Question

Write two to three sentences explaining what makes Hamlet a round character. Use at least one specific example from the text to support your claims.

Answer 1

Sample Response: Hamlet is a round character because he shows a range of emotions and changes his mind, just like a real person. Even though he wants revenge, he talks himself out of killing Claudius while Claudius is praying. He is uncertain about how and whether to avenge his father's death.

Answer 2

Round characters are those who change throughout a particular literary work - those who actually resemble humans and exhibit actual human characteristics. Hamlet is like that - he is sane at times, completely mad at others, he questions his own existence and whether he should live or not, he questions if he is a criminal capable of killing another human, he feels remorse, sadness, shame, but also a thirst for revenge.