CBSE solutions for English Literature Reader Class 12 chapter 5 - Hamlet's Dilemma [Latest edition]

Have you heard or come across this idiomatic expression? What does this mean

Hobson’s choice

Have you heard or come across this idiomatic expression? What does this mean.

on the horns of a dilemma

Have you heard or come across this idiomatic expression? What does this mean.

cat on the wall

Have you heard or come across this idiomatic expression? What does this mean.

between the devil and the deep sea

Given below are a few famous lines from Shakespeare’s plays. Match them with the play in which they occur.

In Shakespearian plays, soliloquies are popular. A soliloquy is a speech rendered by a character in a play, which is meant for the audience/reader.

Given below is a statement about the soliloquy. Is this true or false?

A long speech spoken by a single character that reveals inner thoughts.

Given below is a statement about the soliloquy. Is this true or false?

The character reveals inner thoughts, and puzzles out personal problems.

Given below is a statement about the soliloquy. Is this true or false?

Only the male character renders a soliloquy

Given below is a statement about the soliloquy. Is this true or false?

It’s a part of a dialogue with other characters

Given below is a statement about the soliloquy. Is this true or false?

It is rendered in the final scene.

Read to this famous soliloquy from the play ‘Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark’.

Complete the summary based on your understanding

Hamlet was in a deep dilemma. He wondered if he should ______ to live or die. His mental conflict centered around ______ possibilities. He asks if - it is nobler to ______ the slings and arrows of an unbearable situation than to fight against the sea of ______ that afflicts one and by opposing them, end them. He pondered over the prospect of dying because with death we ______ the heartaches and the innumerable natural ______ that human beings have to endure. It is an end that we all hope for -to sleep ______.

There is a problem in this solution also . In the sleep of death we might have ______ and these dreams add more ______.

Despite the calamity, the dreams usher, death is ______ because none can tolerate the whips and scorns of time. In such traumatic situations, a ______ person would choose to make the final settlement by ending his life with a sharp knife.

A weak-minded person is unable to bear the ______ of life and so chooses to end his life. But what prevents him from embracing this option is he dreads the ______ after death. No ______ man has come back to share his post- death experience. Luckily this makes the meek, cowardly to put up with the travails of life and not ______ to the thought of committing suicide. There is a general belief that those who commit suicide have a guaranteed place in hell. This belief, fortunately, ______ one from putting an end to one’s life. According to Hamlet, too much thinking ______ one’s action.

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

1. Identify the figure of speech in the first line
2. What, according to Hamlet, is the solution to the problems that engulf us?
3. ‘Sleep’ here, refers to ______. What figure of speech is it?

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

1. What are the situations mentioned here that force one to end one’s life?
2. Identify the figure of speech in the first line and explain.

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

1. Who is a traveler here?
2. Why is it called an ‘undiscovered country’?

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

1. How does our conscience influence us?
2. Identify the contradiction in the first two lines and explain.

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

1. What do you understand by the phrase 'mortal coil'?
2. Shuffling off this mortal coil refers to ______.
3. What dreams does one have in 'the sleep of death'?

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

1. How does he elaborate his proposition in lines 3-6?
2. Which lines bring out Hamlet's pessimism?
3. What dream does Hamlet refer to in lines 10 and 11?

Match Hamlet’s words with the given situations.

Hamlet talks about various things that make people’s life miserable forcing them to feel depressed and end their lives.

Bring out, in your words, the central idea of Hamlet’s soliloquy.

Review the opening line of the poem and critically analyse the reason for the speaker’s words.

Refer to the line ‘Thus conscience ...all.’ Do you agree with the view referred to here? Substantiate your opinion.

‘Tis nobler in the mind to suffer’. In today’s context, do you think it is a practical and sensible piece of advice. Why/why not?

‘Forgiveness is the sweetest form of revenge’ If Hamlet had followed this adage could he have saved his life. Write your answer in a paragraph, based on the story of Hamlets life and suitable examples from his soliloquy.

As a counselor, what would be your words of advice to Hamlet? Why is it better to suffer the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’?

As a counselor, you have been asked to address an audience of teenagers on how to build their self-esteem. Draft your speech in about 150-200 words.

In groups of four, write a soliloquy on the following.

To write or not to write.

In groups of four, write a soliloquy on the following.

To tweet or not to on twitter

In groups of four, write a soliloquy on the following.

To sing or not to sing

Given below are a few quotations on decision making. In groups of four, discuss whether you agree or disagree with the ideas. Give reasons.

1. The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision. Maimonides
2. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. Isaac Asimov
3. Decisiveness is a characteristic of high-performing men and women. Almost any decision is better than no decision at all. Brian Tracy