Act 1 Scene 1 Flashcards
Who’s the first person to speak? What does this do?
Barnardo “Who’s there?” - It creates tension and enigma.
What is the first line that Horatio says? What does this demonstrate about his character?
“Friends to this ground” - he mixes in with the soldiers and it shows how sociable and reliable he is.
What happens that creates a sense of fear around the supernatural?
“The bell then beating one-“ “[enter ghost]”
How is Horatio portrayed by the soldiers?
“Thou art a scholar, speak to it Horatio” - He is an academic and an intelligent individual who people rely on.
What is interesting about the ghost?
“In the same figure like the King that’s dead”
What does the ghost of the King look like?
“Together with that fair and warlike form” - the ghost is wearing armour and it can be unsettling.
How can we tell that we, as the audience, should be worried about the apparition?
“Horatio, you tremble and look pale”
How can we tell that Horatio is reasonable and not easily misled?
“Without the sensible avouch of mine own eyes” - he wouldn’t believe it until he saw it
How does Horatio foreshadow what will happen later? What language could you analyse?
“This bodes some strange eruption to our state”
Eruption - like a blister, or a volcano. Pressure building up. Corruption.
How can we tell that Horatio should be trusted?
“Who is’t that can inform me?”
“That can I”
Horatio establishes himself as the narrator
How is Old Hamlet presented by Horatio?
“our Valiant Hamlet… did slay this Fortinbras”
How is Fortinbras portrayed?
“young Fortinbras of unimproved mettle hot and full”
Very angry, possibly immature and with a short fuse.
What example does Horatio give that foreshadows what will happen in Hamlet?
“A little ere the mightiest Julius fell… disasters in the sun; and the moist star… was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.” - before Julius Caeser’s downfall and death, the natural things where thrown into chaos.
After Horatio gives the example of Caesar, what happens and what does this do?
“[Enter Ghost]” - it proves his point that something will happen.
How can we tell that Horatio is patriotic?
“Speak to me… Speak to me. If thou art privy to thy country’s fate which happily foreknowing may avoid, O speak.”
How can we tell that Horatio is quick thinking and quick to make a plan?
“Let us impart what we have seen tonight unto young Hamlet”
