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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.

Author
Bernstein

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
165,714

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
4455

Last 3 plays: Guest 212 (5/15), Guest 50 (13/15), Guest 81 (10/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. What is Polonius's official title? Hint

King of Norway

Earl of Oxford

Lord Chamberlain

Duke of Gloucester

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Question 2 of 15

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

Francisco

Marcellus

Horatio

Bernardo

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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

Yorick

Guildernstern

Rosencrantz

Fortinbras

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Question 4 of 15

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

Throne of the King

Kingdom of Britain

State of Denmark

House of the Lord

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Question 5 of 15

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

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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

The Cart belonging to The Merchant of Venice

The Chariot of the Sun

Phoebus is a figure in Norse Mythology: The "Cart" refers to his army.

Phoebus is the name of a Player who owns a cart.

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Question 7 of 15

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

Pygmalion

King Priam

Aeneas

Niobe

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Question 8 of 15

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

True

False

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Question 9 of 15

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

Rat Poison

Hebenon

Sleeping Powder

Acid

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Question 10 of 15

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

A mirror

An arras

A bronze shield

A portrait of Hamlets' father

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Question 11 of 15

11. What are Polonius' last words? Hint

Save me, Dido!

Remember your father!

O, I am slain!

Laertes to the throne!

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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

father

Yorick

Judas

Crassus

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Question 13 of 15

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

True

False

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Question 14 of 15

14. What are Hamlet's last words? Hint

The rest is silence

And here I lay, till morrow comes.

I have my revenge.

Ay, there's the rub"

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Question 15 of 15

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

1603

1597

1600

1609

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 18 2024 : Guest 212: 5/15
Nov 17 2024 : Guest 50: 13/15
Nov 03 2024 : Guest 81: 10/15
Nov 01 2024 : adam36: 10/15
Oct 15 2024 : Guest 99: 11/15
Oct 06 2024 : Guest 75: 12/15
Sep 24 2024 : Guest 118: 14/15

Score Distribution

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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