Questions and Review for William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Questions and Review for William Shakespeare’s

Hamlet

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To be, or not to be:

ObjectivesUpon completion of this review, you will be able to:

Identify 1 key characteristic of each of the 5 main characters with 100% accuracyRecall 2 major themes and motifs with 100% accuracyIdentify the meaning behind the major quotes discussed with 100% accuracyAnd identify the symbol discussed with 100% accuracy

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State Standard9.3- “Students read and respond to grade-level- appropriate historically or culturally significant works of literature, such as the selections in the www.doe.in.gov/standards/readinglist.html, which will illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials to be read by students. At Grade 9, students read a wide variety of literature, such as classic and contemporary literature, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, folklore, mythology, poetry, short stories, dramas, and other genres.” – IN.GOV (IDOE)

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“Hi! I’m Will, and I am here to help guide you through this review of Hamlet! Shakespeare can be a bit intimidating, but don’t worry! I will be here to help you along the way with directions, information, and even some fun facts! So let’s get started!”

Let’s Get Started!

But first, let’s review the story of Hamlet!

Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is devastated by the death of his father, the King. He returns home from University to find his mother, Gertrude, has married his uncle, Claudius. After seeing the ghost of his father, Hamlet discovers that his uncle murdered his father to gain the crown. In the end, a bloody duel of swords and poison kill Gertrude and Hamlet, but not before Hamlet finally fulfills his goal and kills Claudius. Would you like me to give

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More InformationFor a more complete summary of the story just click below!

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Characters

Themes and Motifs

Important Quotes

Review the story of Hamlet!

Application and Quiz!

Character Home“Welcome to the characters page! Just click a

character below to find out more about them!”

Hamlet

Claudius

Gertrude

Ophelia

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HamletHamlet, the protagonist of the play, is the

prince of Denmark and a university student. His studies are put on hold, however, when his father dies. Hamlet is a very enigmatic character. Possibly Hamlet’s most defining characteristic is his that he is a thinker- always contemplative and thoughtful. Hamlet is constantly thinking philosophically about the world around him. He is also very passionate. These two qualities cause Hamlet to experience internal conflict in his quest to avenge his father’s death.

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What is a protagonist?A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, musical or cinematic narrative. (The person the plot revolves around)

FUN FACT!Did you know the word protagonist comes from the Greek word protagonistes, meaning “One who plays the first part- the chief actor”.

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What does enigmatic mean?

• If someone or something is enigmatic it means that they are mysterious, puzzling, or ambiguous.

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ClaudiusHamlet’s major antagonist.Portrayed as lustful, conniving, and shrewd, Claudius became the king of Denmark by marrying his brother’s wife, Gertrude, after his brother’s death (Claudius killed his brother, the king, by pouring poison in his ear). Claudius only truly cares about maintaining and increasing his own power. Meet a new

character

What does antagonist mean?

An antagonist is a character, or group of characters, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend (Usually, but not always, the “bad guy”).

FUN FACT!Did you know that the word antagonist comes from the Greek word antagonistes, meaning “opponent, competitor, or rival.”

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GertrudeThe queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother. Once married to the late king (Hamlet’s father), Gertrude recently married Claudius, the late King’s brother. Gertrude loves her son, but she is needy and is constantly craving affection. This causes her to value status more than truth or morality.

FUN FACT!Glen Close played Gertrude in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1990 rendition of Hamlet!

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OpheliaHamlet’s love interest in the play. Ophelia is a sweet and innocent young girl. She is not the strongest female character, however, as she seems to depend on the men in her life to tell her what to do. Even after her fall into madness (Ophelia drowns), Ophelia remains maidenly, singing songs about flowers. The quintessential maiden.

FUN FACT!Boys and men played all the roles in Shakespeare’s plays, as it was customary in Elizabethan times. So much for a fair maiden.

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Themes, Motifs, and Symbols

“One of the most exciting parts of reading Shakespeare is discovering the themes, motifs, and symbols used. So let’s get started!”

“What would you like to learn about? Just click an option below!”

Themes Motifs Symbols

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Themes“Great! Let’s take a look at the Themes in Hamlet. What would you like to learn?”

What is a theme?

The Mystery of Death and

Morality

Revenge & Complexity of Action

The Nation as a

Diseased Body

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What are themes?

Themes are the fundamental, and often universal, ideas explored in a literary work.

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Theme: The Nation as a Diseased Body

Eventually, the issues of the royal family transfer onto the people of Denmark. The play’s early scenes express the uneasiness and dread that surrounds the transition from one king to the next. Because of this confusion and unease, Denmark is frequently described as a physical body made ill.

FUN FACT!Did you know that Denmark is the oldest monarchy of the west? Until the 19th century Denmark controlled all of northern Europe! Those Vikings sure were handy!

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No, not those Vikings!

Theme: Revenge and the Complexity of Action

The play begins with all the makings of your typical revenge story. But it soon becomes clear that this story will not be so simple. The majority of Hamlet revolves around Hamlet’s indecision. Hamlet’s question of how to act is affected not only by rational consideration (like his need for certainty) but also by emotional, ethical, and psychological factors. Likely due to his emotional turmoil and indecision, when Hamlet does act, he seems to do it hastily.

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Theme: The Mystery of Death and Mortality

After his father’s death, Hamlet is obsessed with the idea of death and mortality. Death weaves its way through Hamlet from the very beginning. From the opening scene with Hamlet’s father’s ghost, to Ophelia’s death, to Hamlet’s own suicidal thoughts, to the tale’s bloody finale. The ideas of death and suicide even lead to Hamlet’s famous “To be, or not to be” speech!

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Motifs“Fantastic! Let’s get started on Motifs! Click a motif below to begin.”

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MisogynyIncest

What is a motif?

What Is a Motif?Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the texts major themes.

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Motif: IncestThe idea of incest runs through the play, being alluded to by Hamlet and the ghost, most obviously in the relationship of Gertrude and Claudius as they were brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Back to

Motifs

Motif: MisogynyShattered by his mother’s choice to marry Claudius so soon after the death of his father, Hamlet becomes cynical about women in general. He comes to have an obsession with the belief that there is a connection between female sexuality and moral corruption.

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The Symbol“Welcome to the symbol section! Click a choice below to continue.”

Yorick’s Skull

What is a symbol?

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What Is a Symbol?Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

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Symbol: Yorick’s SkullIn Hamlet, physical objects are rarely used to represent thematic ideas. One important exception is Yorick’s skull. Hamlet finds the skull of Yorick (the court jester) in the graveyard in Scene 1 Act V. As Hamlet speaks to the skull, he thinks about the inevitability of death and the disintegration of the human body.

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Quotes“Shakespeare can be rather tricky to understand. But don’t fret! I am here to help. Just click on a quote below to read an explanation!”

“O that this too too solid flesh would melt”

“To be, or not to be: that is the

question”

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Quote: “O that this too too solid flesh would melt…”

Hamlet speaks these lines after seeing Claudius and Gertrude in court, then being asked by them not to return to school even though he longs to. Hamlet thinks for the first time about suicide, desiring his flesh to melt and wishing that God had not made “self-slaughter” a sin.

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Quote: “To be, or not to be…”Hamlet speaks these immortal

words in Act III. His logical and powerful examination of the moral legitimacy of suicide touches on several important themes of the play. Hamlet poses the question of whether or not to commit suicide as, “To be, or not to be: that is the question.”

FUN FACT!This soliloquy is one of the most famous in the history of the English language.

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Application Section“Congratulations! You have made it all the way to the application section of the review! You are doing a great job! Here we will take a look at how Hamlet translates into modern day culture to help you gain a better understanding of how the play is used today.”If you have completed

this section, click below to skip to the quiz

If you have yet to complete this section, please click Continue

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“Now, you may be wondering what the story of Hamlet has to do with modern culture. Yes, Hamlet was written a long time ago. But Shakespeare’s works have inspired modern works of literature, art, and film for years. Hamlet is no exception, acting as the inspiration for one of Disney’s most famous and beloved classics.” So what Disney classic was inspired

by Hamlet?

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THE LION KING!“That’s right! Disney based the story of The Lion King on Shakespeare’s very own Hamlet.

In this application of Hamlet, we will take a look at the similarities between The Lion King and Hamlet, both in the stories and the characters.”

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Hamlet and The Lion King: Shared Themes

The stories of Hamlet and The Lion King share many of the same themes, including:

• Responsibility • Death and Loss• Revenge

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The most striking similarities can be seen through the comparison of the characters.

In the following slides, you will be given a picture of a character from The Lion King. Choose the character from Hamlet that The Lion King character was most likely based on. Keep in mind the character descriptions we reviewed earlier!

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SIMBA

Who was the character of Simba based on?

OpheliaGertrudeClaudiusHamlet

Great Job! Hamlet is correct! The role of the young Prince whose father is murdered was inspired by Hamlet, whose naïve ways give him more than his fair share of troubles.

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Oops!Actually, the role of the young Prince whose father is murdered was inspired by Hamlet, whose naïve ways give him more than his fair share of troubles.

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MUFASA

Who was the character of Mufasa based on?

King Hamlet SrOpheliaGertrudeClaudius

Amazing! That is correct!

King Hamlet ruled his kingdom with peace and fairness and was well-loved by his kingdom and son, just like Mufasa!

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Oops!Actually, the answer was King Hamlet, Sr.

King Hamlet ruled his kingdom with peace and fairness and was well-loved by his kingdom and son, just like Mufasa!

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SCAR

Who was the character of Scar based on?

Gertrude Claudius Laertes Ophelia

Wonderful!The answer was Claudius!

Both Claudius and Scar murdered their brothers in a selfish effort to inherit the thrown.

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Oops!

Actually, the answer was Claudius.

Both Claudius and Scar murdered their brothers in a selfish effort to inherit the thrown.

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SARABI

Who was the character of Sarabi based on?

YorickLaertesOpheliaGertrude

Wow! That’s Right!

Both Gertrude and Sarabi lost their husbands to their brother-in-law’s evil acts.

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Oops!Actually, the answer was Gertrude

Both Gertrude and Sarabi lost their husbands to their brother-in-law’s evil acts.

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NALA

Who was the character of Nala based on?

YorickLeartesOphelia

Amazing!

Nala and Ophelia both act as the love-interest of the main character.

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Oops!

Actually, the answer was Ophelia.Both Ophelia and Nala act as the love-interest of the main character.

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“As you can see, the stories told by Shakespeare are timeless.

Maybe now you can find similarities between Hamlet and other modern works!”

FUN FACT!Hamlet has been quoted and referenced in plenty of movies and shows, such as:Billy MadisonRenaissance ManThe SimpsonsSouth ParkPrincess DiariesStar TrekAnd more!

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Quiz Time!“I am really impressed! You have done so well. Now that you have learned how Hamlet is still used in shaping today’s culture, it’s time for the quiz!”

“Are you ready to begin?”

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Question 1What is a protagonist?a)The main characterb)The opposition to the main characte

rc)The authord)The person who dies

Correct! Great Job!

The protagonist of a story is a) the main character!

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect.

The protagonist is the stories a) main character

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Question 2

What is an antagonist?a)The authorb)The opposition to the main c

haracterc)The main characterd)The person who dies

Correct! Great Job!

The antagonist is b) the character or thing opposing the main character.

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect.

The antagonist is b) the character or thing opposing the main character.

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Question 3What is Hamlet’s most defining characteristic?a)He is tallb)He is handsomec)He is braved)He is a thinker

Correct! Great Job!

Hamlet’s most defining characteristic isd) He is a thinker!

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect.

Hamlet’s most defining characteristic is b) he is a thinker.

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Question 4What is the best way to describe Ophelia?a)An ugly witchb)A boring personc)A fair maidend)A cool cat

Correct! Great Job!

Ophelia is best described as the quintessential c) fair maiden.

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect.

Ophelia is best described as the quintessential c) fair maiden.

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Question 5How would you describe Gertrude?a)Independentb)Needyc)Happyd)Confident

Correct! Great Job!

The best way to describe Gertrude b) is needy!

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect.

Gertrude is best described b) as needy.

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Question 6

What is one way to describe Claudius?a)Shyb)Power-hungryc)Honestd)Confused

Correct! Great Job!

Claudius can best be described as b) power-hungry.

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect.

Claudius can best be described asb) power-hungry.

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Question 7

What were two of the themes of Hamlet discussed in this review?a)Political warfare, religionb)Revenge, moralityc)Revenge, romantic loved)Morality, eternal happiness

Correct! Great Job!

The two themes discussed in this review were b) Revenge and Morality

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Oops…Sorry, that is incorrect.

The two themes discussed in this review were b) Revenge and Morality

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Question 8What were the two Motifs discussed in this review?a)Misogyny, emotional conflictb)Incest, family troublesc)Confusion, insecuritiesd)Incest, misogyny

Correct! Great Job!

The two motifs discussed in this review wered) Incest and Misogyny

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect.

The two motifs discussed in this review wereb) Incest and Misogyny

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Question 9

What is Hamlet debating in his “to be, or not to be,” soliloquy?a)World peaceb)Whether to live or diec)If he should marry Opheliad)If he should kill his uncle

Correct! Great Job!

Hamlet was debating b) whether he should continue living or die by his own hand.

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect.

Hamlet was debating b) whether he should continue living or die by his own hand.

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Question 10What is Hamlet thinking about for the first time when he says, “O that this too too solid flesh would melt?”a)Boiling pointsb)Ophelia’s lovec)Suicided)The sun

Correct! Great Job!

When Hamlet says, “O that this too too solid flesh would melt?” he is just starting to think aboutc) the idea of suicide.

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Oops…Sorry, but that is incorrect

When Hamlet says, “O that this too too solid flesh would melt?” he is just starting to think aboutc) the idea of suicide.

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Congratulations!

“YOU DID IT! You have completed the review of Hamlet! Bravo!”

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