Key Passages Sample

Key Passages Analysis

The goal is NOT to translate the passage or paraphrase it.  The whole point of the assignment is to DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PASSAGE.  EACH KEY PASSAGE ANALYSIS MUST BE A MINIMUM OF TEN SENTENCES.

Example:

First, list the page number, first two words, and last two words of the quote, as shown below.

Pg. 135-136  “Indeed so…the king.”

In this passage Hamlet gives a speech after deciding that he will stage a play that mirrors the events surrounding his father’s death.  He is angry with himself for not taking action in seeking revenge for the death of his father.  He is also upset with himself because he realizes that the actor who delivers the monologue is able to evoke more emotion while acting than Hamlet can about the reality of his father’s death.  This speech emphasizes several themes in the play.  It highlights Hamlet’s grief.  The final line also provides proof that Hamlet will use deception, as he reveals that he will use the device of the play to manipulate Claudius into revealing his guilt.  The speech relates to the theme of confusion because halfway through the passage, Hamlet quickly moves from cursing himself to praising himself.  He becomes emotionally fueled by getting angry about his lack of emotion, an idea that is confusing in and of itself.  Hamlet is shown to be torn between thinking and acting, and this creates a division in his mind that seems to touch on the edges of madness.  The theme of loyalty is also referenced in these lines, as it becomes clear that Hamlet’s only purpose in life is to seek revenge in honor of his father’s memory.