HamletBy William Shakespeare

Topics of Discussion History Aristotle’s Definition of a Tragic

Hero Appearance vs. Reality Language Apollonian vs Dionysian Riddles

History

The Play Itself The Issue of the Silent Majority The Renaissance The Reformation Old Fortinbras (Norway) and Old

Hamlet (Denmark)

Aristotle’s Definition of a Tragic Hero Must Be of Noble Birth Goes from Happiness to Misery Not Totally Virtuous or Just Not Steeped in Vice or Baseness Flaw in Character Error in Judgment Inspires Pity and Fear

Appearance vs. Reality Hamlet’s vs. Claudius’s Mourning Polonius behind the Arras Hamlet’s Audience for his Rants The Ghost Friendship of Rosencrantz and

Guildenstern Hamlet’s Sanity

Language

Word Order “Oh that this too, too solid flesh…” “To be, or not to be…” Honest vs. Fair “Get thee to a nunnery…” “Goodnight, sweet prince…”

Apollonian vs. Dionysian Apollonion: Based in Thought Dionysian: Based in Action Milton’s “L’Allegro” and “Il

Penseroso” Need for balance

Riddles

The Role of the Fool in Literature “A little more than kin and less than

kind…” “I am but mad north northwest…” St. Valentine’s Day Song