Comprehention

1. When the queen speaks of 'thy father' (line 2) and Hamlet speaks of 'my father' (line 3), are they referring to the same person?

2. When Hamlet says that the queen will see 'the inmost part of you' (line 15), is he speaking literally or figuratively? Does the queen understand what her son wishes to do?

3. Who does Hamlet think is hiding behind the curtains?

4. What does Hamlet mean when he says that he wants to 'wring' the queen's heart? (Line 31)

5. When the queen asks Hamlet what she has done to anger him (lines 33-34), does he answer her question directly?

6. From line 43 to line 57 Hamlet compares his father and his uncle Claudius. In which lines does he describe his father? In which lines does he describe his uncle?

7. At what point in the text does the queen seem to admit that she has done something evil?

8. What overcomes the queen's judgement according to Hamlet in lines 59-61?

9. Hamlet thinks that the ghost has come to reprimand him. For what?

10. Does the ghost want Hamlet to take revenge on his mother? Refer to the text in your answer.

11. Underline the sentences in the text that suggest that the queen cannot see or hear the ghost.

ANALYSIS

1. In the opening lines of the text Hamlet uses the queen's own words to point the finger of accusation away from himself and towards her. Find two examples.

How would you describe Hamlet's attitude towards his mother in these opening lines?

•Provocative •Mocking

•Sympathetic • Respectful

• Loving • Other:..................................

2. Focus on lines 20-29. Hamlet thinks that he has killed Claudius when in fact he has mistakenly murdered Polonius. Underline sentences that convey Hamlet's dispassionate indifference to his crime. How would you explain his lack of emotion?

• He feels his actions are justified because he is avenging his father's death.

• He is close to madness and no longer able to feel emotions.

• He has little interest in killing and revenge; he is more passionate about saving his mother's soul.

3. Find an example of personificationin lines 37-42. Referring to the text, complete the following metaphors:

The crime committed by the queen:

-makes modesty lose...............................................................

- makes virtue become............................................................

- replaces a rose with...............................................................

-transforms marriage vows into..............................................

What do the metaphors have in common with each other and with the queen's actions?

4. Make a list of the gods Hamlet mentions in describing his father (lines 46-55). What do these allusions to Greek and Latin mythology suggest about Hamlet's view of his father? In the image that follows (lines 54-55), Hamlet's father and his brother Claudius are compared to 'two ears of corn'. Why is Hamlet's father 'wholesome' while Claudius is 'mildew'd'?

5. Complete the following table which analyses the metaphor in lines 56-57.

tenor	ground	vehicle
Hamlet’s father ………………. love lust	wholesome, beautiful lowly, ugly, barren healthy, dignified ………………………	…….. moor ……... batten

6. Examine lines 66-69. What in Hamlet's opinion is the relationship between Claudius and the queen based on? Which words in particular convey Hamlet's disgust?

7. What aspects of Claudius's character does Hamlet underline in the metaphors in lines 73-78?

8. Focus on the apparition of the ghost (lines 88-93). Does his attitude towards the queen confirm or contrast with Hamlet's?

The ghost is often considered to be a figment of Hamlet's imagination, an extension of his mind and conscience. If this is the case, what does the ghost's attitude towards the queen suggest about the relationship between Hamlet and his mother?

• That Hamlet despises his mother and cannot forgive her.

• That Hamlet is caught between wishing to avenge his father's death but not wishing to punish his mother, whom he loves.

9. What purpose does the appearance of the ghost serve?

- It heightens tension by introducing a potentially frightening supernatural element.

- It helps the audience to follow the plot of the play.

- It makes the audience more sympathetic towards the queen.

- If the ghost is interpreted as an extension of Hamlet's thoughts, it shows the more forgiving side of his nature.

10. Focus on the character of the queen. What is her attitude towards Hamlet? Find evidence in the text that suggests that:

- in the past her relationship with Hamlet was positive; line........

- she is afraid of what Hamlet might do in his current state: line........

- she loves Hamlet and knows the gentle side of his nature: line........

- she thinks that Hamlet is suffering from some form of mental disorder:

line........

- she is concerned about Hamlet's well-being: line........

11. The queen speaks primarily in questions and exclamations. Find some examples in the text. What does her form of speech convey about her state of mind? Do you feel sympathetic or angry towards the queen in this scene?

12. Consider the aspects of Hamlet's character that emerge from this text. Which of the following adjectives would you choose to describe him on the basis of this scene?

· Passionate

· Rational

· Forgiving

· Hysterical

· Confused

· Heartless

· Mad

· Righteous

Are they the same adjectives that you would use to describe Hamlet in text C6?

WRITER’S WORKSHOP

Figure of speech ◊ A figure of speech is any use of language which deviates from the obvious or common usage in order to achieve a special meaning or effect. We use figures of speech in everyday conversation when we say, for example, 'money talks' (personification) or 'it's raining cats and dogs' (metaphor) or 'they are like two peas in a pod' (simile).

In literature, figures of speech are used to create a stronger intellectual or emotional impact on the reader or spectator and to add a range of depth of association. For example, when Hamlet describes his father and Claudius he uses striking figures of speech which make the descriptions stronger and more memorable. When a writer's work is rich in figures of speech we describe his style as figurative. The text from Shakespeare's Hamlet that you have just read is an excellent example of highly figurative writing.

Task

Choose two figures of speech form Text C7 that you find striking and explain why you think they are particularly effective.

Over to you ◊ Re-write lines 41-53 in non-figurative style. Try to reduce what the characters say to its essentials and avoid the use of figures of speech. When you have finished, read the original figurative version and your new literal version aloud. Comment with your classmates on how the impact of the text changes.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14