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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Hamlet Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Shakespeare's Play

Quick, free Hamlet test with instant results. Check plot, quotes, and themes.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Max StednitzUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a Hamlet trivia quiz with book skull and quill motifs on sky blue background

This Hamlet quiz helps you check your grasp of the plot, characters, and key lines from Shakespeare's tragedy. For targeted practice, try the Hamlet quotes quiz, review Hamlet Act 1 quotes, or focus on later scenes with an acts 4 and 5 quiz. Get quick feedback and spot gaps before class or a test.

Who is the protagonist of Hamlet?
Claudius
Polonius
Hamlet
Ophelia
Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is the central character whose internal struggles and quest for revenge drive the plays action. His complex personality and moral dilemmas are at the heart of Shakespeares tragedy. The other characters serve supporting roles in his story.
Who kills Polonius?
Hamlet
Gertrude
Claudius
Laertes
Polonius is accidentally slain by Hamlet when he hides behind an arras in Gertrudes room. Hamlet stabs through the tapestry, thinking he is killing Claudius. This act sets off a series of tragic events.
Hamlets famous soliloquy begins with which phrase?
Alas, poor Yorick
To be, or not to be
The lady doth protest too much
O, that this too too solid flesh
The iconic soliloquy in Act III, Scene I begins with To be, or not to be, reflecting Hamlets deep existential contemplation. This line has become emblematic of Shakespeares exploration of life and death. The other lines belong to different moments in the play.
Where is Hamlet set?
Norway
England
Denmark
France
The action of Hamlet takes place at Elsinore Castle in Denmark. Shakespeare draws on contemporary fears of Scandinavian royalty and political intrigue. Norway appears as a source of tension, but the setting remains Danish.
Who is Hamlets mother?
Cordelia
Gertrude
Queen Margaret
Ophelia
Gertrude is Hamlets mother, who marries Claudius shortly after King Hamlets death. Her relationship with Hamlet and her quick remarriage fuel much of Hamlets anger. She remains a central figure in the courts politics.
Who does Hamlet duel in the final act?
Horatio
Fortinbras
Laertes
Rosencrantz
Hamlets final duel is with Laertes, who seeks revenge for his father Poloniuss death and his sister Ophelias madness. This climactic duel leads to the deaths of key characters, including Hamlet himself. Fortinbras arrives too late to intervene.
Who is Hamlets close friend and confidant?
Ophelia
Marcellus
Guildenstern
Horatio
Horatio is Hamlets loyal friend and confidant throughout the play. He remains level-headed and supportive, witnessing many of Hamlets darkest moments. Unlike Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Horatio is not a spy for the king.
What is the name of Hamlets deceased father?
King Hamlet
Old Fortinbras
Prince Troilus
Duke Coriolanus
Hamlets father, referred to as King Hamlet, appears as a ghost calling for vengeance. He is distinguished from Fortinbras by title and familial relation. His murder by Claudius sets the plays revenge plot in motion.
Which play does Hamlet ask the actors to perform for the king?
The Murder of Gonzago
The Spanish Tragedy
Julius Caesar
Titus Andronicus
In Act II, Scene II, Hamlet requests The Murder of Gonzago to be performed, hoping to observe Claudiuss reaction and confirm his guilt. This 'play within a play' is central to Hamlets plan. It dramatizes a regicide similar to the murder of his father.
What advice does Polonius give to Laertes before he departs for France?
Speak only when spoken to
Mind your place in court
Trust no one
To thine own self be true
Poloniuss famous counsel in Act I, Scene III includes 'To thine own self be true.' It summarizes his lengthy advice on behavior, appearance, and relationships. This line is often quoted independently of its context.
Who does Hamlet accidentally kill while speaking with his mother?
Rosencrantz
Polonius
Guildenstern
Claudius
During the closet scene in Act III, Scene IV, Hamlet stabs through an arras, killing Polonius who is hiding behind it. Hamlet mistakes him for Claudius. This event leads to Ophelias madness and Laertess vengeance.
Which character declares, 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark'?
Hamlet
Marcellus
Claudius
Horatio
Marcellus speaks this line in Act I, Scene IV, indicating his unease over political corruption and supernatural events. It captures the plays theme of moral decay. The phrase is often used in discussions of corruption.
Where does the final duel between Hamlet and Laertes take place?
The Graveyard
The Throne Room
Elsinore Castle
The Royal Garden
The climactic duel in Act V, Scene II occurs at Elsinore Castle, specifically in a hall prepared for fencing. It brings together all major characters and resolves the revenge plot. The other locations appear elsewhere in the play.
Who succeeds to the Danish throne at the plays end?
Horatio
Ophelia
Fortinbras
Laertes
Fortinbras of Norway arrives in Denmark at the conclusion and is proclaimed the new king. His entrance follows the death of Hamlet and the other royal family members. This ending underscores the plays political dimension.
Which two characters are sent by Claudius to spy on Hamlet under the guise of friendship?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Horatio and Marcellus
Marcellus and Barnardo
Laertes and Fortinbras
Claudius summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlets childhood friends, hoping they will discover the cause of his son's odd behavior. Their loyalty to the king conflicts with their friendship to Hamlet. They ultimately meet tragic ends.
What tragic event befalls Ophelia?
Drowning after madness
Exiled to England
Killed in the duel
Marries Laertes
Ophelias descent into madness after her fathers death culminates in her accidental drowning, reported in Act IV, Scene VII. Her death symbolizes the collateral damage of the courts intrigues. It remains one of the plays most poignant moments.
What do Hamlet and Horatio unearth in the graveyard scene that prompts reflection on mortality?
Claudiuss crown
Ophelias garland
Yoricks skull
Poloniuss dagger
In Act V, Scene I, Hamlet holds Yoricks skull, the former court jester, and contemplates deaths inevitability. This moment crystallizes the plays meditation on mortality and the futility of status. The exchange with the gravedigger deepens these themes.
The Ghost of King Hamlet appears clad in what attire?
A royal crown
Full armor
A funeral shroud
A priests robe
The Ghost appears in full armor, emphasized in Act I, Scene V, to signal the unsettled political state and foreshadow war. His martial garb underscores the urgency of retaliation. The choice of armor also aligns with medieval ghost lore.
What is meant by Hamlets 'antic disposition'?
His melancholy nature
His royal upbringing
His scholarly wit
His feigned madness
In Act I, Scene V, Hamlet tells Horatio he will put on an 'antic disposition' to mislead Claudius and others. This strategy of feigned madness allows him to probe the truth without raising suspicion. It is a key element of the plays intrigue.
Which psychologists interpretation popularized the Oedipal reading of Hamlet?
Wilhelm Reich
Alfred Adler
Carl Jung
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud pioneered the psychoanalytic reading of Hamlet, suggesting the prince harbors unconscious desires for his mother, Gertrude. This controversial Oedipal interpretation influenced centuries of literary criticism. Freuds essay 'The Interpretation of Dreams' references Hamlet directly.
Approximately how many soliloquies does Hamlet deliver in the play?
Eleven
Five
Nine
Seven
Scholars typically count seven major soliloquies spoken by Hamlet, each revealing his inner conflict and philosophical depth. These range from 'O that this too too solid flesh' to the final reflection before dueling. The soliloquies structure our understanding of his psyche.
Which line is Poloniuss last spoken before he dies?
The plays the thing
Though this be madness, yet there is method in it
How now, a rat?
Get thee to a nunnery
Just before Hamlet stabs him, Polonius cries out 'How now, a rat?' in Act III, Scene IV, mistaking his own end for an animal attack. This sudden exclamation underscores the plays themes of deception and sudden violence. His death marks a turning point in the tragedy.
In the graveyard scene, what thematic concern do Hamlet and the gravedigger primarily discuss?
Mortality and the equality of death
Political succession
Courtly love
Religious faith
The gravedigger scene (Act V, Scene I) centers on mortality, as Hamlet reflects on how death renders all social distinctions meaningless. Their dialogue about skulls and graves underscores the plays existential questions. It provides dark humor alongside philosophical depth.
What medieval source inspired Shakespeares plot for Hamlet?
Bedes Ecclesiastical History
Saxo Grammaticuss Amleth
Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia
Le Morte dArthur
Shakespeare drew on the legend of Amleth as recorded by Saxo Grammaticus in the twelfth century. The story features a prince avenging his fathers murder through feigned madness. Shakespeare adapted and expanded this narrative for his tragedy.
Which early printed edition of Hamlet is often called the 'bad quarto'?
Second Quarto (1604)
Third Quarto (1611)
First Folio (1623)
First Quarto (1603)
The First Quarto of Hamlet (1603) is labeled the 'bad quarto' due to its numerous textual errors, omissions, and differences from later editions. Scholars debate whether it reflects an actors memorial reconstruction. It contrasts sharply with the more authoritative Second Quarto and First Folio texts.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Hamlet's Characters -

    Identify and differentiate the motivations and relationships of key figures like Hamlet, Claudius, and Ophelia to deepen your character insights.

  2. Recall Iconic Quotations -

    Recognize and interpret famous lines from the play, reinforcing your ability to match quotes with their speakers and contexts.

  3. Understand Plot Progression -

    Sequence the major events of the tragedy, from the ghost's appearance to the final duel, to solidify your grasp of Hamlet's narrative arc.

  4. Evaluate Central Themes -

    Examine Shakespeare's exploration of revenge, madness, and mortality, enhancing your appreciation for the play's enduring relevance.

  5. Apply Critical Interpretations -

    Use contextual clues and textual evidence from the quiz to form and defend your own readings of key scenes.

  6. Assess Your Shakespeare Knowledge -

    Leverage this free Hamlet quiz to measure your comprehension, identify areas for improvement, and boost your confidence in Shakespearean studies.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Soliloquy Mastery -

    When preparing for a Hamlet quiz, focus on the "To be, or not to be" soliloquy from Act 3, Scene 1, as it's central to Hamlet's existential crisis (Folger Shakespeare Library). Memorize the opening line and note the progression from doubt to resolution to boost your score in any Shakespeare Hamlet quiz or online Hamlet test.

  2. Character Web -

    Map out Hamlet's relations - Claudius (uncle-turned-king), Gertrude (his mother), and Polonius (the scheming courtier) - using a simple family-tree diagram from the Oxford Shakespeare edition. This visual trick makes Hamlet trivia questions about loyalties and betrayals much easier to recall during a free Hamlet quiz.

  3. Core Themes Mnemonic -

    Use the acronym F.I.R.E. (Family conflict, Insanity, Revenge, Ephemerality) to lock in the play's major motifs, as discussed in the Cambridge University Press analysis. With F.I.R.E. in mind, you'll breeze through questions on madness or mortality in your next Hamlet quiz.

  4. Literary Devices Spotlight -

    Identify at least three key devices - soliloquy, dramatic irony, and metatheatre - as outlined by the Royal Shakespeare Company study notes. Spotting Claudius's guilt in Act 3's play-within-a-play scene can earn you big points on Shakespeare Hamlet quiz and Hamlet trivia questions alike.

  5. Textual Editions & Performance History -

    Compare the First Quarto, Second Quarto, and First Folio versions using resources from the British Library to understand why certain lines differ. Awareness of these variations and famous productions (e.g., David Tennant's) adds depth to your answers in an online Hamlet test or free Hamlet quiz.

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