Hamlet: Soliloquies - Comprehension Practice

English
GCSE
7 questions
~14 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

A worksheet exploring Hamlet's soliloquies with a focus on understanding and analysing key extracts, framed around elements of pop culture.

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Hamlet: Soliloquies - Comprehension Practice

Subject: EnglishGrade: GCSE
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Grade GCSE
A

Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' Soliloquy

To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them. To die—to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to: ’tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub: For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause—
1.
What is the main dilemma Hamlet reflects upon in this soliloquy?
[2 marks]
2.
Identify one example of a literary technique used in this passage and explain its effect.
[3 marks]
3.
How does the theme of mortality relate to current pop culture portrayals of mental health?
[3 marks]
4.
What is the significance of the 'sleep' metaphor in Hamlet’s speech?
[2 marks]
B

Analysis of Literary Techniques in Hamlet's Soliloquy

To die—to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to: ’tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub: For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause—
1.
Identify and explain the effect of the caesura in the line 'To die, to sleep;'
[3 marks]
2.
Locate a metaphor in the extract and discuss how it enhances the theme of mortality.
[3 marks]
C

Creative Response: Modern Pop Culture Monologue

Write a monologue inspired by Hamlet’s 'To be or not to be' speech, but set in a contemporary context such as a movie scene, a music video, or a social media post. Your monologue should explore themes of internal conflict and decision-making.
1.
Create a 20-line monologue that reflects a modern dilemma, incorporating at least two literary devices used by Shakespeare.

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Details

Created
12/31/2025
Updated
12/31/2025
Type
worksheet