Hamlet, Part 3: Figurative Language and Allusions — Quiz
Question 2 • British Literature and Composition
Read the excerpt from Act II of Hamlet . Could force his soul so to his own conceit That from her working all his visage wann’d, Tears in his eyes, distraction in ’s aspect, A broken voice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing! For Hecuba! Shakespeare’s allusion to Hecuba suggests that Hamlet
Answer
A
is impressed by the actor’s ability to cry for a fictional character.
B
wishes the actor had shown more emotion during the speech.
C
feels that the actor does not know who Hecuba really was.
D
is irritated by the actor’s emotional performance of the speech.
Explanation
Hamlet marvels that the actor can imagine himself so deeply in Hecuba’s grief that his face changes, tears come to his eyes, and his voice breaks. Hecuba was a character in a story, so Hamlet is impressed that the actor can cry for someone fictional while Hamlet himself has not acted on his real grief and anger. The correct choice is “is impressed by the actor’s ability to cry for a fictional character.”
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