Question

Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle. FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO. Bernardo: Who’s there? Francisco: Nay, answer me; stand, and unfold yourself. Bernardo: Long live the king! Francisco: Bernardo? Bernardo: He. Francisco: You come most carefully upon your hour. Bernardo: ’Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco. Francisco: For this relief much thanks; ’tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. –Hamlet, William Shakespeare What does the audience learn about the setting of the play from the opening lines of the first scene? A. The weather is cold. It is late at night. B. The country is at war. C. The story takes place at a castle. D. The castle is near the sea.

Answer 1

The opening lines of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' reveal that the setting includes cold weather, it's late at night, and a castle is likely the location, matching Options A and C from the provided choices.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the opening lines of the first scene of Shakespeare's Hamlet, the audience learns various details about the setting of the play. The conversation between Francisco and Bernardo reveals that it is indeed cold weather and they speak of the time, indicating it is late at night. Additionally, they are at their posts, which, given the context, implies that they are guarding a place of importance, likely the castle. Hence, the correct answer to what the audience learns about the setting from the opening lines is that the weather is cold, it is late at night, and the story takes place at a castle, which corresponds to Option A, C, and possibly D if we infer the presence of a sea from the location of a castle.