Hamelt - Ghost As Ambiguous

Question 1

Analysis of ‘ harrows me with fear and wonder

Answer 1

Excitement yet terror surround the fear of the ghost ( link to A03 fear and fascination of the supernatural )

Question 2

Analyse ‘ fair and war like form ‘

Answer 2

As the ghost is described like this, the oxymoronic phrasing suggests the ghost, albeit a symbol of goodness or benelvolent force - resembles some sort of underlying threat, perhaps to the state of Denmark

Question 3

Guilty thing

Answer 3

Ambiguous nature of the ghost - unable to resemble a knowable identiy

Question 4

‘ this bodes some strange eruption to our state’

Answer 4

Omen that foreshadows the destructive and unpredictable change to the state of Denmark, hinting at the unsettlement surrounding the threat of war

Question 5

What’s the best context for this scene

Answer 5

Through the introduction of the ghost in 1.1 Shakespeare engages the audiancd due to the contemporary audiences fear, yet fascination surrounding the supernatural. This f and f was exasperated due to the witch trails, which were posed as a public spectacle yet deterrent - and James the 1sts pamphlet named - deamonology the dangers of black magic.

Question 6

Name the best 4 quotes for this science

Answer 6

Fair and war like form
This bodes some strange eruption to our state
Guilty thing
Harrows me with fear and wonder