AP LIT: Hamlet Quotes

A little more that kin and less than kind S/C: in Hamlet’s aside in the middle of his conversation with Gertrude and Claudius (1.1)L: aside, pun, bitter, sarcastic toneT: Sometimes, even those closest to you cannot be trusted
With an auspicious and a dropping eye. With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage. S/C: Claudius speaking to the people of Denmark about his marriage to Gertrude. (1.2)L: irony, inversionT: Nothing is as it seems to be at first glance. Sometimes, appearances do not match reality.
This above all else, to thine own self be true. S/C: Polonius is talking to Laertes telling his son: “be yourself.”L:T: The most important thing to do is to stay true to yourself.
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark S/C: Marcellus the sentinel is speaking to HoratioL: duality, foreshadowing, foreboding tone.T:mistakes or lack of character from the past, always catches up with the present.
Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother aught. S/C: Ghost telling Hamlet to leave his mother alone and let heaven judge her.L:personification of soul, dictionT: by having to live with her guilt, Gertrude will be thoroughly punished. Sometimes, having to live with oneself is more punishment than death.
The time is out of joint. O cursed spite. That ever I was born to set it right. S/C: Hamlet has just finished talking to the ghost and finding out that his father was murdered by his uncle. The ghost has left and Hamlet swears Marcellus and Horatio to an oath not to reveal what they have seen. Hamlet’s view of the enormity of the task and foreshadows his wavering and hesitation.L: personification, commanding, authoritative toneT:
I did repel his letters and denied his access to me. S/C: Ophelia is talking to her father, Polonius about her relationship with Hamlet. (2.1)L: dramatic irony, concerned toneT: madness can spread to others around you
Brevity is the soul of wit…your noble son is mad. S/C: Polonius is addressing Claudius and Gertrude about Hamlet’s insanity. He has called them there because he truly believes that Ophelia has driven Hamlet to this madness. (2.2)L:irony, dramatic ironyT: Others’ madness can lead you to madness yourself.
The very substance of ambition is merely the shadow of a dream. S/C: Guildenstern says this while he and Rosencrantz are talking to Hamlet. Before this quote, Hamlet tells his friends of how he feels trapped in Denmark and in the castle. (2.2)L: diction, toneT:ambition is just a dream and that if dreams are to become reality, action must be taken.
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties. S/C: Hamlet when talking to R&bL: anaphora, simileT: Reason, and honor make a person human. Without these qualities, we are all just beasts
The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King. S/C: Hamlet discussing his plan to expose claudius for the trickster he is.L: personificationT:Past actions will eventually come back to haunt you and will eventually be brought to light
To be or not to be: that is the question S/C:Hamlet’s soliloquy. He thinks he is alone, when actually, he is being spied on by Claudius and Polonius. (3.1)L: dramatic irony, indecisive, questioning tone, conceit, antithesisT: Activity v Passivity
Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst though be a breeder of sinners S/C:Hamlet is addressing Ophelia. He is berating her and yelling at her. (3.1)L: analogy, contrasting diction, rhet ?T:that men will corrupt and, destroy the innocence still inside of Ophelia so he warns her to keep her distance from them. Truth in madness
Give me some light. Away. S/C: After Claudius sees the incriminating play and tells the whole thing to stop.L: diction, symbolT: Past actions will eventually come back to haunt you and will eventually be brought to light
The lady doth protest too much methinks S/C: These are Gertrude’s words concerning the character that is portraying herL:T: Show the gender roles in the play. It’s is completely fine to see a woman as weak and inferior. They should remain the the back and comply to men
O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven, It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t S/C: This is a part of Claudius’s famous soliloquyL: analogy (deed to horrible smell), allusion to Cain and Abel, hyperboleT: Past actions will eventually come back to haunt you and will eventually be brought to light
These words like dagger enter my ears. No more, sweet Hamlet. S/C: When Gertrude is disturbed by Hamlet’s rude and harsh toneL: irony, simile, ref part earlier in playT: words can kill
But we will ship him hence and this vile deed. S/C:Claudius is discussing sending Hamlet off to England L: zeugma, dictionT: appearances do not mirror reality.
My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth S/C: Hamlet struggles with taking action. Earlier in the scene, Hamlet discusses how thousands of men are about to be killed and feels ashamed about the fact that he cannot even bring himself to kill one. L: determined tone, irony, dictionT:nothing can be accomplished without first taking action.
let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father S/C: Laertes saying that he wants to avenge the murder of his father and starts to plot with ClaudiusL: personification earlier, furious tone.T: Revenge bring out evil and darkness in a person and makes them forget about their morals.
I do not know from what part of the world I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet. S/C: This is Horatio right before be reads the letter from Hamlet saying that he was attacked by pirates.L: T:
Til that her garments heavy with their drink pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death. S/C:, Gertrude is informing Laertes and Claudius of Ophelia’s drowning. L: personification, peaceful tone, duality of word muddyT:love can cause madness.
Alas poor Yorick, I knew him. Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest. S/C: This is when Hamlet is holding Yorick’s skull and being all sad.L:shifting tone (happy and reminiscent to dark and morbid), diction (infinite)T: All things born, regardless of one’s position in society, must die. As with Yorick who Hamlet so loved—none will escape the fate each mortal man must face.
The devil take thy soul S/C:This is when Laertes and Hamlet both jump into the grave and start fightingL:T: Revenge can bring out the worst in a person
Here’s to thy health. Give him the cup. S/C: Claudius is trying to make Hamlet drink out of the poisoned cup but Gertrude ends up accidentally drinking the poisonL: dramatic irony, dictionT: thirst for revenge can cause both conflict and strife.
Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet Prince. And flight of angels sing thee to thy rest. S/C:Horatio says a final farewell to his friend, Hamlet, as Hamlet dies from the poison. L: tender tone, synecdoche, dictionT: death can be a peaceful, beneficial escape from suffering and external/internal turmoil.
For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune. S/C:Fortinbras arrives to take control of Denmark. L:melancholic tone, simileT: There can be happiness and new beginnings in the darkest times.