What Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 26, 2026
Stuck on the clue What Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech from the New York Times Mini for March 26, 2026? We have the correct 5-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
What Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech (5)
Answer
The answer to What Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech is Skull (5 letters).
Why does Skull fit this clue?
This clue uses a fill-in-the-blank structure pointing to SKULL, the bony framework that protects the brain. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the prince discovers the skull of Yorick, the court jester from his childhood, in a graveyard and delivers the famous soliloquy beginning 'Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio.' Hamlet physically holds Yorick's skull throughout this speech, making it one of the most iconic props in theater. The scene appears in Act 5 and serves as a meditation on mortality and the passage of time.
What does What Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
Hamlet
proper noun
•protagonist of Shakespeare's famous tragedy
holds
verb
•grasps or carries in one's hands
Alas
interjection
•exclamation expressing grief, pity, or concern
Yorick
proper noun
•deceased court jester in Shakespeare's Hamlet
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 6-across in the New York Times Mini on March 26, 2026, by Joel Fagliano. See all answers for this puzzle.
NYT Mini — Mar 26, 2026
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What does Skull mean?
noun
•The main bones of the head considered as a unit; including the cranium, facial bones, and mandible.
•A symbol for death; death's-head
•(collective) A group of fish or a group of marine mammals such as porpoises, dolphins, or whales.
•A multitude.
verb
•To hit in the head with a fist, a weapon, or a thrown object.
•To strike the top of (the ball).
Origin of the word Skull
•origin: Middle English 'skulle' from Old Norse 'skalli'
•period: 13th century
The word originally meant 'bald head' in Old Norse, with the meaning shifting from describing a hairless head to the bone structure itself.
How to use Skull in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Skull.
•“In the famous graveyard scene, Hamlet picks up Yorick's skull and reflects on mortality while delivering his poignant soliloquy.”
•“The archaeologist carefully brushed dirt away from the ancient skull they had discovered buried in the tomb.”
•“After the accident, the doctor ordered a CT scan to check for any fractures in the patient's skull.”
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Mini, Mar 26, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Mini for March 26, 2026 was published by Joel Fagliano and has 10 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about What Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech
- What is the answer to What Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech?
- The answer is Skull (5 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Mini on March 26, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to What Hamlet holds while giving his "Alas, poor Yorick!" speech have?
- The answer has 5 letters: Skull.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Mini — Mar 26, 2026
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