Hamlet Act 4 Literary Devices

Simile Example: “Mad as the sea and wind when both contend which is the mightier.” (Scene 1)
Inversion Example: “Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain” (Scene 1)
Metaphor Example: “So dreaded slander—whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter, as level as the cannon to his blank, transports the poisoned shot—may miss our name and hit the woundless air.” (Scene 1)
Analogy Example: “Besides, to be demanded of a sponge!”…” Ay, sir, that soaks up the king’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end. He keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw, first mouthed to be last swallowed. When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you and, sponge, you shall be dry again.” (Scene 2)
Invective Example: “Besides, to be demanded of a sponge!”…”A knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.” (Scene 2)
Antithesis Example: “The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body.” (Scene 2)
Conflict Example: Scene two and three of Act IV could be considered ______s as it involves the harassment of Hamlet, the main protagonist. This series of questions and arguments lead to his sending to England and overall impede his goal of seeking revenge on Claudius, his main goal.
Ambiguity Example: “At supper. “…”Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A certain convocation of politic worms are e’en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service—two dishes, but to one table. That’s the end. “…”A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.”…” Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar.” (Scene 3)
Dramatic Irony Example: “By letters congruing to that effect, the present death of Hamlet. Do it, England.” (Scene 3)
Soliloquy Example: “How all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge! … Oh, from this time forth, my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” (Scene 4)
July 9, 2019