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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Books & Literature

Famous Hamlet Quotes Quiz - Can You Ace Shakespeare's Iconic Lines?

Ready to recall the most famous quotations from Hamlet? Dive in and challenge yourself!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration with skull and speech bubble icons for famous Hamlet quotes quiz on dark blue background.

This quiz on famous Hamlet quotes helps you spot who said each line and where it appears in the play. Use it to brush up before class or rehearsal, and pick up a fresh detail or two as you go. Want more? Try the full Hamlet quiz.

Which soliloquy begins with the line 'To be, or not to be'?
Act 5, Scene 2
Act 4, Scene 4
Act 1, Scene 2
Act 3, Scene 1
The "To be, or not to be" soliloquy is Hamlet's most famous speech, contemplating life and death. It opens Act 3, Scene 1, where he debates the value of enduring life's hardships versus escaping via suicide. This moment marks the play's philosophical centerpiece. For a detailed analysis, visit .
Who speaks the line 'Frailty, thy name is woman!' in Hamlet?
Polonius
Hamlet
Claudius
Gertrude
Hamlet's line "Frailty, thy name is woman!" appears in his first soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 2, where he criticizes his mother Gertrude's hasty remarriage. He equates frailty with a perceived weakness in her actions, projecting the blame onto women in general. This line sets the tone for his complex feelings toward his mother. For more on this, see .
In which act and scene does Hamlet say 'Get thee to a nunnery' to Ophelia?
Act 2, Scene 1
Act 5, Scene 2
Act 4, Scene 3
Act 3, Scene 1
In Act 3, Scene 1, Hamlet tells Ophelia "Get thee to a nunnery" as part of his erratic behavior. Scholars debate whether he truly insults her or urges her to seek refuge. This line underscores themes of madness, misogyny, and the complexities of his relationship with Ophelia. Read more at .
Which character says 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark'?
Horatio
Barnardo
Marcellus
Francisco
Marcellus, a guard at Elsinore, utters "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" in Act 1, Scene 4. He speaks this to Horatio following the ghost's appearance, foreshadowing political corruption and moral decay in the kingdom. This line is often cited to indicate underlying rot in a society. Further details are available at .
Who remarks 'The lady doth protest too much, methinks' during the play-within-the-play?
Gertrude
Polonius
Hamlet
Claudius
Queen Gertrude speaks this line in Act 3, Scene 2 during the play within the play. She criticizes the Player Queen's vows of unwavering fidelity as overdone, reacting to dialogue that mirrors her own marriage. This reaction reveals her discomfort with the implicit parallels to her relationship with Claudius. For context, see .
Complete the quote: 'Brevity is the soul of ____'.
pleasure
art
wit
time
Polonius ironically asserts "Brevity is the soul of wit" in Act 2, Scene 2. He means that conciseness is the essence of intelligence, yet he is notoriously long-winded throughout the play. This line highlights Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony to critique pompous speech. For more, check .
In the graveyard scene, whose skull does Hamlet address when he says 'Alas, poor Yorick'?
Friend Rosencrantz
His father
A court jester
King Claudius
In Act 5, Scene 1, Hamlet discovers Yorick's skull, who once served as the court jester under his father's reign. He addresses the skull, lamenting the inevitability of death and remembering Yorick's antics. This scene uses powerful imagery to explore mortality and human folly. More on this scene can be found at .
What does Hamlet mean by the line 'There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so'?
Perception shapes reality
Morality is fixed in law
Actions speak louder than words
Fate determines all
The line suggests that moral values and judgments depend on individual perception rather than objective truth. Spoken by Hamlet in Act 2, Scene 2, it reflects his deep philosophical ruminations. He argues that nothing has inherent goodness or badness without the mind to interpret it. See for further analysis.
Which character utters the line 'Words, words, words' when asked what he is reading?
Guildenstern
Rosencrantz
Polonius
Hamlet
Hamlet replies "Words, words, words" to Polonius in Act 2, Scene 2 when asked what he is reading. This reflects his contempt for empty rhetoric and his preoccupation with the gap between language and meaning. The phrase underlines themes of communication and the insufficiency of language. For more, visit .
In his plan to expose King Claudius's guilt, Hamlet says, 'The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.' Which play is he referring to?
The Murder of Gonzago
Julius Caesar
Hamlet's Dream
The Spanish Tragedy
The "Murder of Gonzago" is the meta-play Hamlet uses to gauge Claudius's conscience, also nicknamed "The Mousetrap." It mirrors the circumstances of King Hamlet's murder, provoking a guilty reaction. Presented in Act 3, Scene 2, it is central to Hamlet's strategy for revealing the truth. Read more at .
Who exclaims, 'O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!' expressing self-reproach?
Laertes
Hamlet
Polonius
Horatio
Hamlet criticizes himself in Act 2, Scene 2, calling himself a "rogue and peasant slave" for failing to act decisively. This soliloquy reveals his inner turmoil and self-doubt amidst plans for revenge. It contrasts with his later resolve and highlights the play's theme of action versus inaction. For more details, see .
In which scene does Hamlet say, 'Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio;'?
Act 5, Scene 1
Act 2, Scene 2
Act 4, Scene 5
Act 3, Scene 2
In the graveyard scene of Act 5, Scene 1, Hamlet holds Yorick's skull and reflects on the inevitability of death with Horatio. The line "Alas, poor Yorick!" introduces this meditation on mortality and the fleeting nature of life. It remains one of Shakespeare's most iconic portrayals of existential despair. For commentary, see .
The line 'When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions' appears in what act?
Act 4
Act 3
Act 2
Act 5
Hamlet utters this line in Act 4, Scene 5 during Ophelia's madness scene, observing how miseries multiply. The metaphor of sorrows arriving in battalions rather than singly underscores overwhelming grief and chaos. This line deepens the play's exploration of mental anguish and tragedy. For more, visit .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Iconic Quotations -

    Participants will be able to accurately identify and recite famous hamlet quotes, reinforcing their memorization of Shakespeare's most iconic lines.

  2. Analyze Contextual Significance -

    Users will learn to place each famous quotation from Hamlet within its narrative context, understanding character motivations and plot developments.

  3. Differentiate Character Voices -

    Players will distinguish famous lines from Hamlet and those spoken by other characters, sharpening their comprehension of varied perspectives in the play.

  4. Interpret Thematic Meanings -

    Participants will interpret the deeper themes conveyed through famous quotes by Hamlet, such as existentialism, revenge, and mortality.

  5. Apply Shakespearean Language -

    Quizzers will practice using famous quotes from Hamlet in modern conversation or writing, enhancing their appreciation for Elizabethan language.

  6. Evaluate Quote Variations -

    Users will compare different versions of famous lines from Hamlet, recognizing how minor changes alter tone and meaning.

Cheat Sheet

  1. "To be, or not to be" -

    This central monologue in Act 3, Scene 1 explores existential doubt and is frequently cited in Cambridge University Press analyses on Shakespearean tragedy. Remember it with the mnemonic "BB" for Being or non-Being to lock in one of the most famous Hamlet quotes. Folger Shakespeare Library notes highlight how this line captures Hamlet's deep dive into life, death, and the unknown.

  2. "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" -

    Delivered by Marcellus in Act 1, Scene 4, this warning introduces political decay and mistrust in Shakespeare's play, as noted by the Arden Shakespeare edition. Use "Rotten Denmark" as a flashcard prompt to recall the broader theme of corruption, one of the most famous lines from Hamlet. Its vivid imagery underscores the play's moral and social critiques, making it a staple of academic discussions.

  3. "Frailty, thy name is woman!" -

    In Act 1, Scene 2, Hamlet's critique of his mother reflects attitudes toward gender and betrayal, with detailed commentary in the Cambridge University Press guide. To remember this famous quotation from Hamlet, think "FW" (Frailty = Woman) as a quick mental shortcut. This line highlights the intersection of personal grief and broader social views on loyalty and weakness.

  4. "Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't." -

    This observation by Polonius in Act 2, Scene 2 speaks to Hamlet's strategic feigning of madness, as examined in scholarly articles on JSTOR. A simple mnemonic "MM" for Method in Madness helps cement this famous line from Hamlet in your memory. It underlines Shakespeare's exploration of appearance versus reality and the cunning behind Hamlet's actions.

  5. "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." -

    In Act 2, Scene 2, Hamlet philosophizes on subjective reality, an idea explored in literature journals hosted by the MLA International Bibliography. Anchor this famous quote by Hamlet by visualizing a shifting scale based on perspective to recall its meaning. This reflection on perception reinforces Hamlet's introspective complexity and the power of thought.

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