context

Question 1

where did the story of hamlet originate

Answer 1

traced back to norse legend in 1200ad

Question 2

what is different about the old story and hamets story

Answer 2

reflects more on deeper thoughts (a renaissance way of thinking)

Question 3

what was the renaissance

Answer 3

the revival of greek and latin texts. and a focus on humanism

Question 4

what way of thinking do laertes and fortinbras reflect

Answer 4

medieval
black and white, action, honour and valour

Question 5

which character reflects a renaissance way of thinking

Answer 5

hamlet

Question 6

what was michelle de montaigne’s idea

Answer 6

he said reason was limited. we live in a world of appearances not truth or reality

Question 7

who was ruling when was hamlet written

Answer 7

it was the end of elizabeth I reign

Question 8

what was significant about the political state at the time

Answer 8

uncertainty, she had no heir so they didnt know the future of the crown (uncertainty mirrored in Denmark)

Question 9

who wrote the blueprint for a revenge tragedy

Answer 9

thomas kyd

Question 10

what is a revenge tragedy include

Answer 10

bloody violent scenes
maddness
ghosts
a play within a play
revenge

Question 11

what was happening with religion at the time

Answer 11

there was the purging or catholics under elizabeths father (henry viii)

Question 12

how would the state of religion be described

Answer 12

uncertain (mirrored in denmark)

Question 13

what are the catholic vs protestant views of ghosts

Answer 13

p - ghost are evil
c - ghosts are from purgatory

Question 14

what is the great chain of being

Answer 14

god
king
nobles/aristocrats
peasants

Question 15

what kind of society was it at the time

Answer 15

patriarchal

Question 16

what was the mens role

Answer 16

ordering women
positions of power
brave

Question 17

what was the womens role

Answer 17

submissive
obedient
seen not heard
possessions
(value in marriage)

Question 18

What were jacobeans afraid of

Answer 18

God fearing

Question 19

What were supernatural forces commonly regarded to be

Answer 19

Harmful and dangerous

Question 20

What was king james I very interested in

Answer 20

The supernatural

Question 21

What 5 components are a part of aristotles tragedy’s

Answer 21

-serious
-tells a full story at a good length
-rhythm and harmony
-performed not narrated
-arouses feeling of pity and fear

Question 22

What did shakespeare and many other writers at this time try to do

Answer 22

Write plays to match the ideals of Aristotle

Question 23

When did Senecas work make it over to England

Answer 23

1500s - through translation
-inspired a lot of writers

Question 24

What parts of Senecas work inspired hamlet

Answer 24

Revenge was a key theme in a lot of his plays
-he associated revenge with ghosts

Question 25

What happened through Senecas work

Answer 25

Elements such as blood violence, grand rhetorical speeches and the appearance of ghosts became a part staged production

Question 26

What was hamlets ghost father inspired by

Answer 26

The ghosts of Senecas Agamemnon and Thyestes

Question 27

What other element of Senecas influence is in hamlet

Answer 27

Stoicism

Question 28

What was shakespeare fascinated with and why

Answer 28

Mental illness, was influenced by his son in law who was a renowned doctor

Question 29

what is the body politic

Answer 29

a concept that stated the health and state of the country was measured by that of the king - was essential he was treated with respect and honour

Question 30

what biblical story can the denmark be compared to after hamlets fathers death

Answer 30

like eden after the fall of man

Question 31

what is significant about the sepulchre tomb

Answer 31

familiar in renaissance art and writing (reflects hamlets renaissance thinking)

Question 32

what is significanct about suicide at the time

Answer 32

forbidden by religion 9exposes reality of ophelias death and hamlets respect of religion)

Question 33

what were attitudes to incest at the time

Answer 33

something wrong in gods eyes and seen to be unlawful - which is why hamlets attitudes towards his mothers marriage was so significant

Question 34

what is significant about what shakespeare understood about regal mourning

Answer 34

in his time a whole country wouldve worn black following kings death, exposing hamlets mourning as normal

Question 35

when was hamlet written

Answer 35

1599

Question 36

what shows the divide between protestants and catholics

Answer 36

catholics would view the ghost as a 'spirit of health' but protestants would view it as a 'goblin damned' (manifestation of satan

Question 37

why is it significant hamlet studies at wittenburg

Answer 37

where martin luther published his protestant theses - throughout shakespeare rferences catholicism and protestantism

Question 38

who is polonius' character based on

Answer 38

sir william cecil lord burghley - elizabeths chief minister who believed that spying was the most effective way to maintain order

Question 39

what does hamlets inability to act also show us about his morals

Answer 39

the 10 commandments in exodus 20 say honour thy father, followed by thou shalt not kill

Question 40

what did they do commonly with graves

Answer 40

reuse them