Assessment FOR Learning · Prerequisite check · Strand B + A
Not Graded — Teacher Feedback Only
Purpose: Identify gaps in your understanding of drama as a form (stage directions, dialogue, dramatic conventions) before starting Hamlet. You will receive descriptive feedback, not a grade.
Question 1 Prereq · Drama
[3 marks]
Define the following dramatic conventions: soliloquy, aside, and monologue. How are they different?
Question 2 Prereq · Genre
[3 marks]
List three common features of revenge tragedy as a genre. (You may have encountered the genre through film, video games, or earlier reading.)
Question 3 Prereq · Reading
[3 marks]
"O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, / Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!" — Hamlet, 1.2
Paraphrase these two lines in your own words. What emotion does the language suggest?
Question 4 Skills · Verse
[3 marks]
Define iambic pentameter. Mark the stresses on the line "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" using forward slashes (/) for stressed syllables and dashes (—) for unstressed syllables.
Question 5 Skills · Comprehension
[3 marks]
When reading Shakespeare, what is one strategy you can use to handle archaic language (e.g., "thee," "wherefore," "anon")? Describe the strategy and try it on this line: "Get thee to a nunnery."
Question 6 Knowledge · Context
[3 marks]
The Globe Theatre opened in 1599. Briefly explain (a) what the Globe was, (b) one feature of the Elizabethan stage that affected how plays were written, (c) who could attend the theatre.
Question 7 Reflection
[ungraded]
Have you read or watched any Shakespeare before? What is your biggest concern about studying Hamlet in depth?
Teacher Feedback
Your teacher will provide descriptive feedback after reviewing your responses.