Question

read the excerpt from hamlet.
hamlet: let me see. - takes the skull. - alas! poor yorick. i knew him, horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rises at it. here hung those lips that i have kissed i know not how oft. where be your gibes now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? not one now, to mock your own grinning?
which analysis is most justified by the excerpt?
as the play draws to a close, hamlet still has not conquered his fear of death.
hamlets visit to the graveyard leads to him become obsessed with his death.
at the end of the play, hamlet literally faces death and regains a sense of hope.
hamlet has abandoned his plans by this point and has reconciled himself to death.

Explanation:

In the excerpt, Hamlet holds Yorick's skull and reflects on the finality of death. He mentions Yorick's past jests, songs, and merriment that are now gone. This shows that he is literally facing death (through the skull) and seems to gain a sense of acceptance/hope (as he is able to reflect on it in a more composed way compared to his earlier more tormented state regarding death - though not fully without fear in some interpretations, but the key here is the contrast with prior and the act of facing it).

• The first option “As the play draws to a close, Hamlet still has not conquered his fear of death” - the excerpt shows more of a facing and some coming - to - terms rather than just fear.
• The second option “Hamlet’s visit to the graveyard leads to him become obsessed with his death” - he is reflecting, not just obsessed in a negative sense.
• The fourth option “Hamlet has abandoned his plans by this point and has reconciled himself to death” - there is no indication of plan - abandonment in this excerpt.

Answer:

At the end of the play, Hamlet literally faces death and regains a sense of hope.