Hamlet, Part 4: Comparing and Contrasting Interpretations — Quiz
Question 7 • British Literature and Composition
Read the excerpt from Act III of Hamlet . Hamlet: To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and, by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause In his adaptation of this excerpt, Laurence Olivier uses high cliffs as a background and he holds onto a knife. What effect do these choices have?
Answer
A
These choices emphasize the fact that Hamlet is seeking revenge against Claudius.
B
These choices emphasize the idea that the ghost may be imagined.
C
These choices emphasize the fact that Hamlet is considering taking his own life.
D
These choices emphasize the possibility that Hamlet has gone mad.
Explanation
Hamlet is weighing whether to continue living or to die, comparing death to sleep and reflecting on what may follow it. The high cliffs suggest a possible means of falling to his death, while the knife is another symbol of suicide. Together, these choices emphasize that Hamlet is considering taking his own life.
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