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Quiz about Shakespeares Hamlet
Quiz about Shakespeares Hamlet

Shakespeare's Hamlet Trivia Quiz


"Hamlet" is considered by many to be William Shakespeare's finest work. It not only builds drama and tension until the last scene, but exhibits a mature understanding of the human psyche.

A multiple-choice quiz by Bernstein. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Bernstein
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
165,714
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
10 / 15
Plays
4451
Last 3 plays: Guest 99 (11/15), Guest 75 (12/15), Guest 118 (14/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. What is Polonius's official title? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. Who speaks the first line of the play? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. Which character in the play, a prince of Norway, has the same name as a dog in a book by Madeline L'engle? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. Complete the line: "Something is rotten in the_________" Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. How many living characters in "Hamlet" are listed by name in the Dramatis Personae? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. In the play-within-the-play, The pseudo king speaks the line "Full thirty times hath Phoebus' cart gone round" what he referring to by "Phoebus' cart"? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Which of these mythological heroes is never mentioned in "Hamlet"? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. The play "Hamlet" is based on the Dutch fable "Amleth".


Question 9 of 15
9. What type of poison did Claudius pour in Hamlet's father's ear? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. What object does Polonius use to hide himself when eavesdropping on Hamlet? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. What are Polonius' last words? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. Here is a question that is considerably simpler. Finish the Quote: "Alas poor______I knew him, Horatio--a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. True or False: Before the climactic duel, Laertes is favored to defeat Hamlet.


Question 14 of 15
14. What are Hamlet's last words? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. When was the first edition of "Hamlet" printed? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 15 2024 : Guest 99: 11/15
Oct 06 2024 : Guest 75: 12/15
Sep 24 2024 : Guest 118: 14/15
Sep 07 2024 : Guest 93: 1/15
Sep 01 2024 : Guest 49: 8/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What is Polonius's official title?

Answer: Lord Chamberlain

A tip to novice Shakespearians: always read "Dramatis Personae" before delving into the text.
2. Who speaks the first line of the play?

Answer: Bernardo

Yes, Act I, Scene I. Enter Bernardo and Francisco, two sentinels.
Bernardo: "Who's there?"
3. Which character in the play, a prince of Norway, has the same name as a dog in a book by Madeline L'engle?

Answer: Fortinbras

Fans of L'engle's "Wrinkle in Time" series will surely recall that the Murray family dog was named Fortinbras. Oddly, he never took over the house.
4. Complete the line: "Something is rotten in the_________"

Answer: State of Denmark

How can anyone forget that famous proclamation? Well, apparently, some people can.
5. How many living characters in "Hamlet" are listed by name in the Dramatis Personae?

Answer: 17

The correct answer is seventeen. Count them: Hamlet, Claudius, Polonius, Horatio, Laertes, Voltemand, Cornelius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Osric, Marcellus, Bernardo, Francisco, Reynaldo, Fortinbras, Gertrude, and Ophelia.
6. In the play-within-the-play, The pseudo king speaks the line "Full thirty times hath Phoebus' cart gone round" what he referring to by "Phoebus' cart"?

Answer: The Chariot of the Sun

"Phoebus' Cart" indeed refers to the sun's chariot. The "King" is referring to thirty days.
7. Which of these mythological heroes is never mentioned in "Hamlet"?

Answer: Pygmalion

The Players talk of King Priam in II.ii. Aeneas is mentioned by Hamlet in the same scene, and Niobe is mentioned by Hamlet again in I.ii.
8. The play "Hamlet" is based on the Dutch fable "Amleth".

Answer: False

Actually, "Amleth" was really a Danish story, not a Dutch one. It is recorded in Saxo-Grammaticus. It tells the story of a Danish Prince of the above title. In this fable, he has a very similar sequence of events happen to him. "Amleth", in fact was just one of the cases in which Shakespeare based one of his plays on a previous piece of literature.
9. What type of poison did Claudius pour in Hamlet's father's ear?

Answer: Hebenon

10. What object does Polonius use to hide himself when eavesdropping on Hamlet?

Answer: An arras

11. What are Polonius' last words?

Answer: O, I am slain!

Polonius, of course had no knowledge of Laertes' ambition to be king. He was not a particularly clever fellow, so it is doubtful that he would use a mythological reference for his final breath. And "Remember Your Father" is cliched.
12. Here is a question that is considerably simpler. Finish the Quote: "Alas poor______I knew him, Horatio--a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy."

Answer: Yorick

This reference to Yorick has become one of the most famous metaphors in the history of literature. Here, when Hamlet is informed of the skull's identity, he ponders to himself about life, and how everyone is ultimately returned to the earth, even a fellow of infinite jest.
13. True or False: Before the climactic duel, Laertes is favored to defeat Hamlet.

Answer: True

Of course Laertes is favored to win. There is no other reason Claudius would suggest a fencing match. All through Act V, before the match begins, Laertes' legendary skill of the foil is spoken of. When the match begins though, Hamlet quickly wounds Laertes twice of the needed three times.

But Alas! Claudius had poisoned Laertes' foil, and first Hamlet is mortally wounded, then the rapiers are changed, and Laertes is hurt. Both die eventually, but not before Laertes has told Hamlet everything.
14. What are Hamlet's last words?

Answer: The rest is silence

15. When was the first edition of "Hamlet" printed?

Answer: 1603

The first edition of "Hamlet" was indeed published in 1603 in quarto (Q1, to be exact).
Source: Author Bernstein

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