Act 1 Scene 2 Flashcards
what pronouns does the king use?
the royal ‘we’
“our” “ourself” “us”
How can we see that the events prior to the play have been very quick and contradictory?
“With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage”
How does Claudius say that shows that they are one body with the public/court, apart from the royal we?
“the memory be green” “to bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom to be contracted in one brow of woe”
What has Claudius done in relation to Norway that shows he is political and diplomatic?
“We have writ to Norway… to surpress his further gait herein”
In what form does Claudius speak and what does this show about him?
He talks in a monologue which highlights the power he possesses over the kingdom and court at this point in the play. He eventually loses this power when the public begins to favour Hamlet over him.
What does Claudius say about Laertes’ father and the throne? What does this imply?
“The head is not more native to the heart… than is the throne of Denmark to thy father”
It shows not only the relationship that Polonius and Claudius have but also that the king is just as important and his own father.
What does Laertes politely ask Claudius for?
“I came to Denmark to show my duty in your coronation, yet now I must confess, that duty done, my thoughts and wishes bend again toward france”
How can we tell the King is trying to create a united front with Hamlet?
He refers to him as “my son”
What is Hamlet’s first line in the play, how does he say it and why is it important?
“[aside] a little more than kin and less than kind” - pun. A little more than uncle and nephew, but not the same kind of men. The aside introduces the theme of deception into the play.
How does Hamlet use puns to show he doesn’t want to be familiar with Claudius?
“I am too much in the sun” - play on words with the noun “sun” (sun/son)
What does Gertrude tell Hamlet off for? What might this foreshadow?
“Cast thy nighted colour off… Seek they noble father in the dust. thou know’st ‘tis common, all that lives must die” - telling him off for grieving so much. Could foreshadow the deaths of them ALL.
How does Hamlet respond to Gertrude when she tells him off for grieving so much? Why is this a backhanded pun?
“Ay madam, it is common” - carries the connotations of prostitution. We can see that Hamlet believes Gertrude has married because she wants sex as it is so unnatural to move on so quickly after the death of a spouse.
How does Hamlet emphasise that this grief is real?
“For they are actions that a man might play; but I have that within which passes show”
How does Claudius attempt to sympathise Hamlet’s real grief?
“‘Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, to give these mourning duties to your father. But you must know, your father lost a father” - his arguement is that it is part of life which ruins the sympathy he tried to convey.
How does Claudius describe prolonging grief? Why is it ironic?
“to persever in obstinate condolement is a course of impious stubbornness, ‘tis unmanly grief, it shows… a mind impatient, an understanding simple and unschooled”
“Tis a fault to heaven, a fault against the dead, a fault to nature” - Claudius has violated all these things. The order of nature and heaven and turned alive into dead.
What does Claudius say Hamlet is and why is this a little peculiar?
“You are the most immediate to our throne” - then Hamlet should’ve taken the throne after his father died… surely.
How do the requests between Laertes and Hamlet to return to other countries differ? Why does this sound a bit backhanded?
Claudius implores Hamlet (“it is most retrograde to our desire”) to “bend you to remain here in the cheer and comfort of our eye”. It sounds like he wants to keep Hamlet around because they love him but really it feels more like they want to keep a close “eye” on him.
Who does Hamlet make clear he is going to listen to? What does this show about his relationships between the characters?
“I shall in all my best obey you madam” - He clearly shows that he is only listening because his mother is asking. Not because of Claudius or the court.
What is the first thought we hear in Hamlet’s soliloquy? Why is this important?
“O that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew” - He wishes to die. It sets the tone of death for the rest of the play. A little bit nihilistic in the sense that he feels there is no point in living anymore.
How does Hamlet describe Denmark’s current state?
“‘tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed, things rank and gross in nature possess it merely”
How can we see Hamlet’s shock at how quickly everyone moved on about his father’s death?
“But two months dead, nay not so much, not two-“
How does Hamlet describe this shift his mother has done from going from Old Hamlet to Claudius?
“Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother”
A satyr is a lustful, drunken woodland creature. A hyperion is the titan god of heavenly light and watchfulness”
How does Hamlet describe Gertrude’s sexuality?
“As if increase of appetite had grown by what it fed on” - Gertrude was too sexually active and it just made her want more. It also implies prostitution.
How does Hamlet view women in general?
“Frailty, thy name is woman!” - excalamation which depicts frustration and the fact that he views women as easily influenced, misled and not in control of temptation, desires and emotions.
How does Hamlet criticise Gertrude’s intelligence?
“A beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer”
What does Hamlet decide he should do?
“for I must hold my tongue”
How does Hamlet view Horatio?
“my good friend, I’ll change that name with you” - he views him as trustworthy.
How does Horatio view himself?
He won’t go back to Wittenberg because of a “truant disposition” - he’s lazy.
How does Hamlet try and lift Horatio’s confidence?
“Nor shall you do mine ear that violence to make it truster of your own report against yourself. I know you are no truant”
How can we tell that the wedding and the funeral were really close together?
“The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.”
How can we tell Hamlet believes that Horatio had seen the ghost of his father?
He becomes immediately intrigued and says “for God’s love let me hear”
How can we tell Hamlet is not only brave but also religious?
“I’ll speak to it though hell itself should gape and bid me hold my peace.”
How does Hamlet foreshadow what will happen later in the play?
“My father’s spirit - in arms - all is not well. I doubt some foul play… Till then sit still my soul. Foul deeds will rise, though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s eyes”
