Hamlet - Act 2, Scene 2

Question 1

“More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him so much from th’understanding of himself I cannot dream of”

Answer 1

• Dramatic irony : facetious nature of emotions
• Duplicitous / cunning
• Regicide committed by him

MACHIAVELLIAN CHARACTER “Better to be feared than loved”

Question 2

“I assure my good liege I hold my duty as I hold my soul both to my God and to my precious King”

Answer 2

• Verbosity in language - hyperbolic and excessive
• Sycophantic nature of Polonius : appeals to higher authority

Question 3

“I have found the very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy”

Answer 3

• Tone : arrogant
• Element of superiority and self importance in nature
• Trying to appeal to higher authority
• Foolish nature of Polonius - immediately falls for Hamlets “antic disposition”

Question 4

“My news shall be the fruit to that great feast”

Answer 4

• Arrogant and hubristic
• Fruit = sweet and rich
• Self-importance

Question 5

“I doubt it is no other than the main, his father’s death and our o’er-hasty marriage”

Answer 5

• Dramatic irony : ghost in the play
• Acknowledges the speed of marriage - factual
• Attentive and understanding emphasises Gertrude’s intelligence
• First sign of defending Hamlet (corrupted by Claudius)