Hamlet Act I Scene IV and Act II Scene II Vocab Terms

Includes cited quotes containing terms.

Act I Scene IV

  1. Traduced - to be criticized. “Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations” (I. iv. 20).
  2. Pernicious - to be threatening. “O most pernicious woman!” (I. v. 105).

Act II Scene II

  1. Glean -  to take. “So much as from occasion you may glean” (II.ii.16).
  2. Sovereign - notable or unconditional. “Might, by the sovereign power you have of us” (II.ii.28).
  3. Satirical - amusing. “Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here” (II.ii.214).
  4. Rogue - dishonesty. “Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here” (II.ii.214).
  5. Promontory - land or area. “the/ Earth, seems to me a sterile promontory” (II.ii.321-322).
  6. Firmament - the sky. “this most/ excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’er-/ hanging firmament” (II.ii.322-324).
  7. Pestilent - bothersome. “why, it appeareth nothing to me/ but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors” (II.ii.325-326).
  8. Paragon - a perfect example. “the/ beauty of the world, the paragon of animals” (II.ii.330-331).
  9. Quintessence - an example. “and/ yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?” (II.ii.331-332).
    1. Cleave - to convince or manipulate. “And cleave the general ear with horrid speech” (II.ii.590).
    2. Malefactions - wrongdoings. “They have proclaimed their malefactions” (II.ii.621).