Act 1 Scene 2 Hamlet Flashcards
Quote to suggest that Claudius is a good orator?
‘though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death’
Analyse ‘though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death’
-Claudius is attempting to present himself as respectful to gain people’s trust
-playing up to the feelings of the Kingdom to allay suspiscion
Why does Claudius use iambic pentameter in his speech?
-Used to present himself as sophisticated
-Although, can be seen as calculated due to the speech’s rehearsed nature
-some versions have Claudius misspeak
Analyse ‘with auspicious and dropping eye’
Use of antithesis showing his calculated nature
Quotes where Claudius attempts to unite Denmark
-‘though yet Hamlet our dear brother’s death’
-‘our hearts in grief’
-‘with an auspicious and dropping eye’
Why is Hamlet dressed in all black?
He remains grieving whilst everyone else has moved on so he feels out of place.
Analyse ‘a little more than kin and less than kind’
Hamlet dismisses the marriage between Gertrude and Claudius due to it’s incestuous nature
‘Seems Madam, I know not seems’
-Hamlet calls his mum madam because he now sees her as the Queen and not his mum.
Analyse ‘good Hamlet, cost they knighted colours off’
Perhaps some care is shown here from Gertrude as she wants him to be free of his grief. Although, this could be done so Hamlet moves away from what she has done.
Analyse ‘But I have that within which passes show’
Hamlet highlights the depth of his grief and focuses on outward appearance to highlight that he considers her show of grief to be fabricated.
Analyse ‘all that lives must die’
This dismisses Hamlet’s deep grief
How does Hamlet’s first soliloquy compare to the previous rhythms of Claudius’ speech?
Hamlet’s soliloquy is a structural parallel and has overall lack of control compared to Claudius’ rehearsed speech.
Analyse ‘Hyperion to Satyr’
Contrasts with how Hamlet refers to his father as ‘Hercules’’ whilst Claudius is a half-goat. This suggests Hamlet thinks Claudius is not capable to be King or be with his mother.
Analyse ‘incestuous sheets’
-Emphasises Hamlet’s dismissal of their marriage
-Hamlet is again judging women for their sexual behaviour
Analyse ‘a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned much longer’
-Hamlet has now compared both Claudius and his Mother to beasts perhaps because they are both giving into primal instincts.
