Hamlet Act 1, Scene 1 Flashcards
“Tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart”
Pathetic fallacy - the uncomforting setting reflects a mood of fear and apprehension. By employing guards, Shakespeare creates a sense of potential conflict. Shows the guards are uncertain. Highlights the fear/concern for war (trepidation).
“Tis now struck twelve”
Superstitious. Seen as the witching hour. Adds to the tension.
“Who’s there?”
Sense of alarm. Sensation of unease and threat. Fear of war. Hints at themes of distrust, deception and deceit.
“Tis but our fantasy” / “Is not this something more than fantasy?”
Structural Parallels. Used to mock Horatio. By using a scholar such as Horatio, Shakespeare asserts validity towards the ghost due to his intellectual background. He is seen as a reliable source.
“Tremble and look pale”
Physical manifestation on the stage. Would have been physically performed to emphasise the fear as a genuine demonstration. Reinforces ideas of the supernatural.
“Fair and warlike form”
Use of antithesis. On one hand, the ghost is seen as light whereas this is contrasted with the warrior, masculine description, embodying the archetypal Medieval warrior. This is used to create a conflicting image of the ghost to create a sense of uncertainty.
“Tush, tush, t’will not appear”
The tone is purposefully dismissive and patronising. Foreshadows later events that the ghost is real. Reinforces the existence of the ghost and the supernatural.
“Same figure like the King that’s dead”
Simile. Ominous sensation as well as ambiguity.
“Harrows me with fear and wonder”
Antithesis. Shows the ambiguity of the ghost. On one hand it is seen as fascinating embodying a Protestant view but still a sense of scepticism.
“Very armour he had on when he th’ambitious Norway combated”
Old Hamlet portrayed as ruthless and stereotypically masculine. Embodiment of the Medieval warrior. Violent depiction provokes a sense of respect. Parallels the description of Young Fortinbras. Conflicts Hamlet’s description.
“This bodes some strange eruption to our state”
Motif of corruption / Foreshadowing. The choric scholar adds reliability to this claim. Plays on the Audiences fear of ghosts seen as bad omens. Ghost is a catalyst for significant events involving the eerie mood. Creates a powerful sense of foreboding.
AO3 : Body politik, TGCOB broken, Divine Right of Kings.
“Young Fortinbras, Of unimproved mettle, hot and full”
Makes rash decisions. Acts before thinking similarly to Old Hamlet. Portrays him as quite active and warrior like. Foils Hamlet as Hamlet is portrayed as a thinker and inactive. Hamlet embodies the Renaissance thinker, whereas Young Fortinbras embodies the Medieval warrior. This emasculates Hamlet.
“Awake the god of day” / “Faded on the crowing of the cock”
Illusion to the God of day is Phoebus Apollo. Creates uncertainty surrounding the ghost, seen as a bad omen as it is shunned away via daylight. Creates ambiguity surrounding the ghosts intentions. Potentially the ghost is deterred by the revealing light as it’s true intentions want to remain hidden.
