Read the excerpt from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Then, answer the question that follows. HAMLET That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what replication should be made by the son of a king? Using the context clues in the passage, what is the best paraphrase of the bolded line? A I do not need any help in these matters, for I am the son of a king. B I hope that I can have your advice and not have to simply rely on my own to make a decision. C I would like to be a counselor, because even though I cannot help myself, maybe I can help others. D Mine is the only voice I like to listen to; no one else sings better than me.

Answer

'What kind of response should someone like me, the son of a king, give to someone like a sponge who might offer suggestions?'

What is the meaning of the word 'replication'? A: Replication here means 'reply' or 'response'.
What is the context of the line? A: Hamlet is questioning why he should have to ask for advice from someone he sees as intellectually inferior - here, a sponge. He points out that as the son of a king, what could be gained from seeking the advice of someone not of his own stature?
What is the best paraphrase of the bolded line? A: 'What kind of response should someone like me, the son of a king, give to someone like a sponge who might offer suggestions?'