Read the excerpt from Act IV of Hamlet. Hamlet: Rightly to be great Is not to stir without great argument, But greatly to find quarrel in a straw When honour’s at the stake. What is the most likely reason Shakespeare repeats "great” and "greatly”?
Answer
A
Shakespeare capitalizes on the multiple meanings of “great” to help emphasize Hamlet’s point.
B
By using a word with multiple meanings, Shakespeare shows that Hamlet is not good at making his point.
C
By repeating the same word, Shakespeare shows that Hamlet is not sure of his point.
D
Shakespeare utilizes the repetition of “great” to help illustrate Hamlet’s lack of a main point.
Explanation
Hamlet uses “great” in contrasting ways: being great does not mean acting only when there is a major reason, but finding a reason to act even when the quarrel seems as small as a straw if honor is at stake. Repeating the word highlights this shift in meaning and strengthens his point about greatness and honor. The best choice is B, which says Shakespeare uses the word’s multiple meanings to emphasize Hamlet’s point.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.