Techniques to look for in passages
Dominance of speech – who is speaking more? Does it show a power dynamic in which the
dominant renders another submissive? Who is asking and who is answering questions? How long are
the sentences? I.e. Polonius instructing Ophelia, renders her submissive as he dominance speech.
Imperatives/ commands – who is ordering who? Is it forceful or caring? Contrasts often between
Claudius and Gertrude.
Questioning – does this make them submissive? Do they already know the answers, intentional?
Does the person answer truthfully? Are they sycophantic? i.e. Hamlet questioning R and G when
they arrive.
Dramatic irony – does the audience know something that these characters don’t’ i.e. Hamlet doesn’t
know Ophelia is dead in the grave yard scene.
Tone – is it
Ominous
Celebratory
Forceful
Caring (maternal)
Rude/ undermining
Sycophantic
Comic
Depressing
Double meanings – the grave digger and Hamlet use this quite a lot to undermine people’s
meanings, shows wit and a tendency to be pedantic. Often shows power dynamic as well. Hamlet
undermines words of R and G, they cannot keep up.
Alliteration – often shows that this is an important phrase, can reflect the nature of a character i.e.
sibilance can suggest spying and duplicity, but plosive sounds can indicate strength and power.
Hyperbole – exaggerating, does it undermine what they are saying, or strengthen their point. How is
saying it, i.e. if Polonius then playing into fool, if Hamlet then playing into melancholy, etc.
Metaphors/ similes – does it disguise the meaning? what are they comparing themselves to, does it
affect how the audience see them? i.e. Hamlet to Hercules
Onomatopoeia – sound affects.
Personification – what is being personified? Is it animating, is it ominous, is it threatening, is it
beautiful? i.e. flowers and Ophelia representative of meanings – violets = faithfulness
Stichomythia – two characters speak alternate lines of verse. often shows connection between two
characters that understand each other as they quickly reply to one another. Can show vigorous
contention or heightens the emotional intensity of a scene. i.e. Closet scene between Queen and
Hamlet
Asyndetic lists – no conjunctions only commas, makes it go quickly and speeds the pace up.
Syndetic lists – constant conjunctions, slows the pace down, makes it seem like going on forever.
Can be quite excessive.
Dominance of speech – who is speaking more? Does it show a power dynamic in which the
dominant renders another submissive? Who is asking and who is answering questions? How long are
the sentences? I.e. Polonius instructing Ophelia, renders her submissive as he dominance speech.
Imperatives/ commands – who is ordering who? Is it forceful or caring? Contrasts often between
Claudius and Gertrude.
Questioning – does this make them submissive? Do they already know the answers, intentional?
Does the person answer truthfully? Are they sycophantic? i.e. Hamlet questioning R and G when
they arrive.
Dramatic irony – does the audience know something that these characters don’t’ i.e. Hamlet doesn’t
know Ophelia is dead in the grave yard scene.
Tone – is it
Ominous
Celebratory
Forceful
Caring (maternal)
Rude/ undermining
Sycophantic
Comic
Depressing
Double meanings – the grave digger and Hamlet use this quite a lot to undermine people’s
meanings, shows wit and a tendency to be pedantic. Often shows power dynamic as well. Hamlet
undermines words of R and G, they cannot keep up.
Alliteration – often shows that this is an important phrase, can reflect the nature of a character i.e.
sibilance can suggest spying and duplicity, but plosive sounds can indicate strength and power.
Hyperbole – exaggerating, does it undermine what they are saying, or strengthen their point. How is
saying it, i.e. if Polonius then playing into fool, if Hamlet then playing into melancholy, etc.
Metaphors/ similes – does it disguise the meaning? what are they comparing themselves to, does it
affect how the audience see them? i.e. Hamlet to Hercules
Onomatopoeia – sound affects.
Personification – what is being personified? Is it animating, is it ominous, is it threatening, is it
beautiful? i.e. flowers and Ophelia representative of meanings – violets = faithfulness
Stichomythia – two characters speak alternate lines of verse. often shows connection between two
characters that understand each other as they quickly reply to one another. Can show vigorous
contention or heightens the emotional intensity of a scene. i.e. Closet scene between Queen and
Hamlet
Asyndetic lists – no conjunctions only commas, makes it go quickly and speeds the pace up.
Syndetic lists – constant conjunctions, slows the pace down, makes it seem like going on forever.
Can be quite excessive.
