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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Hamlet Act 2 Quiz: Identify Key Quotes and Speakers

Quick, free quiz on Hamlet Act 2 quotes. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Abby Wayward-ImaginesUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Hamlet Act 2 quotes quiz on dark blue background

This quiz helps you master Hamlet Act 2 quotes by matching each line to the correct speaker and scene. Brush up earlier moments with Hamlet Act 1 quotes, then broaden your practice in the Hamlet quotes quiz, or push ahead to the later plot in the act 4 Hamlet quiz.

Who says "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." in Act 2 of Hamlet?
Rosencrantz
Hamlet
Horatio
Polonius
The line "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." is spoken by Polonius in Act II, scene ii. He observes that Hamlet's feigned madness displays a certain coherence rather than true insanity. This reflects Polonius's analytical nature, as he tries to decode Hamlet's behavior.
Which character utters the famous phrase "Brevity is the soul of wit."?
Hamlet
King Claudius
Polonius
Queen Gertrude
Polonius delivers the ironic line "Brevity is the soul of wit" in Act II, scene ii, while giving a long-winded speech to Queen Gertrude. His statement mocks his own verbosity and comments on the value of conciseness. The line is one of the most quoted from Hamlet and underscores the theme of appearance versus reality.
Who exclaims "Denmark's a prison." in Act 2?
Hamlet
Marcellus
Polonius
Horatio
In Act II, scene ii, Hamlet likens Denmark to a prison when speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He expresses his sense of entrapment under King Claudius's rule and his own existential despair. This metaphor highlights Hamlet's frustration and isolation.
Complete the line: "What a piece of work is ___!"
man
a fool
the world
a king
In Act II, scene ii, Hamlet begins his monologue with "What a piece of work is man!" to praise humanity's potential before contrasting it with his own disillusionment. The line praises human intelligence and form while expressing Hamlet's melancholy. It underscores the play's exploration of appearance versus reality.
Who declares "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."?
Polonius
Hamlet
Guildenstern
Horatio
Hamlet speaks this line in Act II, scene ii, when planning to stage The Mousetrap. He intends to observe Claudius's reaction to gauge his guilt. The quote highlights Hamlet's strategic use of theater to uncover the truth.
What does Polonius mean by "More matter with less art"?
Get to the point with less pompous language.
Use more figurative speech.
Include more plot developments.
Reduce the physical action on stage.
Polonius interrupts the verbose Guildenstern and Rosencrantz by saying "More matter with less art," urging them to be concise. He criticizes their overly elaborate language and asks for the essence of their message. This line satirizes courtly rhetoric.
Who asks Hamlet "What do you read, my lord?" in Act II, scene ii?
Polonius
Horatio
Rosencrantz
Queen Gertrude
Polonius poses the question "What do you read, my lord?" to Hamlet in Act II, scene ii, as part of his attempt to understand Hamlet's odd behavior. He is surprised when Hamlet replies with "Words, words, words." The exchange illustrates Polonius's intrusive character.
What name does Hamlet call Polonius when greeting him in his antic disposition?
Fool
Fishmonger
Scholarly worm
Ratcatcher
In Act II, scene ii, Hamlet greets Polonius as "fishmonger," a slang term implying dishonesty or bawdiness. This term confounds Polonius and mocks his pretensions. The insult underscores Hamlet's mocking attitude toward Polonius's meddling.
In Act II, scene ii, Hamlet responds "Words, words, words." to whom and what is the context?
Polonius asking what he is reading.
Horatio questioning his silence.
Claudius inquiring about his sorrow.
Ophelia commenting on his behavior.
Hamlet delivers the terse reply "Words, words, words" to Polonius when asked, "What do you read, my lord?" in Act II, scene ii. The retort highlights Hamlet's frustration with empty rhetoric. It also reinforces the theme of appearance versus reality.
What literary device is demonstrated in the line "Denmark's a prison."?
Simile
Personification
Metaphor
Alliteration
"Denmark's a prison." is a metaphor used by Hamlet in Act II to equate the kingdom with a place of confinement. By casting his homeland as a prison, Hamlet conveys his feelings of entrapment under Claudius's rule. The metaphor deepens the play's exploration of mental and political captivity.
What is the primary purpose of the play-within-a-play (The Mousetrap) staged in Act 2?
To gauge King Claudius's guilt through his reaction.
To celebrate the memory of Hamlet's father.
To distract the court from Hamlet's behavior.
To entertain Queen Gertrude.
Hamlet stages The Mousetrap to observe Claudius for signs of guilt, responding to the Ghost's claim that the king murdered Hamlet's father. This device allows Hamlet to confirm the Ghost's story without direct accusation. It drives the plot by revealing Claudius's conscience.
How does Polonius's verbose style in Act 2 reflect Elizabethan courtly speech conventions?
It exaggerates elaborate rhetoric to satirize courtly advisors.
It demonstrates genuine clarity and brevity valued by the court.
It reflects the everyday speech of lower classes.
It adheres strictly to classical unities of time and place.
Polonius's bombastic speeches in Act II parody the ornate rhetoric common among Elizabethan courtiers. Shakespeare uses his verbosity to satirize the empty language and self-importance of royal counselors. This contrast highlights the gap between words and truth, a key theme in Hamlet.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify key quotes -

    Recognize and accurately recall Hamlet Act 2 quotes to bolster your command of Shakespeare's language.

  2. Analyze speaker and context -

    Determine which character delivers each line and understand the circumstances surrounding quotes from Act 2 of Hamlet.

  3. Interpret thematic significance -

    Examine how Act II Hamlet quotes reflect core themes like betrayal, madness, and appearance vs. reality.

  4. Connect dialogue to character development -

    Assess how characters' reflections and interactions in Act II Hamlet quotes advance their personal arcs.

  5. Enhance memorization and appreciation -

    Apply quiz-driven techniques to commit important Hamlet Act 2 quotes to memory and deepen your literary insight.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Polonius's Ironical Maxim -

    One of the most memorable hamlet act 2 quotes is "brevity is the soul of wit," uttered by Polonius to praise conciseness while he remains notoriously verbose. This moment is a classic example of dramatic irony and a handy mnemonic: brevity equals intelligence. Consulting the Folger Shakespeare Library highlights how Polonius's speech foreshadows the chaos his verbosity will stir later.

  2. Hamlet's Vision of Man -

    This passage from the hamlet act 2 dialogue, "What a piece of work is a man!" delivers a fresh look at humanity's grandeur and Hamlet's deep disillusionment. The antithesis between mankind's glory and Hamlet's melancholy is emphasized through apostrophe and rhetorical flourish. University of Cambridge resources note how this speech underscores the play's existential undercurrents.

  3. Ophelia's Account of Madness -

    Among quotes from act 2 of hamlet, Ophelia's description - "He took me by the wrist and held me hard" - reveals Hamlet's erratic behavior and Ophelia's growing fear. This key line is crucial for tracing Hamlet's feigned or real descent into madness. The Arden Shakespeare edition shows how this moment sets up the tragic tension around appearance versus reality.

  4. Advice to Laertes: To Thine Own Self Be True -

    Famously the advice "this above all: to thine own self be true" is one of the most oft-cited quotes from hamlet act 2, offering a moral anchor amid court intrigue. Readers can use the mnemonic "T.A.B.T." (Truth Above Being Tarnished) to recall the core message. Academic analysis from the Royal Shakespeare Company highlights how this counsel shapes Laertes's choices throughout the play.

  5. Metatheatre in "The Mousetrap" -

    Analyzing act ii hamlet quotes for metatheatricality reveals Hamlet's "scroll of play" plan, captured by lines like "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." This act of embedding theatre within theatre intensifies dramatic irony and audience engagement. The Oxford World's Classics edition emphasizes how this meta-commentary foreshadows the power of art to reveal truth.

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