Hamlet

1
Hamlet

• A Final Discussion

2
Hamlet is the quintessential revenge play.

• A. True
• B. False

3
When Hamlet asks To be or not to be, he is
seriously considering suicide.

• A. True
• B. False

4
Hamlet is an important play to read.

• A. Of course! Shakespeare is the best, and this
  is Shakespeares best! It speaks to the nature
  of humanity.
• B. It is important for our cultural literacy.
• C. I think my life would have gone on just fine
  if I did not read this play.
• D. The play is antiquated and should be replaced
  with something more contemporary.

5
Hamlet is the most intelligent character I have
ever read.

• A. Yes, he trumps all of Shakespeares
  characters. He concocts a plan and is really
  witty.
• B. I dont know about being the smartest in all
  of Shakespeares universe. Iagos pretty smart.
  He concocted a plan and was really witty.
• C. He might not even be the smartest character we
  read this year. What about Darl in As I Lay
  Dying?
• D. Hamlet gets himself and his friends killed.
  How smart is that?

6
When did Claudius and Gertrudes affair begin?

• A. Before Hamlets birth. Geez, Claudius could
  even be Hamlets dad.
• B. Before Old Hamlets death. Maybe Gertrude
  even had a hand in his murder.
• C. After Old Hamlets death. Gertrude was just a
  vulnerable widow.
• D. They never really had a romantic affair. It
  was all about power, not sex.

7
Could Hamlet be considered a villain?

• A. No way! Hes a hero!
• B. Hes no hero, but hes no villain either.
• C. Well, if enacting vengeance is villainous,
  maybe.
• D. He is the reason everyone dies. Hes a
  villain!

8
When does Hamlet stop putting on his antic
disposition and actually become crazy?

• A. He never becomes crazy. Hes plotting all the
  time.
• B. Hes pretending until Ophelia dumps him. Then
  he goes crazy.
• C. Hes pretending until he kills Polonius. Then
  he goes crazy.
• D. He talks to ghosts. He writes plays about his
  fathers death. Hes attracted to his mom. He
  gets people killed. Hes crazy the whole time.

9
Are you bothered by Shakespeares suspension of
disbelief regarding Hamlets quick aging?

• A. Hes Shakespeare! He can do whatever he
  wants!
• B. Hamlet aged 8 years in one scene! WTF?
• C. Huh? Hamlet got older?

10
What is Hamlets tragic flaw?

• A. He is obsessed with vengeance.
• B. He is too intellectual, and cannot escape the
  prison of his own mind.
• C. He blindly obeys his fathers wishes.
• D. He acts without considering consequences.

11
Who do you blame for Hamlets death?

• A. Hamlet himself
• B. Old Hamlet
• C. Claudius
• D. Laertes
• E. Gertrude