confirm his suspicions about the king's guilt to validate his own feelings and gather evidence.
- Hamlet implies that the outer signs of grief are superficial and can be manipulated, suggesting that people can fake emotions.
Characters' Actions and Beliefs
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern suggest that Hamlet's melancholy is caused by his ambition and lack of opportunity.
- Laertes warns Ophelia against Hamlet in Act I because he believes Hamlet is not a suitable match for her.
- Claudius sends for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Act II to distract Hamlet from his suspicions and to spy on him.
Symbolism and Imagery
- "The undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns" refers to death, emphasizing its mystery and finality.
Plot and Conflict
- Hamlet attends school in Wittenberg.
- Hamlet is returned to Denmark after his exile by pirates.
- Hamlet's apology to Laertes before their duel is that his madness was to blame for the wrong he did to Laertes.
Themes and Irony
- The dramatic irony in Act V of Hamlet's wanting the court to favor Laertes is that the audience knows Laertes is plotting against Hamlet.
- The poetic justice in the last scene of the play is that the characters who committed evil deeds are punished, while the innocent are avenged.
Death and Mortality
- When Hamlet says that Fortinbras has his "dying voice," he means that Fortinbras will be his voice or representative after his death.
- Hamlet desires the court to favor Laertes because he wants to prove his own nobility and worth by showing he can be gracious even in defeat.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Hamlet with this multiple-choice quiz covering the famous play's key moments and characters. Circle the correct answer for each item based on your understanding of Hamlet's plot and themes.
