There is an excessive amount of premeditated planning that goes into the writing of any kind of text. From things as sophomoric as the names of the characters to the challenging decisions of how paragraphs and sentences should be structured, structure in literature is key. The term 'literary structure' can refer to a plethora of things, it is most often be summarized as the rhetoric devices utilized within a text. Things like word play, organization, diction, word choice and even the general plot structure are all considered to be rhetoric devices. Rhetoric is necessary in the formation of a structurally sound text. A text without rhetoric and literary structure is considered to be very bland, and often time leave readers wanting to pick up …show more content…
The title character himself, Hamlet, is introduced into the text with an immediate use of word play, allowing readers of the text to see just how clever and witty not only the character is, but the author himself. While speaking to the antagonist of the play, Claudius, his uncle who has murdered his father and taken the throne, Hamlet states, "Not so, my lord, I am too much i'th'sun." (Hamlet, 1-2-68) When asked why he is so upset, Hamlet replies that he is too much in the sun, which at first appears to be a rather bland answer to a normal question, though really holds a double meaning. Hamlet is being asked this question by his uncle, and newfound stepfather, and when he states that he is too much in the sun, he actually means that he is now Claudius' son, and that has become the cause of his distress. Immediately, it becomes easy to see the ways in which Shakespeare employs structural techniques such as this one that allows the readers to take in a deeper understanding of what the text is attempting to say without having to explain everything excessively. Word play is one of the most frequently used methods of rhetoric in the structure of literature, deriving its power from the ability to appeal to readers that are actually paying real attention to the text at hand. For the readers that were …show more content…
Within Hamlet, Shakespeare employs this use of plays within plays in order to create tension and depth. The play within a play in this case is a mirror image of the situation in which Hamlet's father was killed, and Hamlet makes the new king watch this play with the hope that it will bring back memories of the murder and he will act out harshly. Hamlet states specifically that, "I'll have the grounds / More relative than this. The play's the thing / Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." (Hamlet, 2-2-592) Shakespeare creates an incredibly interesting dynamic through this utilization of literary structure, allowing the audience to experience two things at once, while maintaining an atmosphere that does not feel too overwhelming. It is not uncommon to include plays within plays in writing, however, it is not often that playwrights have the ability to actually integrate these texts into the plot in such a way that they become a main device in the literary structure. Shakespeare uses a relation of texts on the most fundamental level, by actually including the text itself into his text, displaying not only some of the ways in which relations can be made between works but also the ways in which other texts can be used as literary devices. Shakespeare's texts have never
Hamlet is considered to be Shakespeare's most famous play. The play is about Prince Hamlet and his struggles with the new marriage of his mother, Gertrude, and his uncle and now stepfather, King Claudius about only two months after his father’s death. Hamlet has an encounter with his father, Old King Hamlet, in ghost form. His father accuses Claudius of killing him and tells Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet is infuriated by this news and then begins his thoughts on what to do to get revenge. Hamlet and Claudius are contrasting characters. They do share similarities, however, their profound differences are what divides them.Hamlet was portrayed as troubled, inactive, and impulsive at times. Hamlet is troubled by many things, but the main source of his problems come from the the death of his father. “Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, or that the everlasting had not fixed his canon 'gainst self-slaughter” (Act 1, Scene 2). In this scene, Hamlet is contemplating suicide, which is caused by the death of his father and the new marriage of Gertrude and King Claudius. This scene shows the extent of how troubled Hamlet is. Even though Hamlet’s father asked him to avenge his death, Hamlet is very slow to act on this throughout the play. “Now might I do it pat. Now he is a-praying. And now I’ll do ’t. And so he goes to heaven. And so am I revenged.—That would be scanned. A villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven” (Act 3, Scene 3). This scene shows King Claudius praying, while Hamlet is behind him drawing his sword but decides not to kill
What is important to know is that Hamlet and Laertes, throughout the text do not have a friendly relationship and the admiration for Laertes by Hamlet is nothing but an irony and sarcasm. As an audience to the play, one know that Laertes has been brainwashed into believing that Hamlet is his enemy, even when that is not the case at all; the enemy of the Danes throughout the text is the King, Claudius. He is responsible for numerous deaths and agony in the country because he is responsible for killing fathers to Laertes and Hamlet. Despite this, Claudius still manages to create a wall between Hamlet and Laertes, even though the audience expects them to
The direct quotation is used to compare the slight differences that Olivier’s version of Hamlet (1948) had. It is used to illustrate the points that were different.
There are hundreds of literary devices that are constantly used in books, magazines, articles, etc. Now within books, there are endless ways to insert as many devices as the author pleases. The most common literary devices used in Hamlet are: metaphors, similes, and anaphoras. These literary devices are used to emphasize emotions, help its’ audience interpret, and correlate events that happen in Hamlet.
Shakespeare's dramatic treatment of struggle is clear through Hamlet's inability to take action and carry out his duty to his father. Before avenging his father's death, Hamlet first puts on a play "to hold...the mirror up to nature," in an attempt to reinact the events of his fathers death and "catch the conscience of the king" to ensure that what the ghost has told him is true. While by arranging this play, Hamlet is in a sense taking some action by trying to ascertain the truth, Hamlet reproaches himself in a soliloquy for his lack of decisive action. Shakespeare's use of a soliloquy allows Hamlet to reveal his feelings and innermost thoughts to the audience and he admires one of the players' passion and emotion. Hamlet marvels at the
Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, begins with the appearance of a ghost, an apparition, possibly a hallucination. Thus, from the beginning, Shakespeare presents the air of uncertainty, of the unnatural, which drives the action of the play and develops in the protagonist as a struggle to clarify what only seems to be absolute and what is actually reality. Hamlet's mind, therefore, becomes the central force of the play, choosing the direction of the conflict by his decisions regarding his revenge and defining the outcome.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Laertes and Hamlet both lose a father by unnatural and sudden death. The unnatural death of the father is brought on by someone close to the son. When Laertes discovers that his father is dead, he is outraged. When Hamlet learns from the ghost of his father’s murder, he weeps, and promises action, though he delivers none. Both Laertes and Hamlet grieve deeply for their fathers, but Laertes acts upon this grief while Hamlet carefully plots his revenge and waits for the perfect moment to avenge King Hamlet. Laertes’ unplanned action causes his death by his own sword, while Hamlet’s apparent inaction finally gets him the revenge that Laertes has attempted. Though Laertes’ grief at his father’s death causes his
In what way do the techniques used in a prescribed text develop ideas and influence your response as a reader? The revenge tragedy, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare is a tale of murder, secrets and lies where a son is called upon by the ghost of his father to avenge his death. Shakespeare uses a range of techniques in order to influence the readers understanding of Hamlets main themes and ideas. The most effective techniques used within the play are the soliloquies that give depth of both character and story, the powerful displays of imagery used within the play, and the dual understanding that emphasizes the connection between king and country. Through these techniques Shakespeare
Logic is man 's most valuable asset; it is what pushed humanity past other species and helped develop humankind into what it is today. Without such logic and reasoning, humanity would not have evolved into the strongest and most powerful beings alive. It is what has enabled us to dominate the world, create civilization, unlock the secrets of the universe through math and science and reveal the true nature of man through art. One of art’s most beloved benefactors, William Shakespeare, crafted his most famous character, Hamlet, to be the living embodiment of this God-given reason. However, we learn throughout Hamlet’s eponymous play the irony in the
"Her whole character is that of simple unselfish affection" (Bradley). In comparing the characters in the play Hamlet, Ophelia’s purity and delicate beauty make her comparable to a flower. Ophelia signifies the nature and righteousness of the Elizabethan Era, with her willow trees and flowers visible, and epitome of a goddess. Throughout most of the play, Shakespeare uses Ophelia to enable other characters in reaching their goals. Elizabethan society created impossible expectations for women, considered to be the weaker sex, exploited, and in need of protection. With no exception to this expectation, Ophelia is mistreated, scorned and ultimately shamed by the men in her life. Ophelia is the most innocent victim of Hamlet’s revenge in Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”.
For example, it is not simply his reaction to his mother that drives that their relationship, but his skillful use of words and language. At one point, Hamlet recognizes his power with words and tells the audience, as if recognizing this to be. Unfortunately, Hamlet’s use of language does not always benefit him in this play by Shakespeare. Due to his brooding and introspective nature, he often wrangles with language to help him understand a reality where he has little control. Hamlet’s famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy questions the righteousness of life over death in moral terms and discusses the many possible reasons for either living or dying.is tragic flaw “I will speak daggers to her, but use none” (Shakespeare,1603, p.366). Overall, the power of language in Hamlet by William Shakespeare has had a direct impact on the tragic outcome of the play. The tragic ending was simply the culmination of the “poison in the ear” and destructive use of language and thinking that follows. For Hamlet, the immense power of language cannot be ignored. Furthermore, it is apparent that the reality, both for the reader and the central characters, is mutable and susceptible to the influence of manipulative words. Words from different characters could act as daggers, both on the reader as well as the
Language Techniques in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Shakespeare used a variety of language techniques throughout Hamlet,
1. How much time has passed between Act I and Act II. How do you know?
allow anyone to act in this way. It is God who rules the universe and
Before the 20th Century, literature was pretty straightforward; the narrators were reliable, the timelines were linear, and the perspective was clear, but then somebody got the idea to mix it up. This is how we got books such as The Great Gatsby and one of our class texts, Orlando. For some, this was a startling and uncomfortable transition from what used to be considered the, “normal” format which was very up front in terms of structure and voice. Others found it to be more exciting and, while it was still weird and unsettling for those people, it forced people to think more about what the books were trying to communicate, instead of just being handed the message; they had to work for it. This has become one of the leading reasons that societies are encouraged to read; if you read a book that forces you to think, your mind becomes stronger and this promotes an increase in intelligence and creativity.