hamlet close analysis

1.1 summary + themes

Start of play, uneasy in denmark introduced, ghost comes in, many minor characters- microcosm of Denmark and play, this anxiety is widespread, horatio- smart sceptical but not too much

Anxiety and panic, start w app vs real and tension builds

Important structural features

Medias res- Romeo and Juliet

Questions at start- suspense, panic, distress

Stichomythia and staccato

Old hamlet as model of renaissance regal masc w clothing

Pathetic fallacy and corruption- body politic

Ambiguity- ghost not rev until mid scene

Horatio

‘Horace’ philosophical name

Reps audience

‘Unfold yourself’

Direct address- ambiguity

Triplet, multilayers to ppl trust

Young fortinbras

Old hamlet killed old fort- he wants revenge, theme, foil to hamlet, hot- anger decisive threat volatile

French name- strong arms

This bodes some strange eruption to our state

Foreshadowing, ominous, analyse strange

Eruption = danger, polititical revolt- future

Collective pro

State- double meaning, mental and geographic

Mote it is to trouble the minds eye

Metaphor or vision

Mote- dust, small seemingly insignificant, blinding and pain, understatement

The cock crows

Stage directions not often used by Shakespeare, biblical, Jesus told peter he would betray him 3 timess before cock crows- foreshadows g and c