Act 1 Scene 2 part 3 (soliloquy)

Question 1

How does Shakespeare contrast the tempo of Hamlet’s lines ‘how weary, stale, flat and unprofitable’ compared to previous rhythms of Claudius’ previous speech?

Answer 1

Structural parallel to Claudius’ rehearsed speech as Hamlet’s soliloquy lacks control and is emotional

Question 2

What does the phrase ‘Hyperion to a satyr’ suggest about how Hamlet sees his father and Claudius differently?

Answer 2

Shows how Hamlet does not see Claudius as any comparison to his father and he does not believe Claudius is fit to be King or be with Gertrude

Question 3

What is the effect of Shakespeare’s use of sibilence in the line ‘incesteous sheets’

Answer 3

-Emphasises Hamlet’s dismissal of their marriage as he believes it is distasteful
-Hamlet judges women based on their sexual behaviour

Question 4

How does Hamlet present his mother when he says ‘a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourn’d longer’

Answer 4

-His mother did not obey the correct period of mourning
-he has compared both his mother and Claudius to a beast
-‘frailty thy name is woman’ suggests she’s given into primal desires