...ENG 4U Ms. Straus May 23, 2015 Hamlet Quotation Test Quotation 1: “How all occasions do inform against me And spur my dull revenge! What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more. Sure he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unus’d.” (Hamlet: IV, iv, 3238) Literal Level: This quotation is from Act IV, Scene IV, when Hamlet observes Fortinbras leading the army through Denmark towards Poland. Hamlet learns that the Norwegians are going to war with the Polish over a small, worthless patch of land. In this soliloquy, Hamlet ponders how these men are willing to risk their lives for such a small cause, when he is still so hesitant to act on his revenge on Claudius for his father's murder. 1. This passage helps to develop Hamlet’s character and the plot of the play because it is in this scene that Hamlet realizes that he must act on his revenge plan or else he is just going to be a purposeless “beast”. Throughout the play, Hamlet struggles with whether or not to exact revenge on Claudius because he is not certain of all of the facts. When Hamlet sees how willing the soldiers are to fight over such a small piece of land, he realizes that without action Hamlet is not taking advantage of the gift of life that God has given him. Hamlet realizes that humans have “capability and godlike reason” and that ...
Words: 2082 - Pages: 9
...English 203 October 24th 2012 Hamlet Question Set ACT I 1. What happens when Francisco and Bernardo meet at the beginning of scene1? Where are they, and when? Why is Horatio with Bernardo and Marcellus there? The play, begins in Elsinore with Francisco, who is waiting for Bernardo to relieve him of his duty right after midnight. Bernardo calls wondering who is there, to which Francisco replies that Bernardo should tell him who he is first. 2. What is Horatio's initial response to the story of the apparition? Horatio’s initial response is skepticism, as in disbelief. 3. What does Horatio first assume the appearance of the ghost means (1.1.)? He assumes it must mean that there is something wrong with the government. 4. What happens when the ghost appears for the second time (I.I)? Horatio asks the ghost why it had come in the first place and the reason behind such appearances 5. What do we know so far about the nature of the ghost? Do we know yet if it is a "good" ghost? Summarize the circumstances surrounding the first encounter with the ghost. The ghost is Hamlet’s father; one can categorize him as good because he explains to Hamlet the real reason behind his death. 6. Identify Hamlet’s first Soliloquy in Scene 2. What is it that is really bothering him about what has happened since his father's death? How would you describe the tone of his feelings? In his first soliloquy he mourns his father. It is a passionate and startling passage that...
Words: 1513 - Pages: 7
...or not to be? That is the question.” This soliloquy has been used thousands, maybe even millions, of times. The Tragedy of Hamlet is written as substantial, yet subtle in this dramatic play. Shakespeare creates this drama with twists and turns in each scene, which spikes some readers to sit on the edge of one’s seat. Shakespeare uses soliloquies, dramatic dialogues, and revenge tragedy to unfold a tremendous amount of details of Hamlet, thus causing a dramatic irony approach. Between the Franco Zeffirelli’s version and the Laurence Oliver’s version of this tragedy, characters are distinctively played. While Hamlet’s life is crumbling in front of him, those surrounded, specifically Ophelia, are also being affected. In this play, Ophelia...
Words: 806 - Pages: 4
...Vickie Shipley Professor Marek ENC 1102, SEC 87 27 October, 2013 Drama Essay: "Hamlet's Ghost- To Believe or Not to Believe” Of all the plays written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet is the most intriguing. As the plot develops, themes such as indecision, deceit and revenge become apparent. As is expected, questions about the characters' motives arise as these themes are portrayed. Questions regarding Hamlet's love for Ophelia or his sanity arise. However, these questions develop throughout the story. The most important question arises at the beginning of the story in Act 1, and affects Hamlet’s every thought and action thereafter. Is the King's ghost a good spirit, merely seeking justice or an evil spirit sent to corrupt Hamlet? Perhaps the ghost is genuinely that of the dead king, but the fact that the ghost uses Hamlet to exact revenge and demands he commit the mortal sin of murder, clearly shows it to be an evil, malicious demon from hell. During the era in which Hamlet was written, there was a common belief of demonic intrusion, and corruption by the devil. Even today, it is not too difficult to find people who will agree that specters are evil demons, sent up from the bowels of hell to corrupt and destroy the living. In fact, a recent CBS poll reveals that almost half of all Americans believe in evil spirits, and that the dead can return in certain places and situations (Alfano). Because of this belief, the appearance of the spirit, along with the assumption of its...
Words: 1944 - Pages: 8
...In this interesting play, Hamlet, by Shakespeare, I've learned of the tragic events Prince Hamlet has dealt with. Starting from mourning his fathers death, King Hamlet, and than shortly after that his mother, Queen Gertude marries his uncle, Claudius. The play starts out introducing us to the watchmen, Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo. There is a ghost on the platform of the castle that reappears around the same time every night. Other than horrify the men the spirit does not speak to them. The play than goes into the next scene in which the now, King Claudius is making a speech. His speech a mockery to Prince Hamlet says things of the sort, "With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, In equal scale weighing delight and dole--'' By this he is saying that the death of his brother although being very sad is balanced with happiness in the marriage to his brothers widowed wife, Queen Gertude. To add insult to injury Claudius tells Hamlet not to mourn for too long, that is normal to lose a father and to think of him as a father instead! "How is it that the clouds still hang on you?" "Whose common theme is death of fathers, and who still hath cried, from the first corse till he that died to-day, 'This must be so.' We pray you, throw to earth this unrevealing woe, and think of us as of a father." From this interaction between King Claudius, Queen Gertude and Hamlet in Act 1, Scene 2, we learn that the only one still in mourning is Prince Hamlet, which shows he is the only one of...
Words: 840 - Pages: 4
...Home > Why Hamlet Delays His Revenge Why Hamlet Delays His Revenge (Excerpt from Quintessence of Dust: The Mystical Meaning of Hamlet) Kenneth Chan ... Hamlet is finally alone, and the stage is set for the soliloquy that gave rise to one of the most persistent mysteries in literature: Why does Hamlet delay his revenge? Hamlet Ay, so, God buy you. Now I am alone. Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his whole conceit1 That from her working all his visage wanned, Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, A broken voice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing! For Hecuba! What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her? What would he do Had he the motive and the cue for passion That I have? He would drown the stage with tears, And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, Make mad the guilty and appal the free,2 Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled3 rascal, peak Like John-a-dreams,4 unpregnant5 of my cause, And can say nothing--no, not for a king, Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward? Who calls me a villain, breaks my pate across, Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face, Tweaks me by the nose, gives me the lie i'th'throat As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this? Ha, 'swounds, I should take...
Words: 7854 - Pages: 32
...Hamlet Notes Tragedy is the downfall of a man because of a weakness in his personality. This weakness leaves him unable to negotiate successfully the conflict that he experiences in the outside world. Consequently, when he encounters evil, he is unable to make the right decision. A tragic hero has a moment of insight in which he realises his error. However, this insight comes too late for him to address his sillinesses/error. The tragic hero always dies. The key to understanding this play is a close and insightful study of the soliloquies in the play. Act 1 Scene 1( pg 3-13) Horatio will be the fall for the mercurial Hamlet. Horatio is quiet and well balanced and becomes a notable witness. At the beginning of the play, Denmark is not only socially, morally and culturally questionable but politically unstable. Norway, lead by Fortenbras is leading a campaign to reclaim the lands lost to Norway as a consequence of the Danish King Hamlet. At the end of this scene, the appearance if the ghost. King Hamlet. He was poisoned by Claudius. He was married to Gertrude, Claudius was Gertrude's brother-in-law—-> affair Act 1 Scene 2(pg 13-31) Set against the splendour of the court, scene 2 juxtaposes the mysteries and frightening opening scene. The court of Denmark represents hypocrisy and excess. We are introduced immediately to Claudius. He is suave and worldly wise. His idiom, register and tone of speech will create a suspicion. He is of course the antithesis of Hamlet as...
Words: 2779 - Pages: 12
...Hamlet Quiz #3 Act III, sc i: 1. Who are the two boyhood friends that the king and queen send for to try to learn what is causing Hamlet’s behavior? 2. What is Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy about? What does Hamlet say “makes cowards of us all”? 3. Describe something you find memorable about the exchange between Hamlet and Ophelia? Act III, sc ii: 4. When Claudius asks Hamlet what the name of the Murder of Gonzago play is, what name does Hamlet give? Why do you think Hamlet calls it this? 5. How does Claudius respond to the play? 6. Whom does Hamlet ask to watch Claudius’s reaction to the play? 7. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to get information out of Hamlet—what does Hamlet ask Guildenstern to play? Why does Hamlet do this? Act III, sc. iii 8. Polonius tells the king that he will hide behind the arras in Gertrude’s room and listen to what Hamlet tells his mother. After Polonius leaves, Claudius speaks to himself about the crimes he has committed. Describe his frame of mind and what he realizes about himself. 9. When Hamlet is on his way to his mother’s chamber, he sees Claudius kneeling and contemplates killing him, but doesn’t. Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius at that moment? Act III, sc. iv 10. In Gertrude’s room, Gertrude tries to discover why Hamlet has behaved so terribly throughout the play, as well as after the king interrupts it, but Hamlet is angry and berates Gertrude instead of answering her questions....
Words: 388 - Pages: 2
...eRenee Levy S. AP English Hamlet Essay To Love or Not to Love? That is the question. Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play; it’s full of uncertainties and revenge. One of the biggest doubts I had while reading the book was: Did Hamlet really loves Ophelia? This question popped up in my mind many times as I read the novel. Although there is much evidence that makes us think he just wanted to use her and he didn’t really love her, there is even more evidence that disprove those ideas. Through different actions like sending her a letter, being jealous, and declaring his love to her directly, is how Hamlet shows Ophelia that he is truly in love with her in his own way. The first time we saw Hamlet’s love for Ophelia was in Act 3, Scene 1 (page 147). In this part, Hamlet confesses his love directly to her by saying: “I did love you once.” That is our first piece of evidence. Some readers may think that he didn’t love her anymore because he retracts himself by saying “I loved you not.” However, this is because of the fact that Hamlet knew that Polonius was spying on them. We are sure about this because he after asks her: “where’s your father.” This demonstrates that Hamlet wanted Ophelia to know that he loved her but he is retracting his words in order to make Polonius think that he has nothing to do with her daughter anymore. Why did Hamlet wanted Polonius to think that way? The reason was because he knew that Claudius and Polonius were planning something...
Words: 914 - Pages: 4
...popular plays is Hamlet. Because this play was one of his more complex works it is also became of the most analyzed plays as well. The main character, Hamlet, has fascinated readers and audiences for centuries, and one of the first thing to point out about him is that he is indecisive (22 Newell). But even though he is thoughtful to the point of obsession, Hamlet also behaves rashly and instinctively. When he does act, it is quickly with little or no premeditation, like when he stabbed Polonius through the curtain without even checking to see who he was. He seems to step very easily into the role acting crazy, behaving erratically and upsetting the other characters with his careless speech (22 Newell). It is also important to note that Hamlet is extremely laid back and unconcerned with it comes to the state of affairs in Denmark and in his own family. He is extremely disappointed with his mother for marrying his uncle so quickly. He rejects, Ophelia, a woman he claimed to have loved once. At a number of points in the play, he contemplates his own death and even the option of suicide. But, despite all of the things with which Hamlet expresses dissatisfaction, it is remarkable that he thinks about these problems only in personal and philosophical terms. He spends little time concerning himself about the threats to Denmark’s national security from outside forces or the threats to its stability from within (1 Hamlet's). Also, there is always a little more to Hamlet than the other characters...
Words: 1744 - Pages: 7
...Horatio, to watch with them. When he sees the ghost, he decides they should tell Hamlet, the dead King's son. Hamlet is also the nephew of the present King, Claudius, who not only assumed his dead brother's crown but also married his widow, Gertrude. Claudius seems an able King, easily handling the threat of the Norwegian Prince Fortinbras. But Hamlet is furious about Gertrude's marriage to Claudius. Hamlet meets the ghost, which claims to be the spirit of his father, murdered by Claudius. Hamlet quickly accepts the ghost's command to seek revenge. Yet Hamlet is uncertain if what the ghost said is true. He delays his revenge and begins to act half-mad, contemplate suicide, and becomes furious at all women. The Lord Chamberlain, Polonius, concludes that Hamlet's behavior comes from lovesickness for Ophelia, Polonius's daughter. Claudius and Gertrude summon two of Hamlet's old friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to find out what's wrong with him. As Polonius develops a plot to spy on a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia, Hamlet develops a plot of his own: to have a recently arrived troupe of actors put on a play that resembles Claudius's alleged murder of Old Hamlet, and watch Claudius's reaction. Polonius and Claudius spy on the meeting between Ophelia and Hamlet, during which Hamlet flies into a rage against women and marriage. Claudius concludes Hamlet neither loves Ophelia nor is mad. Seeing Hamlet as a threat, he decides to send him away. At the play that night, Claudius runs...
Words: 10550 - Pages: 43
...is evident in the play Hamlet; it is used throughout the play. Without dramatic Irony in Hamlet, there wouldn’t be any suspense and the audience would be less engaged because the characters would know just as much as them, which would make it boring and meaningless. Three of the most dominant dramatic ironies used in the play are: The ghost of old hamlet tells hamlet about the truth, Hamlet pretending to be mad and Hamlet thinking about a suicide. Therefore, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in Hamlet to create sympathy and engage audience. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in the ghost of old hamlet to create sympathy, which engages the audience in the play. In act 1 scene 5, the ghost of old hamlet appears to hamlet and reveals to Hamlet that the King was killed by Claudius who spread the story that his death was from a snake bite. “Now, Hamlet, hear. 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forgèd process of my death Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.” (1.5.34-40). It evokes sympathy on the audience causing them to feel pity for Hamlet, because Hamlet’s father was murdered by Claudius and Claudius spread the word that King Hamlet was killed by snake bite. Therefore, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in the ghost of old hamlet to create sympathy, which engages the audience in the play. Shakespeare uses dramatic iron in Hamlet to create suspense and...
Words: 722 - Pages: 3
...play Hamlet. There are certain parts in the play Hamlet where Hamlet can be seen as crazy. Hamlet’s craziness was not real. His reactions to the events in his life are completely normal. Hamlet had a lot of events that lead people to think he was crazy. Some events that really affected his mental state were the fact his father had passed away, his mother remarried his uncle, and his girlfriend, Ophelia, broke up with him. Some could call it “the subsequent emotional turmoil” (Lee). One major event Hamlet encounters is the death of his father. The play starts with Hamlet’s father just passing away. This tragedy truly affected Hamlet’s sanity. Any normal human being would be affected by this. Death is not an event that a person can just move on from. There is usually many stages to dealing with the death of a person. These stages include denial, anger, depression, and acceptance (“The 5 Stages of Loss and Grief”). Hamlet experienced anger and depression. Hamlet had every right to be angry and depressed over the death of his father. This type of reaction is normal for anyone who is grieving. This reaction is even more acceptable if the grieving is over a parent such as Hamlet’s situation. Hamlet was angry at the beginning because the death of his father was a brand new change in his life. Throughout the play Hamlet’s angry feelings started to get less angry at the fact his father had passed away and more angry at how his father died. As the play continues Hamlet is told...
Words: 1169 - Pages: 5
...Moreover I will attempt to show how in Act four of this play, Shakespeare proficiently brings together the main plot and sub-plots of the play, and moves rapidly towards the final resolution. Shakespeare decided to set corruption in Elsinor, a royal castle in medieval Denmark. Prior to the first act Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude is widowed to King Hamlet. When this tragedy starts, we are introduced to Marcellus, Bernardo, and Francisco who guard the castle at night. While on watch an apparition of King Hamlet appeared to them and they then knew something was wrong, the question was what should they do. Once hamlet learns of his father’s return, he at once insists that he go on watch to witness his father’s appearance. The following night Hamlet’s father does appear and commands Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet’s father tells him of the corruption that has taken place behind the walls of Elsinor. He informs Hamlet of his uncle’s rage and what it has lead him to do. He tells Hamlet of the serpent who stung him, and how he goes by the name of Claudius. Hamlets composure wit, and strength would know be tested to their limits. What could Hamlet do, what would he do? A clever wit and common sense are his only hope to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet then lives in madness and by that madness hopes to force Claudius to confess his sin. Act One is considered to be a link in the revenge plot sequence, which is commonly known as the main plot. Act One distinguishes relationships between...
Words: 686 - Pages: 3
...Prince Hamlet from Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Ruthie from Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson both pursue agency which is the ability to act independently on his or her own principles. Their pursuit of agency is effected by many factors, an example would be social/class position or events which had transpired in the character's life. What the characters from both books did and reasons for they're actions will be examined and compared with ideas and perspective based on The Republic by the philosopher Plato. In Act 1, Scene 2, of the book Hamlet, Prince Hamlet was unhappy about the death of his father King Hamlet and how Prince Hamlet's mother Gertrude had married too early to Claudius. Horatio enters the scene and talks to Prince Hamlet then tells Prince Hamlet about the ghost which Horatio assumes was King Hamlet. During Act 1, Scene 5, Prince Hamlet...
Words: 574 - Pages: 3
