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Hamlet

Analyzing Hamlet: Diction and Imagery

Questions on flowers and water around Ophelia, animals around Gertrude, and images of disease and decay.

By Rick Reed

Shakespeare Hamlet Drama Close reading Essay questions

ENGLISH 12AP:

Analyzing Hamlet

Mr. Reed

DICTION AND IMAGERY

Ophelia

  1. Find evidence to support the assertion that Ophelia is associated with flower and water imagery.
  2. How does the use of flower imagery in conjunction with Ophelia reveal her character?
  3. How does the use of water imagery in conjunction with her reveal her character?

Gertrude

  1. Find evidence to support the assertion that Gertrude is associated with animal imagery (including diction expressing lust).
  2. How does Gertrude’s association with animal imagery reveal her character?
  3. How does her association with diction expressing lust reveal her character?
  4. How do both reveal and explain her relationship to Hamlet? To Claudius?
  5. Defend or dispute the assertion that Gertrude is an older version of Ophelia.

Disease, decomposition, and weeds

The imagery of disease, decomposition, and weeds plays a major role in the verbal expression of the play, especially in the words of Hamlet himself. Search the play for examples.

  1. How do such images develop his character?
  2. How do they express his view of the situation in Denmark?
  3. How do they express his view of the world at large?