Question

the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark
act i. scene i.
francisco stands guard in front of the castle in elsinore, denmark. another guard, bernardo, enters to take over the watch.
\t\t\telsinore. a platform before the castle.
\tfrancisco 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: no! a mouse stirring.
bernardo: well, good-night.
if you do meet horatio and marcellus, (15)
read the excerpt from act i of hamlet.
bernardo: tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, francisco.
what is the meaning of the underlined phrase?
\tits twelve oclock.
\tthis is twelve.
\ttwelve things have fallen.
\ta man was hit twelve times.

Explanation:

In the context of the scene, guards are changing watch, and "’Tis now struck twelve" is an Elizabethan - era way of saying the clock has struck twelve, meaning it is twelve o'clock. The other options don't make sense in this context: "This is twelve" is a non - idiomatic and unclear interpretation, "Twelve things have fallen" has no relation to the time - related context of the guard change, and "A man was hit twelve times" is also irrelevant to the scene's meaning.

Answer:

It's twelve o'clock.