Hamlet 1.1 | The Uncertainty Of The Ghost

Question 1

1.1 What is Horatio described as and what is he a symbol of

Answer 1

Horatio described as a ‘scholar’ that’s sceptical of the ghost - used by Shakespeare as a symbol of renaissance rationality. Him acknowledging the ghost conveys its undeniability

Question 2

1.1 “Sick at heart” - Francisco

Answer 2

Creates mood of corruption and disease, foreshadowing moral contamination of Danish court. This is the first example of the plays major motif (sickness + disease)

Question 3

1.1 “Bodes some strange eruption to our state”

Answer 3

Metaphor showing it’s an omen of some form of unpredictable, dangerous destructive changes

Question 4

1.1 “Who’s there”

Answer 4

Opening words, creates a sense of uncertainty + introducing search for an identity (theme shapes the play)

Question 5

1.1 Ghost being presented ambiguously

Answer 5

“Fair and warlike form” - force of good + representing a sense of violent threat

“Harrows me with wonder + fear” - a sense of amazement of the ghost but fear of the unknown, Horatio is sceptic

“Dreaded sight” + “guilty thing” - sin + transgression of some form, unknown

Question 6

1.1 Doubt + intrigue in opening scene

Answer 6

“Unimproved mettle, hot and full” - young fortinbras (his name means strong arm and masculinity) suggests he’s untested but also rash, bloodthirsty in desire to avenge father, impulsive, hot headed

Midnight setting conveys a sense of unknown threat and boundaries being crossed

Quick exchanging of lines = conveys anxiety (frantic) + jumpiness caused by the ghost

Question 7

1.1 “Ghost is the linchpin of the play”

Answer 7

Wilson