Graded Assignment
Unit Test, Part 2: Hamlet

Below are five questions on Hamlet. Answer Question 1, Question 2, and Question 3 with responses of at least one paragraph. Then answer either Question 4 or Question 5 in a literary essay of at least five paragraphs. Remember to incorporate textual evidence in all of your responses. You may refer to your copy of Hamlet and your notes as you write.

Answer Questions 1, 2, and 3.

Total score: ____ of 100 points

(Score for Question 1: ___ of 15 points)

1. Explain both the literal and symbolic meaning and importance of pouring poison in a person’s ear in Hamlet.

Answer:

The literal meaning would be the death that has occurred in Hamlets life. For example when Hamlet kills Polonius instead of Claudius and when Ophelia kills herself. Hamlet was surrounded by death. The symbolic mean is that the secrets hamlet has been told are meant for his ears only. For example when Hamlet and Claudius exchange secrets they are meant for only them to hear and not to be spoken to anybody else.

(Score for Question 2: ___ of 15 points)

2. What purpose do the soliloquies that Hamlet delivers over the course of the play serve? What do readers and audience members learn about Hamlet from what he says in these speeches?

Answer:

The purpose for Hamlets soliloquies is for the audience to understand his thoughts by dramatic affect and a different point of view. Throughout Hamlets soliloquies his character changes as he starts to think a different way. The audience members learn about hamlets personal struggle and his intentions of suicide.

(Score for Question 3: ___ of 15 points)

3. In drama, a character’s tragic flaw is the character trait that leads directly to his or her downfall in the work. Many critics and scholars argue that Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his tendency toward inaction—his inability to act. Do you agree? Why or why not? Cite specific examples from the text to support your response.

Answer:

I agree and disagree Hamlet had moments of inaction

(Score for Question 4: ___ of 55 points)

4. As you know, Laertes and Fortinbras are two characters in Shakespeare’s play that serve as foils for Hamlet. How does each figure expose or highlight certain traits in Hamlet’s character, and how does each character’s behavior in the play relate to the themes of advice and duty, action versus inaction, and sanity versus madness?

Answer:

Type your answer here.

Score for Question 5: ___ of 55 points)

5. Why is the idea of playing a role or acting a part so important to Hamlet over the course of the play? How does role-playing affect several major events in the plot and the relationships between various characters?

Answer:

Graded Assignment
Unit Test, Part 2: Hamlet

Below are five questions on Hamlet. Answer Question 1, Question 2, and Question 3 with responses of at least one paragraph. Then answer either Question 4 or Question 5 in a literary essay of at least five paragraphs. Remember to incorporate textual evidence in all of your responses. You may refer to your copy of Hamlet and your notes as you write.

Answer Questions 1, 2, and 3.

Total score: ____ of 100 points

(Score for Question 1: ___ of 15 points)

1. Explain both the literal and symbolic meaning and importance of pouring poison in a person’s ear in Hamlet.

Answer:

The literal meaning would be the death that has occurred in Hamlets life. For example when Hamlet kills Polonius instead of Claudius and when Ophelia kills herself. Hamlet was surrounded by death. The symbolic mean is that the secrets hamlet has been told are meant for his ears only. For example when Hamlet and Claudius exchange secrets they are meant for only them to hear and not to be spoken to anybody else.

(Score for Question 2: ___ of 15 points)

2. What purpose do the soliloquies that Hamlet delivers over the course of the play serve? What do readers and audience members learn about Hamlet from what he says in these speeches?

Answer:

The purpose for Hamlets soliloquies is for the audience to understand his thoughts by dramatic affect and a different point of view. Throughout Hamlets soliloquies his character changes as he starts to think a different way. The audience members learn about hamlets personal struggle and his intentions of suicide.

(Score for Question 3: ___ of 15 points)

3. In drama, a character’s tragic flaw is the character trait that leads directly to his or her downfall in the work. Many critics and scholars argue that Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his tendency toward inaction—his inability to act. Do you agree? Why or why not? Cite specific examples from the text to support your response.

Answer:

I agree and disagree Hamlet had moments of inaction

(Score for Question 4: ___ of 55 points)

4. As you know, Laertes and Fortinbras are two characters in Shakespeare’s play that serve as foils for Hamlet. How does each figure expose or highlight certain traits in Hamlet’s character, and how does each character’s behavior in the play relate to the themes of advice and duty, action versus inaction, and sanity versus madness?

Answer:

Type your answer here.

Score for Question 5: ___ of 55 points)

5. Why is the idea of playing a role or acting a part so important to Hamlet over the course of the play? How does role-playing affect several major events in the plot and the relationships between various characters?

Answer: