ACT I - Scene II Quiz — Hamlet

What is Claudius's first order of state business in Act 1, Scene 2?

• Sending ambassadors to Norway to deal with Fortinbras
• Granting Laertes permission to return to France
• Ordering Hamlet to stay in Denmark
• Announcing a celebration for his marriage to Gertrude

Why does Laertes wish to leave Denmark?

• He is fleeing from Claudius's court
• He wants to return to France after attending the coronation
• He has been banished by the new king
• He plans to join Fortinbras's army

To whom does Hamlet direct his agreement to stay in Denmark?

• Claudius
• Polonius
• Gertrude
• Horatio

In his soliloquy, Hamlet compares Claudius to which mythological figure?

• Hercules
• Hyperion
• A satyr
• Niobe

What metaphor does Hamlet use to describe the state of the world in his soliloquy?

• A prison with many cells
• An unweeded garden that grows to seed
• A sea of troubles
• A stage where men play many parts

How long does Hamlet say it has been since his father died?

• One week
• Less than two months
• Six months
• One year

According to Horatio, what expression did the ghost wear?

• An expression of rage and vengeance
• A blank, emotionless stare
• A countenance more in sorrow than in anger
• A look of terror and confusion

What does Hamlet ask Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo to do about the ghost sighting?

• Tell the entire court immediately
• Report it to Claudius
• Keep it secret and say nothing
• Write a letter to the priests at Wittenberg

Which of the following events actually happen in Act 1, Scene 2?

Which of these details about the ghost are reported in Act 1, Scene 2?

What does "retrograde" mean when Claudius says Hamlet's plan to return to Wittenberg is "most retrograde to our desire"?

• Favorable and welcome
• Contrary or opposed
• Dangerous and reckless
• Sudden and unexpected

In the context of this scene, what does "obsequious" mean in the phrase "obsequious sorrow"?

• Excessively flattering
• Secretive and hidden
• Relating to funeral rites or dutiful mourning
• Angry and resentful

What is a "beaver" as Horatio uses the word when describing the ghost?

• A type of fur cloak worn by Danish royalty
• The visor or face guard of a helmet
• A ceremonial hat worn at court
• A shield carried by a knight