english 4 mid-term

who is hamlet?

protagonist, prince of Denmark, in college, son of queen Gertrude & the late king of hamlet of Denmark, nephew of Claudius (the new king)

who is Horatio?

hamlet’s best friend, shows good judgement, goes to school with hamlet

who is Queen Gertrude?

hamlets mother, King Hamlet's widow, just married Claudius (her brother in law)

who is King Claudius?

new ruler of Denmark, just married his dead brothers wife, doesn’t really like or trust hamlet

who is King hamlet’s ghost?

appears several times, will speak only to his son hamlet

who is Ophelia?

hamlets girlfriend, sweet & innocent, dutiful daughter, father is a member of king Claudius court

who is laertes?

ophelias brother, college student in France, great at fencing

who is polonius?

father of Ophelia & laertes, trusted advisor to King Claudius, worried about hamlets relationship with ophelia

who is fortinbras?

prince of Norway (denmark’s neighbor), king Hamlet killed his father in battle, chip on his shoulder against hamlet & king Claudius, presents a threat to denmark’s security

what does foil mean?

a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other characters

who are hamlets characters foils?

ophelia, laertes, fortinbras?

what are the 4 conflicts?

man vs man (physical), man vs circumstance (classical), man vs society (social), man vs himself (psychological)

“The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.”

The ghost to Hamlet (act 1 scene 5)

“…most seeming-virtuous queen.”

ghost to Hamlet (act 1 scene 5)

“there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio Than are dreamt of in your philosophy”

hamlet to horatio (act 1 scene 5)

“I doubt it is no other but the main— His father’s death and our o’erhasty marriage.”

gertrude to Claudius about Hamlet's madness (act 2 scene 2)

“ay, sir. to be honest, as this world goes, is to Be one man picked out of ten thousand.”

hamlet to polonius (act 2, scene 2)

respite

noun; period of rest or delay

poignant

adj; painfully affecting the feelings

bilk

verb; to cheat out of something

heresy

noun; dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice

obdurate

adj; stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action

renown

noun; the condition of being known or talked about by many people

credulous

adj; having or showing too great a readiness to believe things

enigma

noun; a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

reprehensible

adj; deserving censure or condemnation

hasten

verb; be quick to do something

blatant

adj; (of bad behavior) done openly and unashamedly

cower

verb; to crouch down in fear

nullify

verb; make of no use or value, cancel out

acquiesce

verb; accept somethings reluctantly but without protest

blight

noun; a thing that spoils or damages something

cryptic

adj; having meaning that is mysterious or obscure