Claudius

Question 1

Shakespeare’s Machiavellian presentation of Claudius could have been influenced by…

Answer 1

The writing of the Prince during the Renaissance era

Question 2

Claudius’ interactions with the minor characters of … explore the manipulative impact of the usurper

Answer 2

Laertes and R and G

Question 3

What does Gertrude say to persuade R and G into believing Claudius likes them?

Answer 3

‘Two men there is not living to whom he more adheres’

Question 4

Quote showing the breakdown of the relationship between Hamlet and R and G

Answer 4

‘Do you think i am easier to be played upon than a pipe’ (3.2)

Question 5

‘Or are you like the painting of…

Answer 5

a sorrow

Question 6

‘How much i had…

Answer 6

to do to calm his rage’ (4.7)

Question 7

‘To cut his…

Answer 7

throat in th’church’

Question 8

Analyse ‘to cut his throat in th’church’

Answer 8

Claudius has caused Laertes to comit extreme lengths of blasphemy.
This contrasts with L in 1.3 where he is noble and trying to protect Ophelia

Question 9

Why does Claudius refer to the death of Polonius as ‘he which hath your noble father slain’

Answer 9

To manipulate Laertes and present Cl as a victim to unify them and manipulate Laertes

Question 10

Why does Claudius question Laertes ‘are you like the painting of sorrow’

Answer 10

Claudius is attempting to provoke Laertes anger and grief so he avenges his father

Question 11

Analyse ‘to cut his throat in th’church’

Answer 11

Laertes is willing to sin and shows committment to vengeance

Question 12

The presentation of Claudius as scheming and manipulative could have been influenced by the writing of…

Answer 12

Machiavelli’s The Prince which suggested rulers must sometime act inogbly to achieve their goals

Question 13

What is the quote from The Prince

Answer 13

‘everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.’

Question 14

What does Claudius’ initial introduction do?

Answer 14

It introduces ideas around doubt of the new king which may have been influenced by concerns about succession in Elizabethan England

Question 15

Quotes that contrast CL and H’s grief

Answer 15

-‘Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death’
-‘How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable’

Question 16

Quote showing Claudius repeating collective pronouns?

Answer 16

‘our hearts in grief, and our whole Kingdom’

Question 17

‘one brow of…

Answer 17

woe’

Question 18

‘Auspiscious and dropping…

Answer 18

eye

Question 19

‘mirth in funeral and…

Answer 19

with dirge in marriage’

Question 20

Quote showing Claudius flattering the court

Answer 20

‘nor have we herein barr’d your better wisdoms’

Question 21

Critics used to critique Claudius’ kingship and speech in 1.2

Answer 21

‘Claudius shows every sign of an excellent diplomat and King’ (Knight) - Refute

Question 22

Why does Shakespeare make use of the motif of corruption?

Answer 22

To establish Claudius as a villain and Hamlet as tragic hero

Question 23

Quotes showing the semantic field of decay in 1.2

Answer 23

-‘Too sullied flesh’
-‘things rank and gross in nature’
-‘an unweeded garden’

Question 24

‘Something is…

Answer 24

rotten in the state of Denmark’

Question 25

'serpant that did sting thy father's life//...

Answer 25

now wears his crown' (1.5)

Question 26

Quotes with synecdoche which allude to ideas of the body politick

Answer 26

'royal bed of Denmark be// a couch for luxury and damned incest'' (1.5)

Question 27

Quote showing Laertes and Hamlet can reconcile after corruption is removed from the kingdom

Answer 27

'exchange forgiveness with me noble Hamlet'

Question 28

'Bear...

Answer 28

Hamlet like a soldier' (5.2)

Question 29

What context could be used for the motif of corruption?

Answer 29

The body politick

Question 30

What critic can be refuted when considering that Hamlet saved the Kingdom of Denmark from corruption?

Answer 30

-'Hamlet is patently not a hero' (O'Toole)

Question 31

What does Claudius' soliloquy introduce in 3.3?

Answer 31

It introduces an ambiguity around his guilt and remorse which makes him a more complex villain than traditional Senecan tragedies

Question 32

'O, my offense is rank it...

Answer 32

smells to heaven// it hath the primal eldest curst upon't' (3.3)

Question 33

What quote from his 3.3 soliloquy presents Claudius as conflicted?

Answer 33

'Like a man to double business bound'

Question 34

'Is there not rain...

Answer 34

enough in the sweet heavens// to wash it as white as snow' (3.3)

Question 35

Quotw from 3.3 showing Claudius is still in posession of rewards from his sin?

Answer 35

'My crown, mine own ambition, and my Queen'

Question 36

Quote from 3.3 which uses rhetric devices

Answer 36

'O wretched state! O bosom black as death!'

Question 37

'My words fly up, my thoughts remain below// words without...

Answer 37

thoughts never to heaven go' (3.3)

Question 38

What context could you use for the complexity of Claudius' soliloquy?

Answer 38

Senecan tragedy vs Shakespeare's modern tragedies

Question 39

What critic could be used for Claudius' soliloquy not being genuine?

Answer 39

'Claudius' solilpquy gives the impression of rhetorical pagentary rather than sincere contrition' (Arnold)

Question 40

What critic can be used to suggest Claudius is weak?

Answer 40

'Claudius is not a monster, he is morally weak' (Arnold)