Question

skill:
language, style, and audience
reread lines 195–225 from hamlet. then, using the checklist on the previous page, answer the multiple-choice questions below.
your turn

1. what impact does hamlet’s repeated command of ophelia to go “to a nunnery” have on the meaning of this scene?

o a. the repetition shows how much hamlet now regrets having never given anything to ophelia.
o b. the repetition highlights the tense relationship that hamlet and ophelia have always had.
o c. the repetition explains that hamlet no longer finds ophelia beautiful.
o d. the repetition reinforces how much hamlet now distrusts ophelia.

1. which statement best explains how the word “fair” is used in this scene?

o a. the word “fair” refers to ophelia’s lack of beauty and judgement.
o b. hamlet uses the word “fair” to link ophelia’s beauty with what he sees as her lack of honesty.
o c. hamlet introduces the idea of being “fair” because ophelia calls his gifts unkind.
o d. the word “fair” refers to the open and honest relationship that ophelia and hamlet used to have.

Explanation:

Question 1

• Option A: Hamlet's command to Ophelia to go to a nunnery is not about regret for not giving her things, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia was not always tense; they had a romantic connection before, so B is wrong.
• Option C: The repetition is not about Ophelia's beauty (or lack thereof) but about Hamlet's distrust, so C is incorrect.
• Option D: In the context of Hamlet (after his father's death and his suspicion of others), his repeated command shows his distrust of Ophelia (thinking she might be part of a plot against him), so D is correct.

• Option A: "Fair" does not refer to lack of beauty; Hamlet acknowledges Ophelia's beauty, so A is wrong.
• Option B: Hamlet uses "fair" to contrast Ophelia's beauty with what he perceives as her dishonesty (due to his distrust, thinking she is helping others spy on him), so this links beauty and lack of honesty, making B correct.
• Option C: The use of "fair" is not related to Ophelia calling his gifts unkind, so C is incorrect.
• Option D: Their past relationship was not the focus of the use of "fair" here; Hamlet is distrustful now, so D is wrong.

Answer:

D. The repetition reinforces how much Hamlet now distrusts Ophelia.

Question 2