1.5 - Hamlet Meets The Ghost Flashcards
What are the key ideas you should look out for in this scene
Hamlet - vowing to fulfil his filial duty and the ghost urging him to listen and act
‘A______stung me - so the whole of Denmark is______”
serpent stung me so the whole of Denmark is rankly abused
What’s the significance of the Ghost saying that “ a serpent stung me so h the whole of Denmark is rankly abused”
The biblical imagery employed - depicts Claudius as a blasphemous and transgressive figure through his act of regicide, and how this has corrupted and contaminated the whole state of Denmark.
“Speak____________hear”
Speak i am bound to hear
What does Hamlet saying “speak. Am bound to hear show”
this dictates what he views to be his filial duty - hamlet feels emotionally and morally ‘Bound’ to listen, however this also shows how he will become trapped by this same obligation
‘______me to know’t,that I…….May sweep to my revenge”
haste me to know’t that i……natsweep to my revenge
What does hamlet saying he is going to”sweep to his revenge show”
This highlights hamlets want to at quickly and decisively. Hamlet is being thrust into the role of a medieval avenger, yet it is unnatural to him as his character his defined by thought and reasoning - that of a renaissance man.
“ List, List O list if thou dids’t ever thy dear father love’ - what does this show
The repertoire shows how the ghost urges H to listen and fufil his filial duty - connected to feelings of love and respect.
“ thy________all alone shall live”
Commandment
What does the ghost saying” mark me” “ remember me “ ad “now H hear” show
Th repeated imperatives suggest the authoritive voice of the ghost.
“ ill wipe away all_____ all saws of ____all___all_____past”
Ill wipe away all trivial fond records all saws of books all forms all pressures past”
What’s the significance of H saying he will “wipe away…….”
The anaphoric repetition shows how the title character ( a man of learning ) is willing to destroy all memories and learning so he can dedicate himself to the act of rememberance
Name the 2 critics that could go with this scene
‘ Hamlet is an instrument rather than argent’ - Johnson ( doing what the ghost says)
‘All duties seem holy to hamlet’ - van Goethe
After H’s meeting with the ghost - what does he say he is going to act in, and what is this the first example of
Hamlet says he is going to put on an “Antic disposition”, this is the first example of Hamlets fatal flaw of indessivness.
