Final answer:
The characters in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' meet their ends as follows: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are executed, Gertrude is accidentally poisoned, Claudius is poisoned and stabbed, Laertes is stabbed by his own poisoned sword, and Hamlet is stabbed and also poisoned.
Step-by-step explanation:
The deaths of characters in William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark are pivotal moments in the play and happen as follows:
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: They are executed in England after Hamlet alters the orders which originally called for his own execution.
- Gertrude: She is accidentally poisoned by drinking a cup of wine intended for Hamlet, prepared by Claudius.
- Claudius: He is both poisoned and stabbed by Hamlet during the final scene of the play.
- Laertes: He is stabbed with his own poisoned sword during the duel with Hamlet.
- Hamlet: He is stabbed with the poisoned sword and succumbs to the poison.
Thus, the correct answer to how each character dies from the given options is:
a. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Executed; Gertrude: Poisoned; Claudius: Poisoned and stabbed; Laertes: Stabbed; Hamlet: Stabbed and poisoned.