Revenge

Question 1

What do the church teach about revenge?

Answer 1

That is was a sin, Gods responsibility

Question 2

What do classical traditions teach about revenge?

Answer 2

Classic traditions support revenge if the family honour was at stake - eg Seneca, a stoic Roman philosopher

Question 3

What are the 5 steps if a classic Elizabethan revenge tragedy?

Answer 3

1. Murder - if an important or innocent person
2. Supernatural vision - eg ghost
3. Planning - often involves a disguise or madness
4. Violence - planned attack
5. Annihilation - ends in a blood bath

Question 4

What was Hamlet thought to be influenced by?

Answer 4

THOMAS KYD’S SPANISH TRAGEDY

- Popular in late 16th century, established the revenge tragedy genre

Question 5

What kind of revenger is Hamlet?

In contrast to…

Answer 5

He a philosophical thinker, perhaps a humanist revenger - in contrast to his foils, Laertis and Fortinbras, who are more typical revenging sons
He is prompted to his revenge by them

Question 6

What quotes suggest that Hamlet thinks it is is fate, his duty to take revenge?

Answer 6

• Tells the ghost that he is ‘bound to heal’ his story

- ‘That I was born to set it right’ - only reason he exists is to restore Denmark