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MA English Literature Ghost Scene — practice questions

Explore 3 free Ghost Scene questions in MA English Literature English Literature. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Ghost Scene questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–3 of 3.

The Ghost in Hamlet describes his murder weapon as 'juice of cursed':Read the answer and worked solution →The Ghost cannot reveal secrets of the prison-house because:Read the answer and worked solution →The ghost in Hamlet vanishes at:Read the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

The Ghost in Hamlet describes his murder weapon as 'juice of cursed':

  1. Belladonna
  2. Henbane
  3. Wolfsbane
  4. Hebenon
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Correct answer: D. Hebenon

1. The Ghost recounts the regicide in Act I, Scene V. 2. The poison is 'juice of cursed hebenon' poured into the king's ear. 3. The exact botanical referent of 'hebenon' is debated but the play's word is hebenon. _Source: Project Gutenberg #1524 — Shakespeare's Hamlet — "juice of cursed hebenon"_

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The Ghost cannot reveal secrets of the prison-house because:

  1. He is constrained by purgatorial limits
  2. He fears Hamlet would betray him
  3. Mortals cannot bear the knowledge
  4. Claudius has bewitched him
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Correct answer: A. He is constrained by purgatorial limits

1. The text indicates 'supernatural constraints' on what the ghost may say. 2. He implies purgatorial suffering without naming the place. 3. The ghost vanishes at cockcrow per traditional spirit lore. _Source: Project Gutenberg #1524 — Shakespeare's Hamlet — "The ghost cannot reveal prison-house secrets but implies purgatorial suffering"_

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The ghost in Hamlet vanishes at:

  1. Cockcrow
  2. Sunset
  3. The chiming of midnight
  4. First snow
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Correct answer: A. Cockcrow

1. The text references the cockcrow as the spirit's vanishing-cue. 2. This follows medieval-Christian lore about night-spirits and dawn. 3. The detail is dramatically used in the dawn shift of Scene II. _Source: Project Gutenberg #1524 — Shakespeare's Hamlet — "It vanishes at cockcrow, following traditional supernatural lore"_

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More English Literature topics

ShakespeareLiterary TheoryIndian English LiteratureAmerican LiteratureTagoreModernismWhitmanLiterary History