Question

nlet, act i, scene i
click to listen to this part of the play read aloud.
elsinore. a platform before the castle.
francisco at his post. enter to him bernardo.
bernardo: whos there?
francisco: nay, answer me, stand, and unfold yourself.
bernardo: long live the king! (5)
francisco: bernardo?
bernardo: he.
francisco: you come most carefully upon your hour.
bernardo: tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, francisco.
francisco: for this relief much thanks; tis bitter cold, (10)
and i am sick at heart.
bernardo: have you had quiet guard?
francisco: not a mouse stirring.
bernardo: well, good-night.
if you do meet horatio and marcellus, (15)
the rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.
francisco: i think i hear them. stand, ho! whos there?
in this part of the play, horatio and marcellus join bernardo on
guard duty. marcellus and bernardo report that they have seen
a ghost the past two nights. although horatio is skeptical, the
ghost suddenly appears again.
what does the audience learn about the setting of the play from the
opening lines of the first scene? choose three correct answers.
it is late at night.
the story takes place at a castle.
the country is at war.
the castle is near the sea.
the weather is cold.

Explanation:

1. "It is late at night": From Bernardo's line "'Tis now struck twelve" (twelve o'clock at night) and the guard duty context, we know it's late.
2. "The story takes place at a castle": The stage direction says "A Platform before the Castle", so the setting includes a castle.
3. "The weather is cold": Francisco says "'tis bitter cold", indicating cold weather.

The options "The country is at war" and "The castle is near the sea" have no support from the opening lines.

Answer:

• It is late at night.
• The story takes place at a castle.
• The weather is cold.