Hamlet Context Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is Aristotelian tragedy?
A form of drama that imitates real life and provides catharsis for spiritual cleansing.
Aristotle believed drama could morally improve audiences by depicting the tragic hero’s downfall due to their hubris or hamartia.
What is hamartia in the context of tragedy?
The tragic hero’s fatal flaw that leads to their downfall.
Define anagnorisis.
The hero’s sudden realization of their mistake.
What does peripeteia refer to?
The reversal of fortune suffered by the hero.
Who was Seneca in relation to Roman tragedy?
A playwright inspired by Greek tragedy who wrote revenge-driven heroes.
What is a revenge-tragedy?
A sub-genre of tragedy focused on themes of vengeance, exemplified by Hamlet.
What characterizes Elizabethan tragedy?
Themes of ambition, morality, power, free will vs fate, and includes supernatural elements.
What is the Great Chain of Being?
A hierarchical structure that orders all living things, popular in Elizabethan tragedy.
Name one of Shakespeare’s pre-1600 dramas.
Titus Andronicus, Romeo and Juliet, or Julius Caesar.
What was the societal view of blood feuds in Elizabethan England?
Blood feuds were seen as justified revenge for wrongs done to an individual or family.
How did Elizabeth I manipulate her image?
By showcasing herself as a rightful monarch and capable leader, emphasizing her femininity and sexuality.
Describe Gertrude’s character in Hamlet.
An aging female monarch who maintains political authority yet is one of the quietest characters.
What is the Oedipus Complex?
A child’s unconscious sexual desire for the parent of the opposite sex and rivalry with the same-sex parent.
Fill in the blank: Hamlet treats his mother with _______.
[disrespect]
What is Machiavellianism?
A personality trait characterized by manipulation, indifference to morality, and self-interest.
What is a malcontent character?
A discontented character who observes and comments on the social structure and action.
What is metatheatre?
A form of theatre where audiences are aware they are watching a play.
What does the ghost in Hamlet represent?
A figure in a purgatory-like state, reflecting residual Catholic beliefs in a Protestant England.
How were suicides viewed in Elizabethan society?
As a crime against oneself, often denied a Christian burial and treated as sinful.
What does Hamlet believe about his father’s death?
He believes his father died without confessing to a priest, impacting his actions towards Claudius.
Fill in the blank: Hamlet’s fear of the afterlife aligns with _______ doctrine.
[Christian]
What was the Elizabethan belief about madness?
Caused by an excess of passion and often associated with female hysteria.
How does Ophelia express her thoughts in madness?
She makes references to sexual innuendos, revealing her true feelings for the first time.
Define realpolitik.
Politics based on practical objectives rather than ideals, often disregarding ethical considerations.
