Question

literature and composition iv
hamlet, part 3: figurative language and allusions
quiz complete
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read the excerpt from act ii of hamlet.
guildenstern: prison, my lord!
hamlet: denmark’s a prison.
rosencrantz: then is the world one.
hamlet: a goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, denmark being one of the worst.
in this excerpt, hamlet compares denmark to a prison. which statement best describes the effect of this metaphor?
○ it indicates that hamlet feels trapped.
○ it reveals that hamlet is being forced to stay.
○ it proves that hamlet’s father was killed.
○ it shows that hamlet imagined the ghost.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the metaphor "Denmark's a prison" and each option:

• Option 1: A prison is a place of confinement, so comparing Denmark to a prison suggests Hamlet feels trapped (emotionally/psychologically in the Danish court).
• Option 2: There's no indication Hamlet is forced to stay; the metaphor is about his perception, not external coercion.
• Option 3: The metaphor has nothing to do with his father's death.
• Option 4: The ghost is a separate plot element; the prison metaphor doesn't relate to imagining the ghost.

Answer:

A. It indicates that Hamlet feels trapped.