The Analytical Breakdown of Hamlet, Act 1 Notes #2

5 Act Structure Act 1 – Exposition Act 2 – Complications (Rising Action) Act 3 – Climax Act 4 – Reversals (Falling Action) Act 5 – Catastrophe / Denouement (& Recognition)

Act 1 – Exposition The exposition includes… Main characters, a.k.a. dramatis personae Establishment of time and place, setting Explanation or allusions to the antecedent action of the story Introduction of the germ of conflict and dramatic tensions

“This bodes some strange eruption to our state.” Act 1 Scene 1: Questions Darkness WAR! Ghost Mood Foil Omens “This bodes some strange eruption to our state.” – Horatio, 1.1.69 UNCERTAINTY!

Act 1 Scene 2: Contrasting mood Claudius’ rhetoric Introduction to Hamlet’s melancholy appearance v. reality first soliloquy = his true feelings Hamlet’s friends = new mood stichomythia = importance of the information “… Foul deeds will rise Though all the earth o’erwhelm them to men’s eyes.” – Hamlet 256-257

Act 1 Scene 3: Another mood shift: Intimate family conversation characterization of all  important family dynamics Social hierarchy Laertes = partying player Ophelia = an idealist with no power Polonius = bumbling fool Treatment of Women: attempts to control Ophelia expectation of the day =obeys her father “You speak like a green girl…” (101) “Think yourself a baby…” (105) “Ay, springes to catch woodcocks” (115)

Act 1 Scene 4: Ghost watch v. Claudius’ party Hamlet seeking truth Foreshadows his own downfall: Vicious mole… stamp of defect… dram of eale… Ghost beckons Hamlet  he must follow “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” – Marcellus (90)

The Ghost of King Hamlet!

Act 1 Scene 5: Suspense of entire Act leading to this scene Ghost tells all! Do we believe him? Hamlet’s 2nd soliloquy Importance of swearing/oaths Hamlet’s plan to “put and antic disposition on” (172) “The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right.” -- Hamlet (189-190)

Act 2: Complications Course of action becomes more complicated and the "tying of knots" occurs Interests clash, intrigues are spawned, events accelerate in a definite direction In other words: tension mounts and momentum builds!

Shakespeare’s Brilliance! Hamlet’s Soliloquy: 9 changing moods Scene 2: 9 Episodes #1: 1 – 39 #2: 40 – 85 #3: 86 – 168 #4: 167 – 216 #5: 217 – 309 #6: 310 – 358 #7: 359 – 520 #8: 521 - 534 #9: 535 - 590 THE STRUCTURE OF HIS SHIFTING MOODS, PARALLELS PERFECTLY THE STRUCTURE OF THE SHIFTING EPISODES OF ACTION IN THE WHOLE SCENE!

With your assigned “episode,” complete the following: Analysis & ?s Episode: With your assigned “episode,” complete the following: #1: 1 – 39 #2: 40 – 85 #3: 86 – 168 #4: 167 – 216 #5: 217 – 309 #6: 310 – 358 #7: 359 – 520 #8: 521 - 534 #9: 535 - 590 You will something very similar to last class… Choose the 5-10 most important lines in your episode Act them out dramatically Explain (1) the context, (2) explain why this mini-scene is important to the complications of Act 2, but this time… (3) write two guiding questions re: this passage