Hamlet: Literary TermsHamlet: Literary Terms

ExplicationExplication

•Line by line analysis of the Line by line analysis of the literary textliterary text

•Includes larger meaning as Includes larger meaning as well as a discussion of such well as a discussion of such elements as diction, style, elements as diction, style, symbolism, parallelism, symbolism, parallelism, figurative language, irony, etcfigurative language, irony, etc

Conventional SymbolConventional Symbol

•Symbol accepted by tradition Symbol accepted by tradition to have a particular meaningto have a particular meaning

•SkullSkull•Rose/other flowersRose/other flowers•PoisonPoison•DiseaseDisease

IronyIrony

•Verbal: puns, sarcasm, Verbal: puns, sarcasm, hyperbole, understatementhyperbole, understatement

•Dramatic: Claudius’ prayer, the Dramatic: Claudius’ prayer, the duel, Hamlet’s kindness to duel, Hamlet’s kindness to LaertesLaertes

•Situational: Ophelia’s madnessSituational: Ophelia’s madness

GenreGenre

•DramaDrama

•PoetryPoetry

•TragedyTragedy

•Revenge tragedyRevenge tragedy

DictionDiction

•PoeticPoetic

•Levels reflect charactersLevels reflect characters

•IronicIronic

•FigurativeFigurative

CircumlocutionCircumlocution

•Speaking indirectlySpeaking indirectly•Polonius: windy; has trouble Polonius: windy; has trouble

getting to the pointgetting to the point•OsricOsric•Hamlet (Shakespeare) perceives Hamlet (Shakespeare) perceives

this to be superficiality which he this to be superficiality which he consistently mocksconsistently mocks

ToneTone

• Through dictionThrough diction– Irony: puns, sarcasm; situational (hoist Irony: puns, sarcasm; situational (hoist

with their own petar)with their own petar)– Metaphors & symbols Metaphors & symbols

•Polonius to Ophelia (leash)Polonius to Ophelia (leash)•Hamlet to Gertrude/Horatio (cankered rose Hamlet to Gertrude/Horatio (cankered rose

vs rose in May) /R&G (springes to catch vs rose in May) /R&G (springes to catch woodcocks)woodcocks)

– AllusionsAllusions– SoliloquiesSoliloquies

THE ENDTHE END