In which Shakespeare play does a ghost appear on the battlements of Elsinore?

• A. Macbeth
• B. Othello
• C. King Lear
• D. Hamlet

Answer: (D)

Spotting a ghost on the battlements points you directly to Hamlet. In this tragedy, the ghost of the late king appears on the walls of Elsinore, the Danish castle, and speaks to Prince Hamlet. That encounter sets the whole plot in motion, as Hamlet wrestles with questions of duty, revenge, and truth. The other plays—Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear—do not feature a ghost appearing on Elsinore’s battlements, so the scene is distinctive to Hamlet.