LDG Week 10
Santiago Godoy
Ms. Wallenius
AP English, Per. 4
13 November 2014
Literary Device 15 – Apostrophe
Definition: In its simplest form, this is when a speaker or an author detaches themselves from reality to state something personified or abstract.
Example: “Within a month – let me not think on’t Frailty, thy name is women – A little month, or ere those shoes were old with which she followed my poor father’s body” (I. ii. 145-148).
Function: During this scene in the first act, Hamlet depicts his true feelings relating to how his mother had a sudden change of character by marrying Claudius in the short aftermath of his father’s death. The audience obviously sees how Hamlet grieves for a long period of time; completely opposite of his mother who once used to be so fond of King Hamlet. We see his true emotions especially when he addresses the concept of frailty as “women”. The usage of the apostrophe shows that Hamlet believes his mother has a very weak moral character. Women being plural, he is also criticizing the gender (possibly reflecting Shakespeare’s ideologies) which starts a strand for later events in the play. The audience will see that the feminist stereotype can be supported with Hamlet’s association with Ophelia who (contrary to Gertrude) is very fragile due to the death of her father Polonius which drives her crazy and eventually to suicide. Her brother Laertes on the other hand becomes stronger; enough to form a rebellion that pushes its way through into the royal headquarters.
Literary Device 16 – Assonance
Definition: In its simplest form, this is when there is a repetition of vowel sounds in non-rhyming syllables.
Example: “For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil” (III. i. 66-67).
Function: During the first scene in the third act, Hamlet’s soliloquy portrays these lines that are all in a blend in his question of life and death. The words “sleep” and “dreams” portray assonance since both have the
Ms. Wallenius
AP English, Per. 4
13 November 2014
Literary Device 15 – Apostrophe
Definition: In its simplest form, this is when a speaker or an author detaches themselves from reality to state something personified or abstract.
Example: “Within a month – let me not think on’t Frailty, thy name is women – A little month, or ere those shoes were old with which she followed my poor father’s body” (I. ii. 145-148).
Function: During this scene in the first act, Hamlet depicts his true feelings relating to how his mother had a sudden change of character by marrying Claudius in the short aftermath of his father’s death. The audience obviously sees how Hamlet grieves for a long period of time; completely opposite of his mother who once used to be so fond of King Hamlet. We see his true emotions especially when he addresses the concept of frailty as “women”. The usage of the apostrophe shows that Hamlet believes his mother has a very weak moral character. Women being plural, he is also criticizing the gender (possibly reflecting Shakespeare’s ideologies) which starts a strand for later events in the play. The audience will see that the feminist stereotype can be supported with Hamlet’s association with Ophelia who (contrary to Gertrude) is very fragile due to the death of her father Polonius which drives her crazy and eventually to suicide. Her brother Laertes on the other hand becomes stronger; enough to form a rebellion that pushes its way through into the royal headquarters.
Literary Device 16 – Assonance
Definition: In its simplest form, this is when there is a repetition of vowel sounds in non-rhyming syllables.
Example: “For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil” (III. i. 66-67).
Function: During the first scene in the third act, Hamlet’s soliloquy portrays these lines that are all in a blend in his question of life and death. The words “sleep” and “dreams” portray assonance since both have the