[URGENT] Test Review Help

[engbeat]

I posted this thread in hope that someone could help me, as I am in a dire situation. My teacher gave some example questions to help the students study, but I do not know the answers to any of these. I can briefly answer these questions, but my teacher is expecting a well-written, fully explained and analyzed, and in-depth answers. That is why, I write here hoping that someone generous enough could offer their help. I sincerely thank whoever is willing to help out! Any help is appreciated!

1) What kinds of imagery are employed by Shakespeare throughout Act I and the entire play?
I was thinking of using the quote of "to be or not to be", to display the difference between life and death. But, I am not sure how I would expand on this.

2) In Act I, the late Hamlet and his brother Claudius are introduced. They, too serve as foils to each other. Contrast their characters on the basis of information and inferences drawn from Act I.

3) When both Hamlet and Laertes petition the king,
a. Why does he listen to Laerte's first plea? (implications which can be drawn from this action.)
Is it because he favors him?

b. Why does he refuse Hamlet's request that he be allowed to return to Wittenburg? (Consider his real reasons and those he gives Hamlet.)
Didn't Laertes wanted to keep Hamlet close, so that he won't do anything that might disturb his position?

4) Justify Hamlet's evaluation of his mother's character, "Frailty, thy name is woman."
I think Hamlet thinks of her mother as fragil, as she can not decide for herself and has to rely on someone else.

5) Of all the details related to Hamlet by his father's ghost concerning his murder, which does Hamlet seem to find most horrifying?

6) What is the nature of the advice given to Ophelia by Laertes and re-echoed by her father?
Wasn't it that she should stay away from Hamlet, as his love is not real?

7)Why is the relationship between Claudis and Gertude considered incestuous?
Isn't it because Claudis is the late Hamlet's brother? Not sure what else I would say...

Thanks!

[Jim58]

1. I think you will find the wealth of imagery in the play is either nature related including animals and gardening and human weaknesses and strengths such as sickness and disease on the one hand and war and athletics on the other. I'm referencing Caroline Spurgeon, Shakespeare's Imagery.

2. The Ghost and Claudius contrast most markedly on the theme of image and reality. The Ghost is obviously an image and Claudius the reality. But as the play proceeds we see that Claudius presents the image of reality. He is really a false king and like the imagery of sickness, Claudius is the unseen cancer in Denmark. The Ghost as Act 1 proceeds, gains a reality beyond his image as he recounts not only the circumstance of his death but of the evil of Claudius in taking crown and queen.

3. In Act 1 Sc 2, Claudius is staging an event. He is presenting himself as a king. After presenting his due respects, Claudius begins his kingly functions. He starts internationally and concludes personally. He deals in order with Fortinbras, Polonius/Laertes and finally Hamlet. It isn't that Claudius favors Laertes over Hamlet. It is that the king should address issues of the people first before his own.

Hamlet stays because his mother wants him to stay. The king proclaims Hamlet next in line for the throne, the implication being he should learn the ropes and be available if something would happen to Claudius. Behind this though Claudius wants to keep an eye on Hamlet. He doesn't want Hamlet going all Prince Fortinbras on him.

5. In order of his comments after the Ghost leaves, I would say he is most horrified by his mother then the villainy of his uncle.

6. Laertes advice is that Hamlet has certain duties as prince to which he must adhere and that the choice of a wife is not necessarily his and therefore she may lose her honor as well as her heart. Polonius is clearly focused on Ophelia losing her honor and having it reflect badly on him. So both want her to stay clear of Hamlet.

7. According to Leviticus it is incestuous for a man to marry the wife of his brother. This was a Elizabethan reality because of what happened to Henry VIII. Henry had married his deceased brother's wife and failed (until much later in life) to produce a male heir.