Question

Use the following passage to answer questions 2 and 3. This is Hamlet's response to his mother when she asks why he is still wearing black clothes.

"Seems," madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems."

'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,

Nor customary suits of solemn black,

Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,

No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,

Nor the degected 'havior of the visage,

Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,

That can denote me truly. These indeed "seem,"

For they are actions that a man might play.

But I have that within which passeth show,

These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

According to Hamlet's response, what do we know about why he is still wearing black?

Question 2 options:

He is wearing black to protest King Claudius's new role as king.


He is wearing black because he knows that his mother disapproves.


He is wearing black because he is still in mourning over the death of his father, King Hamlet.

Question 3
Which sentence from the passage (provided on the previous question) helps to prove your answer in question 2?

Question 3 options:

"Seems," madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems."


For they are actions that a man might play.


But I have that within which passeth show,

These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

Answer 1

Question 2: "He is wearing black because he is still in mourning over the death of his father, King Hamlet."
Question 3: "But I have that within which passeth show,/These but the trappings and the suits of woe."

Hamlet spends most of this passage talking about how his is actually mourning the death of his father instead of just "seeming" like he is. When someone passed away it was customary to dress in black for an extended period of time.

The conversation leading up to this talks about how everyone dies and it's natural, so why does it "seem" like such a big deal to Hamlet? He answers by saying ""Seems," madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems."" This "it is' shows that it is a big deal to him. He continues by saying "'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,..." (It is not just my black clothes) and listing all of the exterior shows of mourning that are customary but can be faked. "For they are actions that a man might play" means that anyone is capable of putting on black clothes and acting sad.

Then there is a shift and the reason that the last two lines are the answer to Question 3 ("But I have that within which passeth show/These but the trappings and the suits of woe.") is because he has this sadness within him "I have that within" means that he is actually feeling how important the loss of his father is to him.