Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene ii.Claudius: Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine,And thy best graces spend it at thy will.But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son,—Hamlet: [Aside.] A little more than kin, and less than kind.Claudius: How is it that the clouds still hang on you?Hamlet: Not so, my lord; I am too much i’ the sun.
Answer
A
Shakespeare is alerting the audience to the conflict between Claudius and Hamlet.
B
Shakespeare is making sure the audience knows early on that Hamlet is a tragic hero.
C
Shakespeare is contrasting Hamlet with Laertes to create suspense for the audience.
D
Shakespeare is hinting to the audience that Claudius will cause an unhappy ending for Hamlet.
Explanation
Hamlet’s aside, “A little more than kin, and less than kind,” reveals that he resents Claudius being both his relative and stepfather. His reply about being “too much i’ the sun” also plays on Claudius calling him “son,” suggesting discomfort with Claudius’s attention. These lines alert the audience to tension and conflict between them, so the best choice is “Shakespeare is alerting the audience to the conflict between Claudius and Hamlet.”
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