Hamlet 1.4 key terms

Question 1

What are the key things to notice at the beginning of this scene?

Answer 1

• the party that was promised in scene two is taking place, “drunkards with swinish phrase”
• This behaviour overshadows the virtues of Denmark.

Question 2

What is the key quote that makes reference to the tragedy?

Answer 2

“some vicious mole of nature”- this makes link to tragedy, indicates that it is inherently in men to commit harm.
Hamlet- line 24

Question 3

what are the key points from this scene?

Answer 3

• Hamlet is unsure whether the ghost is good or evil as it is seen as a “questionable shape”
• There is the intellectual dilemma that Hamlet has to face, three antithetical phrases highlights that Hamlet is in moral dilemma of how to deal with the ghost. “what should we do”
• Hamlet does not value his life
• the warnings fw; the madness of Hamlet
• M, will predict that the ghost will uncover a filthy secret.
• There is a sense of tragedy that is beyond the control of Hamlet, “my fate cries out”

Question 4

what does critic Caroline Spurgeon suggest?

Answer 4

the images of sickness and death highlight that Denmark is a morally flawed country- NOT WORD-FOR-WORD CORRECT.

This links to the key themes of immorality and corruption.