How far is Hamlet dominated by a Christian worldview? Does its Worldview have any relevance for a modern day audience?
'There are more things dreamt of in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy' HOW FAR IS HAMLET DOMINATED BY A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW? DOES ITS WORLDVIEW HAVE ANY RELEVANCE FOR A MODERN DAY AUDIENCE? England during the 17th century was a Christian society and country. All Children would most certainly have been baptised shortly after birth and once at a suitable age capable of understanding religion would be taught the essentials of Christian faith. Attendance at church was compulsory; failure to do so without a good medical reason or otherwise would lead to a hefty fine. During the 16th century in England those of Christian faith subsequently despised other races against that of Protestantism, and any other religion or paranormal existence that they did not understand. The persecution of Jews within Elizabethan England meant the state forbade them the rights to ownership of land or to engage in trade. Shakespeare showed an incredible understanding and knowledge of issues and crises of his time, introducing burning issues of today into his deeply Christian country that showed an inability of understanding and respecting other faiths and religions. Within the pre-Elizabethan period and onwards society was influenced heavily by the head of state, religion and new theoretician's ideas. A Theocentric world view stated that everything was circled around God,
What evidence is these in the play to support these opinions? How do you think that Shakespeare has presented Angelo in the play?
. 'Angelo is an arrogant hypocrite'. 2. 'Angelo is a vulnerable and confused man, deserving of our sympathy'. What evidence is these in the play to support these opinions? How do you think that Shakespeare has presented Angelo in the play? If you ask any critic of the play 'Measure for Measure' by William Shakespeare, to give you a simple description of the character of Angelo, they will tell you that he is the villain of the play. He is a man who rules strictly, without mercy, summarised by the Duke, "strict and most biting laws". Yet his hypocrisy was his downfall in the end. Originally classified in the first Folio as a comedy, Measure for Measure is one of the three problem plays, as there are many question raised by the writer. Shakespeare deliberately gives the audience three different characters opinions of Angelo before we can make formulate one ourselves. This is deliberately done to primarily give us a clouded view of the character, and therefore prolong the mystery and uncertainty. This in itself is foreshadowing the actions of the play, as our opinion of Angelo does change throughout the play. The title of the play is a key theme throughout. Originally coming from the bible, "what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:2-3). Which translated means, what you do to others, they will do to you. Which is what Angelo finds out in act V,
"A journey is more than just movement from one place to another. It is about learning and growth." What have you learned about the importance of journeys from your study of Imaginative Journeys?
"A journey is more than just movement from one place to another. It is about learning and growth." What have you learned about the importance of journeys from your study of Imaginative Journeys? BY ELISE THOMPSON A thorough study of journeys reveals that a journey is much more than just movement from one place to another. Journeys are about learning and growth, and they have the potential to teach people about themselves and the society in which they live. An Imaginative Journey is one in which the individual doesn't in fact have to go anywhere in the physical sense. The physical journey is replaced by an expedition that is fuelled by the human capacity to imagine. Imaginative Journeys create endless possibilities. They can offer an escape from the realities of life, and are frequently used to comment on social or human traits and characteristics. Imaginative Journeys are represented in the focus text, "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare, the 2003 calendar cartoon in the Sydney Morning Herald by Michael Leunig, and the Board of Studies Booklet Prescribed text "The Road Not Taken", a poem by Robert Frost. The composers attempt to create a world in which imagination dominates the actions and desires of the characters, as they are taken on a journey of magic and discovery. In "The Tempest", Shakespeare attempts to generate a world where the audience is transported to a
"All Things are ready if our minds be so" Explore the dramatic techniques used by Henry V to inspire his men before the battle of Agincourt.
"All Things are ready if our minds be so" Explore the dramatic techniques used by Henry V to inspire his men before the battle of Agincourt. William Shakespeare's play "Henry V" is set in 1415, when Henry becomes King Henry V of England. As a young man Henry enjoyed drinking and the company of women. When he became King Henry changed, he wanted to be taken seriously and to be treated like an adult, so he gave up drinking. Henry was angry and insulted by a birthday present of a box of tennis balls from the King of France, Henry thought the King of France was suggesting that he was still a boy and not a man capable of ruling England. To prove he was a man Henry ordered the invasion of France. Henry's first battle was the Siege of Horfieur Henry V where he inspired his troops with a speech before leading them into battle. Henry said they had to behave like tigers and show no fear only strength. The next battle was the Battle of Agincourt, Henry's troops were exhausted after their last battle and were out numbered five to one. But Henry tries to inspire them again for the last time he starts off talking dramatically about death, "if we are marked to die, we are enough to do our country loss." I think he is saying that if the English are meant to lose the battle then it is better that they die, than thousands more if they wait for help. Then he goes on to
"An exploration of the way Shakespeare presents Katerina in the play".
" An exploration of the way Shakespeare presents Katerina in the play" Katerina is the female protagonist of the play and to me the second most interesting character in it, next only to abominable Petruchio. The way Shakespeare presents her is very complex, entertaining and open to interpretation. She had been given many roles in the play; daughter to Baptista, sister to Bianca, fiancée and wife to Petruchio, suitor's worst nightmare, mistress to servants and of course the town Shrew.Kate is a complex character because Shakespeare had presented her so differently from other females of the period he lived in. Namely the time where a woman's highest virtues are her abilities to be obedient, placid, meek, uncomplaining, and discreet, plus their abilities in the homemaking process and those mundane things, like playing the pianoforte, painting and sewing. But Kate, as numerous others of Shakespeare's female protagonists, won't stand these stereotypical assumptions. She is of no 'gentler or milder mould' and is considered very 'froward' and compared to the 'devil' himself. She flaunts convention and isn't averse to quick thinking, wit, physical violence and strong language. Kate is a very determined character who taunts and mocks those people around her when she doesn't get her way. Shakespeare presents Kate's relationship and interaction with her family in a very steroetypical
"By close analysis of the language, form and structure of this extract, discuss the presentation of Richard's view of his situation."
Richard II Extract Based Question- Act III Scene iii lines 142-170 PLUS 176-183. "By close analysis of the language, form and structure of this extract, discuss the presentation of Richard's view of his situation." This poignant monologue from Richard is a series of thoughts which he speaks aloud as he ponders on what it to become of him. Richard is a king with extremes of emotion, and so a monologue from him is always full of poetic devices and ornamentation of language, as he conveys his emotions rather than facts. In this case, his violent change of mood leaves his desperate and depressed, as he begins to convince himself that Bolingbroke has usurped his throne once and for all, and Richard prepares to resign himself to either an existence of poverty and shame, or an untimely and undignified death. The repetition of the word "king" emphasises Richard's pride of his title, and his bitterness in losing it. The word is used sarcastically as Richard remarks on the king doing what he "must", when it should be the king giving orders. The line "A god's name, let it go" could hint that Richard is relieved to no longer be king, as "let it go" could suggest dropping a burden. However, the line is ambivalent as it could also show Richard finding it difficult to let go and move on. The word "let" in any case however, shows Richard's acknowledgement that it is his responsibility to
"Comment on the imagery in 'Macbeth'".
"Comment on the imagery in 'Macbeth'" In 'Macbeth', Shakespeare has produced some very powerful images that can, and definitely did, induce certain emotions in the audience. The play to an Elizabethan audience would have been both scary and horrifying. The way Shakespeare achieved this was through the use of the imagery of- clothes, light and dark, the unnatural, blood, animals and disease. The opening scene with the witches is full of imagery, such as the storm and dark weather. This is important because the opening scene is the scene that captures the imagination of the audience and persuades them to stay. One of the most obvious themes in 'Macbeth' that recurs throughout the play is the theme of clothing. Clothes are used as metaphors for positions of power, with titles and Thane-ships being described as robes- "The thane of Cawdor lives, why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" (Act 1 Scene 3) In this section of text Macbeth is basically trying to find out why the title of 'Thane of Cawdor' is being given to him if the current thane is still living, it is just that the metaphor of clothes is being used, in this case 'robes'. Just a few moments later while Macbeth is contemplating what the witches prophecy means in the light of what has happened in the last section, Banquo murmurs- "New honours come upon him like our strange garments." (Act 1 Scene 3) Yet another
"Compare the way Shakespeare presents Hamlet's 'antic disposition' to the way Ophelia's madness is presented to us in Act V."
"Compare the way Shakespeare presents Hamlet's 'antic disposition' to the way Ophelia's madness is presented to us in Act V." In this play, Hamlet, Shakespeare shows us the different ways that madness can be portrayed and the various ways that others surrounding the central characters can perceive it. From the beginning it is explained that Hamlet would "put an antic disposition on" and this signifies that Hamlet's madness would just be an act, not something that is actually true. Hamlet confides in Horatio and asks him not to look knowingly if he sees Hamlet behaving oddly by saying "some doubtful phrase" that might be "ambiguous" in its meaning. This immediately reinforces the notion that Hamlet is only play acting his apparent madness and in actual fact, is sane. Shakespeare presents Hamlet's "antic disposition" as a means for Hamlet to bide his time and figure out how to avenge his father's murder "by a brothers hand." Hamlet's madness is not meant to be seen as madness by us, but as something that has a purpose i.e. it could enable Hamlet to kill Claudius and it could be perceived by others that the killing was unintentional and was because of Hamlet's "madness". However, in the case of Ophelia, Shakespeare presents her form of madness as something that is real and tangible. She has a reason to be mad; her father is "dead and gone." Shakespeare enforces the idea that
"Consider how and why Shakespeare uses natural images in Sonnet XVIII, "Shall I compare thee..." and act two, scene two, of "Romeo and Juliet".
Response to Shakespeare Coursework "Consider how and why Shakespeare uses natural images in Sonnet XVIII, "Shall I compare thee..." and act two, scene two, of "Romeo and Juliet". In my coursework I am going to analyse two works of Shakespeare, these will be Sonnet XVIII and Romeo and Juliet. Both of these poems show share similarities, the main one being the theme - love. In Sonnet XVIII, a man is talking about a woman, and is trying to find a comparison to her, that will do her beauty justice, whilst Romeo and Juliet follows a love story, between these two characters, it is a romantic play, which ends in tragedy. Another shared feature of both plays is Shakespeare's use of 'Natural Imagery'. This is a technique that is often used by writers, and is a favoured method of writing used by Shakespeare. Natural imagery is used in writing for description and/or comparison. In these two instances, it compares characters and feelings to that of nature. In Shakespeare's era, nature was enjoyed by most people, as it was all around them - it was something that everybody understood, Shakespeare used natural imagery as something that people could relate to - they knew that the Sun was warm, that the night was mystical, and that fire was passionate, therefore if something or someone was compared to one of these, they knew exactly what was meant. Act two, scene two in Romeo and
"Consider the dramatic functions ofthe fool in King Lear".
"Consider the dramatic functions of the fool in King Lear" Hannah veseli The fool's dramatic functions reach far further than is first obvious on the surface of his character. Although he is not without wit and humour, his usually gaiety has been soured to suit the high tragedy that is paramount to King Lear. His presence in King Lear, is not just to show the folly of the king (which is his actually job) as in other Shakespearean plays, but rather he has many other important dramatic functions. Having said that his gaiety is soured, he does provide a contrast to the otherwise perennial gloom that surrounds King Lear. This is used for a number of reasons; firstly if Shakespeare was to simply concentrate on the tragedy and not include any 'comical moments', the gloominess would become monotonous. However by adding contrast, almost by juxtaposition, it emphasises the depth and seriousness of the tragedy. This is especially true when one thinks that the fool's gaiety is less humorous than his predecessors, and in many cases simply common sense. This common sense provides a comparison with Lear's madness, once again emphasising the depth of it. A prime example of the fool's common sense, compared with that of Lear's madness is in the 'mock trial scene'. When Lear is 'putting Goneril on trial' (using a stool to represent her), the fool says "Cry you mercy, I took you for a
