Hamlet – Act 5

Allusion Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust, the dust is earth, of earth we make loam—and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer barrel?Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.” (Act 5 Scene 2 Line 239)Alexander refers to Alexander the Great and Caesar refers to Julius Cesar. Both of these are considered great military leaders.
Allusion “Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead,Till of this flat a mountain you have made,T’ o’ertop old Pelion or the skyish headOf blue Olympus” (Act 5 Scene 1 Lines 251)-Mount Olympus in Greek Mythology is the home of the gods. Pelion refers to Mount Pelion which was mountain that the Aloadaes put mount Ossa on in order to enter mount Olympus in an act of rebellion against the gods.– Laertes says this line after jumping into Ophelia’s grave. He uses this illusion to show how the impact that Hamlet’s killing of Polonius on both the living and dead referring to his sister’s suicide.
Allusion “And if thou prate of mountains let them throwMillions of acres on us, till our ground,Singeing his pate against the burning zone,Make Ossa like a wart!” (Act 5 Scene 1 line 286)-This refers to Mount Ossa. In Greek mythology, the Aloadaes tried to pile Mount Ossa onto Mount Pelion in order to scale Mount Olympus.
Allusion Hamlet repeats this allusion in order to mock Laertes’ dramatic outbursts. “Let Hercules himself do what he may” (Act 5 Scene 1 line 294)- In mythology Hercules is a hero who is half mortal half god.
Scene i Ophelia is buried
Scene i Hamlet returns and converses with the grave digger about death and later expresses his love for Ophelia
Scene i Hamlet and Laertes argue, the King must remind Laertes about their plans
Scene ii Hamlet tells Horatio what has transpired since he has left
Scene ii Hamlet agrees to a fencing math with LaertesThis is here the King hopes to kill him with a poisoned sword and drink
Scene ii Hamlet and Laertes both cut each other with the poisoned sword
Scene ii Hamlet kills Claudius and soon after dies along with Laertes, but not before Hamlet forces The king to drink and poisons him.
Scene ii Fortinbras appears in the aftermath and calls hamlet a hero while claiming the throne for himself.
Allusion “-They hold up Adam’s profession” – Grave-Digger (V i 32)A refference to the biblical perosn Adam
Allusion “Doust though think Alaxander looked of this” -Hamlet (V i 201)Hamlet dicusses death and wonders if the Great Alaxander looked the same as any other man in death once they were buried and all that remained was bones
Hyperbole, Allusion “Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead, till of this flat of a mountain you have made, to overtop old Pelion” – Laertes (V i 258-260)-Laertes expresses how much he cares for his now deceased sister while making references to Greek mythology.
Simile “Your skill shall like a star in the darkest night stick a fiery off indeed.” – Hamlet (V ii 256-257)Hamlet tells Laertes that his skill in fencing will become noticeable to all like a star in the night
Forshadow “You will lose, my lord,” (Horatio V.1.104): foreshadowing Hamlet’s defeat.
Pathetic Fallacy “‘Tis very cold,the wind is northerly,” (Hamlet V.1.101) On the day of his duel.
Cacophony “Draw thy breath in pain” (Hamlet V.2.108)”Warlike noise” (Hamlet V.2.108)”Cries in havoc” (Fortinbras V.2.109)
Personification “And let the kettle to the trumpet speak” – Claudius (V ii 277)-The King is telling everyone they will drink wine if Hamlet win the fencing match
August 15, 2019