English Literature A level AO5 Hamlet critics

Question 1

What did neo-classicist critics do

Answer 1

Compared contemporary drama to the classical works the playwrights were trying to imitate

Question 2

Explain in further detail what neo-classicist critics do ?

Answer 2

1. Compared Shakespeares tragedies with ancient classical drama as well as Aristotle’s dramatic theory in his poetics
2. Neo-classicists such as 17th century critics Thomas Rymer and Jeremy Collier wanted tragedies to have tragic decorum

Question 3

State with four examples what was meant by tragic decorum ?

Answer 3

1. Plot was key - had to be a single plot line and events had to occur in a limited time and space
2. Characters ( women in particular ) had to act politely and contribute to the plots action
3. Language also had to be appropriate ( crude words were not appropriate)
4. Play and characters had to have a moral focus

Question 4

What other idea did neo-classicists emphasise ?

Answer 4

Emphasised the role of poetic justice - the characters had to get what they deserved

Question 5

What did 17th century criticism focus on ?

Answer 5

Looked at Shakespeares language

Question 6

What did 17th century critics aim their criticism at ?

Answer 6

1. Criticism of play was usually aimed at Shakespeare himself ho was seen as primitive
2. He wasn’t as educated as many other playwrights and many critics thought the play was too low brow

Question 7

State the two 17th century critics who didn’t like Shakespeares writing?

Answer 7

1. John Evelyn
2. Jeremy Collier

Question 8

Describe what John Evelyn said ?

Answer 8

1. Wrote that “ the old plays begin to disgust this refined age” he criticised the violent scenes in the play - Evelyn also questioned whether hamlet had a clear sense of judgement
2. Hamlets crude and bawdy language was also criticised especially Polonius use of puns and hamlets sexually charged expressions “ do you think I meant country matters “ ( 3.2.125)

Question 9

Describe what Jeremy collier says ?

Answer 9

1. Was a respected critic at the time who challenged the plays immorality and foul language
2. He condemned Shakespeare for making Ophelia “immodest” when she goes insane

Question 10

State two 17th century critics that defended Shakespeare ?

Answer 10

1. George Drake
2. Thomas D’urfey

Question 11

Describe what George Drake says ?

Answer 11

Argued there was justice in the play because the murderers are “ caught in their own toils” and that Ophelia immodesty was reasonably explained by her desperate state

Question 12

Describe what Thomas D’urfey says ?

Answer 12

Argued that critics had found immorality in places where there was none

Question 13

What did 18th century critics do ?

Answer 13

Questioned the plays morality

Question 14

What did the 18th century critics continue to criticise ?

Answer 14

Continued to criticise the violence and its sexual and religious immorality

Question 15

State the names of four 18th century critics?

Answer 15

1. Dr Samuel Johnson
   Voltaire
   Horace Walpole
   Aaron hill

Question 16

Describe what Voltaire said ?

Answer 16

Voltaire called hamlet the “ fruit of the imagination of a drunken savage”

Question 17

Describe what Dr Samuel Johnson says ?

Answer 17

1.Johnson- criticised particularly violent bits of the play he called hamlets soliloquy in act 3 scene 3 “ too horrible to be read or to be uttered” as it was so merciless

2. He also questioned whether Hamlet had to treat Ophelia so cruelly- he thought the plays ending was unrealistic and unsatisfactory

Question 18

Was Hamlet more popular with critics during the 17th or 18th century explain what you mean ?

Answer 18

1.Hamlet was more popular with 18th century critics than 17th century critics
2. The parts of the play that broke tragic decorum wee seen as a strength of Shakespeares writing rather than a weakness

Question 19

What did Horace Walpole say about Hamlet ?

Answer 19

Defended the mixture of comic and tragic elements in hamlet as being more believable than a straight tragedy

Question 20

What did Aaron hill say aboutHamlet ?

Answer 20

Praised the contradictions in Hamlets character saying that it made him more lifelike