P3 Literature;Drama and Shakespeare
Hamlet:
Acts Analysis And Annotation:
Act 1:
Scene 1: Analysis
● Language and Literary Devices
○ Dialogue as Exposition: The scene opens with terse exchanges
like "Who's there?" and "Nay, answer me". This immediately creates
a tense, uncertain atmosphere and quickly immerses the audience in
the world of the play.
○
○ Imagery of Darkness and Unease: The repeated references to the
time being "twelve," the "bitter cold," and Francisco being "sick at
heart" contribute to a mood of foreboding.
○
○ Use of "fantasy" and "apparition": Words like these highlight the
uncertainty about what the characters are witnessing. Horatio, in
particular, is skeptical, calling it "but our fantasy".
○
○ Metaphor: Horatio uses a metaphor when he speaks of the ghost as
a "mote it is to trouble the mind's eye," comparing the ghost's
appearance to a small particle that disrupts one's vision.
○
○ Simile: The ghost appears "in the same figure like the King that's
dead," using a simile to emphasize the ghost's resemblance to the
late King Hamlet.
○
○ Historical Allusions: Horatio draws parallels between the ghost's
appearance and omens from Roman history, such as the graves
standing "tenantless" and "sheeted dead" squeaking in the streets
before Julius Caesar's assassination. This adds weight to the sense
of impending disaster.
○
,● Themes and Ideas
○ Uncertainty and Doubt: The scene is steeped in uncertainty. The
characters are unsure of what they've seen, and Horatio, an
educated man, is brought in to verify the ghost's existence.
○
○ The Supernatural: The appearance of the ghost introduces the
supernatural element, which becomes a driving force in the play.
○
○ Political Intrigue: The scene hints at political unrest. The discussion
of young Fortinbras's ambition to reclaim lost lands reveals tensions
with Norway and suggests that Denmark is under threat.
○
○ Order vs. Disorder: The ghost's appearance disrupts the natural
order, as the dead are not meant to walk the earth. This sets up a
central conflict in the play: the struggle to restore order to a disrupted
world.
● Character Development and Motivations
○ Barnardo and Marcellus: They are portrayed as dutiful watchmen,
but also fearful and superstitious. Their primary motivation is to
understand the strange events and protect the kingdom.
○
○ Horatio: He is presented as the skeptical intellectual, grounded in
reason. His initial skepticism gives way to uneasy belief as he
witnesses the ghost. He is motivated by a desire for truth and a
sense of duty to inform Hamlet.
○
● Dramatic Structure and Technique
○ Atmosphere: Shakespeare masterfully creates a chilling and
suspenseful atmosphere from the outset.
○ Exposition: The scene provides crucial exposition, introducing the
setting (Elsinore, Denmark), the characters, and the immediate
conflicts (the ghost, the threat from Fortinbras).
○
, ○ Foreshadowing: The ghost's appearance and the talk of political
unrest foreshadow the tragic events to come.
○
● Historical, Social, Political, and Contextual Connections
○ Elizabethan Beliefs about Ghosts: Elizabethan audiences were
highly interested in and believed in ghosts and the supernatural. The
ghost in Hamlet would have resonated strongly with their worldview.
○ Concerns about National Security: The play reflects Elizabethan
England's concerns about national security and the threat of foreign
invasion. The conflict with Norway mirrors England's own political
situation.
○ The Divine Right of Kings: While not explicitly stated in this scene,
the underlying assumption of the play is the divine right of kings. The
disruption caused by the king's death and the subsequent events
challenge this order.
Scene 2: Analysis
● Language and Literary Devices
○ Formal and Oratorical Language: King Claudius's opening speech
is a prime example. He uses a highly structured, formal tone, filled
with rhetorical devices, to address the court. This establishes his
character as a skilled manipulator of language, but also hints at
insincerity.
■ "Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death / The memory
be green..." - This is an example of antithesis, juxtaposing
the recent death with the present marriage.
■
○ Use of Antithesis: Contrasting ideas are placed in close proximity
for emphasis. Claudius's speech is full of this, highlighting the
conflicting emotions and situations in the court.
■ "With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, / In equal
scale weighing delight and dole"
■
, ○ Metaphor: Claudius refers to Gertrude as "Th' imperial jointress to
this warlike state," metaphorically linking their marriage to the
political stability of Denmark.
○
○ Irony: Hamlet's aside, "A little more than kin and less than kind," is
an example of verbal irony. He plays on Claudius's words ("my
cousin Hamlet and my son") to express his resentment at their
relationship.
○
○ Wordplay: Hamlet's line, "I am too much in the sun," is a pun. He is
referring to being called "son" by Claudius, but "sun" also sounds
like "son". This showcases his wit and his bitterness.
○
○ Imagery of Grief: Hamlet's description of his grief is rich in imagery:
"inky cloak," "customary suits of solemn black," "windy suspiration of
forced breath," "fruitful river in the eye," "dejected havior of the
visage". These all contribute to the depiction of his profound
mourning.
○
● Themes and Ideas
○ Appearance vs. Reality: This is a central theme introduced in this
scene. Claudius's smooth words and the court's forced gaiety
contrast with Hamlet's genuine grief, highlighting the difference
between outward show and inner feelings. Hamlet's "seems"
soliloquy develops this further.
○
○ Legitimacy of Rule: Claudius's attempts to justify his marriage and
his taking the throne raise questions about the legitimacy of his rule.
○ Duty and Obedience: Laertes seeks permission to return to France,
highlighting filial duty, while Hamlet is urged to stay in Denmark,
emphasizing his duty to the state and his mother.
○ Grief and Mourning: The scene explores different facets of grief -
Claudius's dismissal of excessive mourning, Gertrude's desire for
Hamlet to move on, and Hamlet's deep, inconsolable sorrow.
○ Incestuous Marriage: Hamlet's disgust at his mother's marriage to
his uncle is evident in his language ("incestuous sheets"),
Hamlet:
Acts Analysis And Annotation:
Act 1:
Scene 1: Analysis
● Language and Literary Devices
○ Dialogue as Exposition: The scene opens with terse exchanges
like "Who's there?" and "Nay, answer me". This immediately creates
a tense, uncertain atmosphere and quickly immerses the audience in
the world of the play.
○
○ Imagery of Darkness and Unease: The repeated references to the
time being "twelve," the "bitter cold," and Francisco being "sick at
heart" contribute to a mood of foreboding.
○
○ Use of "fantasy" and "apparition": Words like these highlight the
uncertainty about what the characters are witnessing. Horatio, in
particular, is skeptical, calling it "but our fantasy".
○
○ Metaphor: Horatio uses a metaphor when he speaks of the ghost as
a "mote it is to trouble the mind's eye," comparing the ghost's
appearance to a small particle that disrupts one's vision.
○
○ Simile: The ghost appears "in the same figure like the King that's
dead," using a simile to emphasize the ghost's resemblance to the
late King Hamlet.
○
○ Historical Allusions: Horatio draws parallels between the ghost's
appearance and omens from Roman history, such as the graves
standing "tenantless" and "sheeted dead" squeaking in the streets
before Julius Caesar's assassination. This adds weight to the sense
of impending disaster.
○
,● Themes and Ideas
○ Uncertainty and Doubt: The scene is steeped in uncertainty. The
characters are unsure of what they've seen, and Horatio, an
educated man, is brought in to verify the ghost's existence.
○
○ The Supernatural: The appearance of the ghost introduces the
supernatural element, which becomes a driving force in the play.
○
○ Political Intrigue: The scene hints at political unrest. The discussion
of young Fortinbras's ambition to reclaim lost lands reveals tensions
with Norway and suggests that Denmark is under threat.
○
○ Order vs. Disorder: The ghost's appearance disrupts the natural
order, as the dead are not meant to walk the earth. This sets up a
central conflict in the play: the struggle to restore order to a disrupted
world.
● Character Development and Motivations
○ Barnardo and Marcellus: They are portrayed as dutiful watchmen,
but also fearful and superstitious. Their primary motivation is to
understand the strange events and protect the kingdom.
○
○ Horatio: He is presented as the skeptical intellectual, grounded in
reason. His initial skepticism gives way to uneasy belief as he
witnesses the ghost. He is motivated by a desire for truth and a
sense of duty to inform Hamlet.
○
● Dramatic Structure and Technique
○ Atmosphere: Shakespeare masterfully creates a chilling and
suspenseful atmosphere from the outset.
○ Exposition: The scene provides crucial exposition, introducing the
setting (Elsinore, Denmark), the characters, and the immediate
conflicts (the ghost, the threat from Fortinbras).
○
, ○ Foreshadowing: The ghost's appearance and the talk of political
unrest foreshadow the tragic events to come.
○
● Historical, Social, Political, and Contextual Connections
○ Elizabethan Beliefs about Ghosts: Elizabethan audiences were
highly interested in and believed in ghosts and the supernatural. The
ghost in Hamlet would have resonated strongly with their worldview.
○ Concerns about National Security: The play reflects Elizabethan
England's concerns about national security and the threat of foreign
invasion. The conflict with Norway mirrors England's own political
situation.
○ The Divine Right of Kings: While not explicitly stated in this scene,
the underlying assumption of the play is the divine right of kings. The
disruption caused by the king's death and the subsequent events
challenge this order.
Scene 2: Analysis
● Language and Literary Devices
○ Formal and Oratorical Language: King Claudius's opening speech
is a prime example. He uses a highly structured, formal tone, filled
with rhetorical devices, to address the court. This establishes his
character as a skilled manipulator of language, but also hints at
insincerity.
■ "Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death / The memory
be green..." - This is an example of antithesis, juxtaposing
the recent death with the present marriage.
■
○ Use of Antithesis: Contrasting ideas are placed in close proximity
for emphasis. Claudius's speech is full of this, highlighting the
conflicting emotions and situations in the court.
■ "With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, / In equal
scale weighing delight and dole"
■
, ○ Metaphor: Claudius refers to Gertrude as "Th' imperial jointress to
this warlike state," metaphorically linking their marriage to the
political stability of Denmark.
○
○ Irony: Hamlet's aside, "A little more than kin and less than kind," is
an example of verbal irony. He plays on Claudius's words ("my
cousin Hamlet and my son") to express his resentment at their
relationship.
○
○ Wordplay: Hamlet's line, "I am too much in the sun," is a pun. He is
referring to being called "son" by Claudius, but "sun" also sounds
like "son". This showcases his wit and his bitterness.
○
○ Imagery of Grief: Hamlet's description of his grief is rich in imagery:
"inky cloak," "customary suits of solemn black," "windy suspiration of
forced breath," "fruitful river in the eye," "dejected havior of the
visage". These all contribute to the depiction of his profound
mourning.
○
● Themes and Ideas
○ Appearance vs. Reality: This is a central theme introduced in this
scene. Claudius's smooth words and the court's forced gaiety
contrast with Hamlet's genuine grief, highlighting the difference
between outward show and inner feelings. Hamlet's "seems"
soliloquy develops this further.
○
○ Legitimacy of Rule: Claudius's attempts to justify his marriage and
his taking the throne raise questions about the legitimacy of his rule.
○ Duty and Obedience: Laertes seeks permission to return to France,
highlighting filial duty, while Hamlet is urged to stay in Denmark,
emphasizing his duty to the state and his mother.
○ Grief and Mourning: The scene explores different facets of grief -
Claudius's dismissal of excessive mourning, Gertrude's desire for
Hamlet to move on, and Hamlet's deep, inconsolable sorrow.
○ Incestuous Marriage: Hamlet's disgust at his mother's marriage to
his uncle is evident in his language ("incestuous sheets"),
