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Hamlet: The Minor Characters Trivia Quiz

Everyone knows about Shakespeare's famous melancholy Danish prince and other main characters who populate his play. But did you know that the play holds over thirty roles at minimum? Test your knowledge on some of the play's forgotten characters!

A multiple-choice quiz by Miles2Go. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Miles2Go

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
352,850

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
371

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Everyone knows that Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father-- what is that ghost's name? Hint

Antonio

None-- he is just called "Ghost" and his name is never given

Osric

Hamlet

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The minor character of Fortinbras invades Denmark from Norway. Much like Hamlet, his father- a king- has just died. What was Fortinbras' father's name? Hint

Hamlet

Fortinbras

Yorick

Stefano

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Although Fortinbras and his Norwegian army aren't a factor until the end of the play, in the second scene, two ambassadors are sent to Norway. What are their names? Hint

Cornelius and Voltimand

Cornelius and Lucio

Reynaldo and Lucio

Reynaldo and Voltemand

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. At the end of the play, an ambassador comes to Denmark with a message, only to find that the king is already dead. From what country is this ambassador? Hint

England

Italy

Norway

Denmark

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. At Ophelia's funeral, the minor character of the priest gets into a dispute with Laertes. Why? Hint

Because Laertes challenges the priest to a duel

Because Ophelia is getting a proper burial even though she committed suicide

Because mad prince Hamlet is in attendance and the priest wants him to leave

Because the priest suggests that Claudius murdered the previous king

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In the play within a play, Hamlet has a troupe of players act out a murder similar to how Claudius murdered the previous king. In this play, the murderer is given a name-- what is it? Hint

Guildenstern

Decius

Claudio

Lucianus

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In an amusing scene, Polonius rambles on and on to one of his uninterested servants. What is the servant's name? Hint

Rodolfo

Reynaldo

Osric

Yorick

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The very first few lines of the play- including the famous opening line of "Who's There?"-- are a dialogue between two minor characters. What are their names? Hint

Fabian and Marcellus

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Bernardo and Francisco

Sampson and Gregory

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Who first tells Horatio of the ghost's existence? Hint

Bernardo

Ophelia

Hamlet

Marcellus

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Our last question focuses on Osrick. Although a minor character, he plays what important role in the play? Hint

He is the referee for the fight between Hamlet and Laertes

He is the person who physically kills Claudius

He is the person who poisons the wine

He is the person who discovers Ophelia's drowned body

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Everyone knows that Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father-- what is that ghost's name?

Answer: Hamlet

Hamlet's father- the ghost- is also named Hamlet. Some have even argued that the play's title might refer to the ghost rather than the main character.

2. The minor character of Fortinbras invades Denmark from Norway. Much like Hamlet, his father- a king- has just died. What was Fortinbras' father's name?

Answer: Fortinbras

Fortinbras is also named after his father- another similarity that Fortinbras and Hamlet share.

3. Although Fortinbras and his Norwegian army aren't a factor until the end of the play, in the second scene, two ambassadors are sent to Norway. What are their names?

Answer: Cornelius and Voltimand

Cornelius and Voltemand are sent to Norway in Act 1 Scene 2:

"KING:...You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,
For bearers of this greeting to old Norway;
Giving to you no further personal power
To business with the king, more than the scope
Of these delated articles allow.
[Giving a paper.]
Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.

VOLTEMAND and CORNELIUS: In that and all things will we show our duty."

4. At the end of the play, an ambassador comes to Denmark with a message, only to find that the king is already dead. From what country is this ambassador?

Answer: England

The ambassador- who is not connected to Fortinbras' army- comes from England. He speaks the famous line "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead," which was used as the title for a play by Tom Stoppard (highly recommended if you have not read or seen it).

5. At Ophelia's funeral, the minor character of the priest gets into a dispute with Laertes. Why?

Answer: Because Ophelia is getting a proper burial even though she committed suicide

Laertes calls him a "churlish priest."

6. In the play within a play, Hamlet has a troupe of players act out a murder similar to how Claudius murdered the previous king. In this play, the murderer is given a name-- what is it?

Answer: Lucianus

In the play, Lucianus is the king's nephew- perhaps a foreshadowing that Hamlet will kill Claudius at the play's close?

7. In an amusing scene, Polonius rambles on and on to one of his uninterested servants. What is the servant's name?

Answer: Reynaldo

Poor Reynaldo! Of Reynaldo's thirteen lines, twelve of them include the words "my lord." He is sent to France to spy on Laertes.

8. The very first few lines of the play- including the famous opening line of "Who's There?"-- are a dialogue between two minor characters. What are their names?

Answer: Bernardo and Francisco

I always felt bad for Francisco, who specifically mentions that his watch has been boring and nothing happened. Then he leaves to go to sleep and, immediately, a ghost appears. Francisco never returns in the play.

9. Who first tells Horatio of the ghost's existence?

Answer: Marcellus

Marcellus brings a doubtful Horatio to the watchtower and, with Bernardo, the three see the ghost. Marcellus is also present when Hamlet sees the ghost for the first time.

10. Our last question focuses on Osrick. Although a minor character, he plays what important role in the play?

Answer: He is the referee for the fight between Hamlet and Laertes

Osrick is the referee for the famous swordfight and has lines such as the famous "A hit, a palpable hit."

Source: Author Miles2Go

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