Drama Unit Study Guide
AP Lit/Comp/Mrs. Breaux
Point Value of study Guide:
I am letting you decide from one of the following options for your grade:
A, 400 HW Points.
B, 200 Quiz points.
C. 100 Test Points.
As a reminder, HW is 15% of your grade, tests are 30%, and quizzes are 20%. I will conference with
each of you on Tues. 3/2 and we can look at the lowest grade you have out of these three
categories – that’s where I suggest you choose to put these points. You don’t need to let me know
Tuesday, but Highlight the option you chose above when turning this in.
You will be working on this ALL class Tues/Wed. It is homework: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday night.
The test is worth 200 points and will be the last grade for the quarter. It covers fives weeks of material
that you are expected to know well. Doing this study guide will make sure you are prepared.
You will be graded on effort; however, accuracy is important as we will not be reviewing the answers
to these beforehand; however, if you are stuck on some of the answers, I will be more than glad to
help you during class on Tuesday and Wednesday. I will also be available during lunch on
Mon./Wed. and after school by appointment.
Act 1, scene 1:
1. Explain what Horatio thinks is the reason for the ghost’s appearance.
2. To what historic event does Horatio compare the “feeling” of “restlessness” in the
earth?
heavens and
Act 1, scene 2:
3.. Name the four subjects that Claudius addresses in his opening speech (or give the first; they
name the rest).
OR Explain what action Claudius takes against young Fortinbras.
4.. Name the literary device in “mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage”
OR explain its meaning.
5.. What is Laertes’ request of Claudius? The answer?
6. Explain Hamlet’s pun “I am too much in the sun” (3 possibilities)
7. Explain the philosophical reason that Claudius gives Hamlet to help him get over his grief
regarding his father’s death.
8. Explain the significance of “I shall obey you, madam.” (Hamlet)
9. Name the metaphor Hamlet uses to describe his life in the “too, too sullied flesh” speech.
(unweeded garden)
10. How long has the King been dead? Gertrude remarry?
Act 1, scene 3:
11. What advice does Laertes offer Ophelia regarding Hamlet’s affections?
12. According to Laretes, why can’t Ophelia marry Hamlet? (his logical reason)
13. What is Ophelia’s response? What does this say about her personality?
14. Ophelia acts quite differently toward Laertes and toward Polonius; explain this difference.
15. Polonius offers Laertes specific advice. List one of the six items.
16. What is Ophelia’s final response to Polonius advice? What does it say about her?
Act 1, scene 4:
17. What is Horatio’s fear regarding Hamlet’s meeting the ghost? Why ironic?
Act 1, scene 5:
18. The Ghost, when speaking to Hamlet, has both pagan and Christian messages. Name one of
each.
19. Name the metaphor that the ghost uses when he names Claudius as the murderer.
20. What does the ghost say that implies that Gertrude had been seduced before the king’s
death?
21. Explain Horatio’s reaction to Hamlet after the prince has seen the ghost.
22. Explain the play on words with “offense” between Hamlet and Horatio.
23. Complete this famous line from Hamlet to Horatio: “There are more things in heaven and earth,
Horatio….”
24. What does Hamlet say he’ll do to cover his plot to kill Claudius?
Hamlet / Quiz Act II
Act 2, scene 1:
1. What plot information subtly lets the audience know that some time (about a couple of months)
has passed since Act I?
2. What is Polinus’ ploy to get info about Laertes’ lifestyle?
3. What does Polinus tell Reynaldo to say to others about Laertes?
4. What does Polinus expect to find out about Laertes?
5. What specific “activities” does Polinus tell Reynaldo to say he has seen Laertes doing?
6.
What does all this tell you about Polinus?
7. Give an example of Polinus’ absent-mindedness while talking to Reynaldo.
8. Identify the literary device: “Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth.” (l. 70) Explain its
meaning.
9. Explain what, specifically, about Hamlet’s appearance scares or causes concern in Ophelia.
10. What is Polinus’ immediate assumption about Hamlet?
11. What action will Polinus take (regarding this assumption)?
Act 2, scene 2
12. What does Claudius tell Rosencrantz and Guildernstern to do about Hamlet (and why)?
13. Explain the irony of Claudius’ line: “I cannot dream of…” (why Hamlet is so upset)
14. What similarity exists between father figures and sons?
15. What does Gertrude think is the cause of Hamlet’s madness?
16. What do Cornelius and Voltemand report that the king of Norway did to stop young Fortinbras?
17. Explain the irony of Polinus’ saying “…brevity is the soul of wit.” (l. 97)
18. Explain Gertrude’s meaning when she says, “More matter with less art.” (l. 103)
19. What action of his own does Polinus claim made Hamlet go mad?
20. What do Polinus and Claudius agree to do?
21. Explain “You are a fishmonger.” (l. 190) What is Hamlet’s intent?
22. Explain Hamlet’s “Let her not walk in the sun.” (l. 201)
23. Explain what sensible accuracy there is in Polinus’ “Though this be madness, yet there is method
in ‘t.” (l. 223-224)
24. Explain the specific irony of Rosencrantz’ line “the world’s grown honest.” (l. 255)
25. Paraphrase Hamlet’s “What a piece of work is a man.…” speech (l. 327-334)
26. What is Shakespeare’s commentary on contemporary theater and how actors are treated?
27. Explain Hamlet’s meaning in “my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived.” (l. 399-400)
28. What “proof” of Hamlet’s madness does Polinus see (when Hamlet speaks of Jephthah…)?
29. Explain the effectiveness of the Jephthah allusion.
30. Explain a similarity and a difference between Pyrrhus and Hamlet.
31. Explain, according to Hamlet, the difference between himself and an actor.
32. If an actor had Hamlet’s motive, how would he act onstage?
33. Explain Hamlet’s plan for “the play’s the thing….” (l. 633-4)
OR … At the end of Act 2, Hamlet conceives a plan to delay his own action; what is it?
OR … Explain the PSYCHOLOGICAL effect of Hamlet’s plan for the play (WHY does he conceive the
plan on a DEEPER level, not the reason he states.)
34. Explain the difference between the public and the private Hamlet.
Hamlet / Quiz Act III
Act 3, scene 1:
1. How do Rosencrantz and Guildernstern say Hamlet has acted / responded?
2. What do Claudius and Polinus plan to do when Ophelia and Hamlet meet?
3. Who does Gertrude sound like when she says to Claudius, “I shall obey you.”
(l. 41)
4. Explain the significance and/or irony of Gertrude’s lines (42-44) that exclaim she hopes the cause
of Hamlet’s madness is his love for Ophelia.
5. When Polinus says, “…with devotion’s visage / and pious action we do sugar o’er / the devil
himself.” (l. 53-55), the king utters an aside; what’s the gist of it?
6. Identify and explain one of the metaphors Hamlet uses in the “To be or not to be” soliloquy.
7. What is Hamlet’s argument / reasoning against suicide?
8. Explain “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all.” (l. 91)
9. Explain Hamlet’s words to Ophelia: “…for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall
relish of it.” (l. 127-129)
10. Explain the meaning and implication of Hamlet’s words, “Those that are married already, / all
but one, shall live.” (l. 160-161)
11. What solution does Claudius decided on to cure Hamlet’s madness?
12. Give more examples of Polinus’ meddling.
13. Explain the irony in Claudius’ “Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.” (l. 202)
Act 3, scene 2:
14. Explain, according to Hamlet, the virtues of acting.
15. Give proof of Hamlet’s sincere friendship with Horatio.
16. What conclusion will Hamlet reach if Claudius shows no guilt during the play?
17. Explain, in light of the entire act, the irony of Polinus’ “I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i’ th’ /
Capitol. Brutus killed me.” (l. 109-110)
18. Give an example of Hamlet’s sarcasm toward Ophelia before the play begins.
19. How much time does Ophelia acknowledge has passed since King Hamlet died?
20. What does the Player Queen say about 2nd marriages?
21. Explain significance of Gertrude’s line “The lady doth protest too much” (l. 254)
22. What does Hamlet call the play, and why is it ironic?
23. Explain the irony of Hamlet’s “we that have free souls, it touches us not.” (l. 265-266)
24. What is Claudius’ reaction to the play?
25. R&G again ask Hamlet why he is upset; what’s his reply?
26. Explain the recorder metaphor as Hamlet uses it against R&G.
27. Give example of Hamlet’s teasing Polinus and Polinus’ fawning.
28. What previous message is Hamlet following when he says “I will speak daggers to her, but use
none.” (l. 429).
OR Explain Hamlet’s meaning via his allusion to Nero: “Let not ever the soul of Nero enter this firm
bosom.” (l. 426-427)
Act 3, scene 3:
29. What is Polinus’ plan? How does it fit his character?
30. Explain the significance of Claudius’ Biblical allusion when he says “O, my offense is rank, it smells
to heaven; / It hath the primal eldest curse upon ‘t.” (l. 41-42)
31. The first time we ever see Claudius alone he reveals his true thoughts. What is his very first
thought?
32. When he contemplates praying, Claudius knows he should say “Forgive me my foul murder” (l.
56) but then he realizes it won’t work. Why can’t he ask for forgiveness?
33. What logic does Hamlet use to talk himself out of killing Claudius? (if…then…)
34. Explain the irony of Claudius’ being unable to pray.
Act 3, scene 4:
35. Explain the play on words when Gertrude says “Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended,”
and Hamlet replies “Mother, you have my father much offended.” (l. 12-13)
36. Who does Hamlet think is hiding behind the curtains?
37. Which mythological gods does Hamlet compare his father to? Why is it appropriate?
38. Why does the ghost choose to enter the scene when he does (he does NOT need to remind
Hamlet to kill Claudius at that moment!)
39. What advice does Hamlet give Gertrude?
40. What might be Hamlet’s motive when he tells Gertrude not to go to Claudius’ bed that night?
What does this tell you about his relationship with his mother?
41. What does Hamlet compare R&G to at the end of the act?
42. Explain the humor/pun in Hamlet’s last line, “This man shall set me packing.” (l. 234)
Acts IV and V
1. What are the two reasons the Claudius gives for not having done something about Hamlet before
now? (2)
2. What does Hamlet say to show his utter contempt for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? (3)
3.. What is in the letters that Claudius is sending with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to England? What
does Hamlet do about this? (3)
4. As Hamlet is boarding the ship for England he sees Fortinbras. Where is Fortinbras going and what
does the Captain say about this venture? (3)
5. What comment does Hamlet make about Fortinbras’s decision in comparison to himself? (2)
6. Why does Ophelia go mad? (two things – 2 pts)
7. How does Ophelia die? (3)
8. What are the three aspects to the plot Laertes and Claudius devise between them to get rid of
Hamlet once and for all? (3)
9.Why is Laertes upset with the way Ophelia is being buried? What is odd or out of the ordinary
about her burial? (3)
10.Why does Hamlet jump into the grave after Laertes? (2)
11.Why is Hamlet’s calling Laertes “a very noble youth,” ironic? (2)
12.Who warns Hamlet not to get involved in the duel?
13.Describe what happens to Hamlet, Gertrude, Laertes and Claudius during the duel. (5)
14.Who succeeds Hamlet to the throne of Denmark?
15. In a tragedy, the protagonist dies because of a fatal flaw or flaws. What, in your opinion, is
Hamlet’s fatal flaw(s)? Give examples from the play to back up your opinion. (5)
16.Why does Hamlet feel no guilt for the deaths of Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Polonius? (3)
17.Who was Yorick?
Fill out the following information for each quotation:
1.) “ but you must fear,
His greatness weighed, his will is not his own,
For he himself is subject to his birth,
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself…”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
2.) “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance::
3.)
“I must be cruel only to be kind.”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
4.)
“To be or not to be, that is the question. . .(to l. 96)”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
5.)
Act:
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
6.)
Act:
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below;
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
7) “Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation?
Come, come, deal justly with me. Come, come, nay speak.
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
8.) “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him Horatio.”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
9.) “I am guiltless of your father’s death,
And am most sensibly in grief for it,
It shall as level to your judgment pear
As day does to your eye.”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
10.) “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them how we will-.”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
11.) “But long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
12.) “For he was likely, had he been put on,
To have proved most royally”
Act:
scene:
Speaker:
Character being spoken to::
Context/Irony/Significance:
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead/Tom Stoppard
1. When we first see Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, they are passing the time by:
2. The troupe of players introduce themselves as:
3. “In better times,” says the Player, his troupe were:
4. How does Guildenstern win his bet with the Player?
5. Which element of their plays is “compulsory” according to the Player?
6. Upon arriving at Elsinore and meeting the king, Rosencrantz wants to go:
7. Guildenstern advises Rosencrantz to:
8. Why do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern play the question game?
9. What is “the meaning of order,” according to Guildenstern?
10. Complete the quote: “We’re actors, we’re the ___!”
11. Why is the Player angry with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when they meet again at Elsinore?
12. According to the Player, what is “the currency of living”?
13. Guildenstern wants art to:
14. According to Guildstern, an actor can’t perform:
15. What does the Player say that tragedy means (paraphrasing Oscar Wilde)?
16.) Why do people keep mixing up Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
17.) Why do they mix up each other?
18.) Why did they agree to come to the castle in the first place?
19.) How does Guildenstern view Rosencrantz?
20.) What is the Player’s relationship to the two main characters?
21.) Describe Hamlet in this play, and compare him to Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
22.) What are the major differences between Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
23.) Is Rosencrantz happy?
24.) Compare the end of the play to its beginning. What has changed?
25.) What does death mean in this play?
26. Define
a. Absurdist theater:
b. Tragi-comedy:
c. farce:
27. Outline the English Journal Existentialism article on a separate sheet of paper:
28. How does the article on Existentialism apply to R&G are Dead?