ACT I - Scene IV Quiz — Hamlet

Where does Act I, Scene IV take place?

• Inside the great hall of Elsinore Castle
• The platform before Elsinore Castle
• The royal chapel at Elsinore
• A graveyard near Elsinore

What causes the trumpets and cannon fire heard during the scene?

• A military attack on the castle
• The arrival of foreign ambassadors
• King Claudius's drinking celebration
• A funeral ceremony for the late king

According to Hamlet, what effect does the Danish drinking custom have on the nation's reputation?

• It makes other nations respect Danish strength
• It causes other nations to call Danes drunkards and overlook their achievements
• It attracts foreign visitors eager to join the festivities
• It has no effect on how other nations view Denmark

What does Hamlet mean when he says the drinking custom is "more honour'd in the breach than the observance"?

• The custom is honorable and should be followed
• The custom would be more honorable if broken than followed
• The custom honors fallen soldiers
• The custom is too old to be relevant

How does the Ghost communicate with Hamlet in this scene?

• It speaks directly to Hamlet in verse
• It writes a message in the air
• It silently beckons Hamlet to follow it
• It whispers in Hamlet's ear

What danger does Horatio warn Hamlet about if he follows the Ghost?

• That Claudius will have him arrested
• That the Ghost might lead him to a cliff and drive him mad
• That following a ghost will condemn his soul
• That the castle guards will attack him

What does Hamlet mean when he says "My fate cries out"?

• He believes he is about to die
• He feels destiny compels him to follow the Ghost
• He is calling out to fate for help
• He regrets the choices that brought him here

Who says "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"?

• Hamlet
• Horatio
• Marcellus
• The Ghost

Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

What does "cerements" mean in the line "Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death, / Have burst their cerements"?

• Tombstones or grave markers
• Waxed burial wrappings for a corpse
• Iron chains binding a coffin
• Prayers said over the dead

In the context of this scene, what does "eager" mean in "It is a nipping and an eager air"?

• Enthusiastic or excited
• Sharp, biting, or keen
• Hungry or desperate
• Moving quickly

What does "beetles" mean in "the dreadful summit of the cliff / That beetles o'er his base into the sea"?

• Is infested with insects
• Crumbles away gradually
• Juts out or overhangs
• Stands firmly and solidly