Literary Analysis of Hamlet and Candide

These flashcards cover key characters, themes, and literary devices from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Voltaire's Candide, and Ibsen's A Dollhouse.

How is Hamlet characterized in Shakespeare's play?

Hamlet is a reflective, conflictive, moral, and indecisive character.

What type of character is Claudius in Hamlet?

Claudius is a guilty, ambitious, and corrupt character.

What is Gertrude's characterization in Hamlet?

Gertrude is a morally weak and blind character.

Describe Ophelia's character traits.

Ophelia is obedient, vulnerable, and tragic.

Who serves as a foil to Hamlet?

Laertes is an impulsive foil to Hamlet.

Define the theme of revenge versus morality in Hamlet.

It contrasts instinct versus order.

What does the theme of appearance versus reality illustrate?

It contrasts how things seem versus how they actually are.

What is corruption in the context of Hamlet?

Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power.

What does dramatic irony mean?

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows information that the characters do not.

What is a soliloquy?

A soliloquy is when a character speaks their innermost thoughts.

Define paradox in literature.

A paradox is a statement or situation that seems self-contradictory but reveals deeper meaning.

Explain the use of metaphor in literature.

A metaphor describes one thing by saying it is another.

What themes are present in Voltaire's Candide?

Major themes include optimism versus reality, the danger of blind philosophy, and human suffering.

What characterizes Candide in Voltaire's Candide?

Candide is naive, optimistic, and gradually becomes more realistic.

Who is Pangloss and what does he represent?

Pangloss represents blind optimism and parodies Leibniz's philosophy.

What does satire involve?

Satire uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to critique and criticize.

What are the major themes in Henrik Ibsen's A Dollhouse?

Major themes include gender roles, marriage and power, and social hypocrisy.

How is Nora Helmer characterized in A Dollhouse?

Nora Helmer is portrayed as childlike but grows increasingly independent.

What role does Doctor Rank play relative to Nora?

Doctor Rank serves as a moral foil to Nora.

What is dramatic tension?

Dramatic tension is the emotional stretching that keeps the audience engaged.

What is the significance of the title A Dollhouse?

It represents the artificiality of social roles and the quest for true identity.