ACT IV - Scene III Quiz — Hamlet

Why does Claudius say he cannot punish Hamlet directly for killing Polonius?

• Hamlet is protected by Danish law as a prince
• Hamlet is loved by the common people
• Claudius fears Gertrude will turn against him
• Claudius does not yet have proof of the murder

What does Hamlet say Polonius is doing when asked where the body is?

• Sleeping in the chapel
• Resting in the garden
• At supper — being eaten by worms
• Hidden in the royal vault

Where is Polonius's body actually located?

• In the Queen's chamber
• In the castle garden
• Under the stairs near the lobby
• In the royal cemetery

What reason does Claudius give Hamlet for sending him to England?

• To study at an English university
• To serve as a diplomat
• For Hamlet's own safety
• As punishment for killing Polonius

What is Claudius's true purpose in sending Hamlet to England?

• To have Hamlet imprisoned in the Tower
• To have the English king execute Hamlet
• To exile Hamlet permanently from Denmark
• To have Hamlet sent to war

What leverage does Claudius claim to have over England?

• England owes Denmark a large financial debt
• The English king is Claudius's cousin
• England still bears scars from Danish military conquest
• England needs Danish trade goods to survive

Why does Hamlet call Claudius "mother" instead of "father"?

• He is confused by his feigned madness
• He reasons that man and wife are one flesh, so Claudius is his mother
• He is making a joke to lighten the mood
• He is referring to Gertrude, who stands nearby

What metaphor does Claudius use to describe the threat Hamlet poses?

• A storm approaching the castle
• A snake in the garden
• A fever raging in his blood
• A sword hanging over his head

Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

In Claudius's soliloquy, what does "cicatrice" mean?

• A treaty or agreement
• A scar from a wound
• A royal title or rank
• A payment or tribute

When Claudius says "Diseases desperate grown / By desperate appliance are reliev'd," what does "appliance" mean?

• A mechanical device
• A legal decree
• A remedy or treatment
• A military force