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Full Notes and Analysis on Hamlet
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This document is a comprehensive guide to Shakespeare's Hamlet including key quotes, themes, and a thorough analysis.
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11U “Hamlet” WorkbookDramatic Terms
Allusion A reference in one literary work to a character or theme found in another literary
work. T. S. Eliot, in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" alludes (refers) to the
biblical figure John the Baptist in the line Though I have seen my head (grown
slightly bald) brought in upon a platter, . . . In the New Testament, John the Baptist's
head was presented to King Herod on a platter.
Aside A device in which a character in a drama makes a short speech which is heard by
the audience but not by other characters in the play. The character is on stage with
other characters but is not speaking to them. It can also be between two
characters.
Blank Verse A blank verse is a poem without rhyme but does have iambic pentameter. This
means it consists of lines of five feet, each foot being iambic, meaning two
syllables long, one unstressed followed by a stressed syllable .
Catharsis The effect of tragedy as a purging of the spectator’s emotions; through pity and
fear. The feeling of emotional relief and exaltation induced by tragic literature or
art.
Comic Relief A humorous or funny scene or incident in the course of a serious drama. Designed
to provide relief from emotional intensity and, at the same time, to heighten the
tragic nature of the action.
Equivocation Something that has two meanings. Can lead to misunderstanding. A statement
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, that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth. Intentionally
vague or ambiguous.
Figurative In literature, a way of saying one thing and meaning something else. Take, for
Language example, this line by Robert Burns, My luv is a red, red rose. Clearly Mr. Burns does
not really mean that he has fallen in love with a red, aromatic, many-petalled, long,
thorny-stemmed plant. He means that his love is as sweet and as delicate as a
rose. While figurative language provides a writer with the opportunity to write
imaginatively, it also tests the imagination of the reader, forcing the reader to go
below the surface of a literary work into deep, hidden meanings.
Foil A character in a play who sets off the main character or other characters by
comparison. In Shakespeare's "Hamlet" Hamlet and Laertes are young men who
behave very differently. While Hamlet delays in carrying out his mission to avenge
the death of his father, Laertes is quick and bold in his challenge of the king over
the death of his father. Much can be learned about each by comparing and
contrasting the actions of the two.
Hamartia A fatal or tragic flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine. Macbeth’s
tragic flaw is his ambition to be king. Othello’s tragic flaw is his jealousy over
Desdemona. Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his indecision.
Hubris A character’s overbearing pride or presumption. This overpowering pride leads to
the character’s downfall or destruction.
Iambic a line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of one short (or unstressed)
Pentameter syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable, for example Two households,
both alike in dignity.
Imagery A word or group of words in a literary work which appeal to one or more of the
senses: sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell. The use of images serves to
intensify the impact of the work.
Irony Irony takes many forms:
In irony of situation, the result of an action is the reverse of what the actor
expected. Macbeth murders his king hoping that in becoming king he will achieve
great happiness. Actually, Macbeth never knows another moment of peace, and
finally is beheaded for his murderous act.
In dramatic irony, the audience knows something that the characters in the drama
do not. For example, the identity of the murderer in a crime thriller may be known
to the audience long before the mystery is solved.
In verbal irony, the contrast is between the literal meaning of what is said and
what is meant. A character may refer to a plan as brilliant, while actually meaning
that (s)he thinks the plan is foolish. Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony.
Metaphor A figure of speech wherein a comparison is made between two unlike quantities
without the use of the words "like" or "as." Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," has this to say about the moral condition
of his parishioners:
There are the black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads,
full of the dreadful storm and big with thunder;
The comparison here is between God's anger and a storm. Note that there is no
use of "like" or "as" as would be the case in a simile
Moral Order The returning to the normal and correct order of things. The end of conflict and the
resolution of the problem.
Nemesis A terrible but just and fitting punishment for a character’s actions. You get what
you deserve.
Pathetic A fallacy of reason in suggesting that nonhuman phenomena act from human
Fallacy feelings, as suggested by the word "pathetic" from the Greek pathos; a literary
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, device wherein something nonhuman found in nature-a beast, plant, stream,
natural force, etc.-performs as though from human feeling or motivation.
Poetic Justice An outcome in which virtue triumphs over vice (often ironically). You get what you
deserve.
Pun Play on words where one word takes on a double meaning. This creates
misunderstanding and/or humor.
Rhyming Used by Shakespeare to indicate the end of a scene, or the end of a sequence
couplet within a scene.
A stanza of two lines, usually rhyming. The following by Andrew Marvell is an
example of a rhymed couplet:
Had we but world enough and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime
Simile A figure of speech which takes the form of a comparison between two unlike
quantities for which a basis for comparison can be found, and which uses the
words "like" or "as".
Soliloquy In a play: a moment when a character is alone and speaks his or her thoughts
aloud. In the line "To be, or not to be, that is the question:" which begins the famous
soliloquy from Act 3, scene 1 of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" Hamlet questions
whether or not life is worth living, and speaks of the reasons why he does not end
his life.
A Brief History of the English language
How Languages Evolved How did English Evolve
Nowadays English is spoken in many parts of the world, but there was really no such thing as the
English language before about CE 450. Up until then the people of Britain spoke a Celtic dialect. The
Romans occupied Britain from CE 43 to about CE 410 but their language made little impression on the
native population.
Soon after the Romans left Britain the Anglo-Saxon occupation began. This was a gradual settlement
rather than a sudden invasion and went on until about the year 700 CE.
The Anglo-Saxons were Germanic tribes and their language became the dominant one in their new
home. This form of English, as it came to be known, is often called Old English, although to us now it
looks like a foreign language.
In the years 750-1050 there were a number of raids carried out by the Vikings, and we can trace Viking
influence on names of places and other words that passed into the English language.
The last invasion of Britain was in 1066. This time the invaders were the Normans, who came from
France. The conquerors spoke French, but ordinary people continued to speak English, and by about
1400 this had become the language that most people in Britain used. By now, English had absorbed
numerous French words, many of which are of Latin origin.
The English that was used 500 years ago is sometimes called Middle English, and even this looks
strange to us now. Many more changes were to take place before it became the modern language that
we know today.
“Brief History of the English language” questions
1. What language did the people of Britain speak before about CE 450?
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