Although scholars and literary critics continue to question the true authorship of his plays long after his death in 1616, William Shakespeare is still considered one of the greatest writers of all time. Throughout Shakespeare’s career, up until the fire that destroyed the Globe Theatre in 1613, many people believe that Shakespeare wrote thirty-six full length plays (Literary Cavalcade). Shakespeare has also written over 150 sonnets, all demonstrating his genius and skill as a writer. Regrettably, several of Shakespeare’s unfinished works were believed to be destroyed in the fire at the Globe Theatre, which initiated Shakespeare to never write again (Literary Cavalcade). Several of his works were not published in his lifetime, except for …show more content…
Shakespeare will sometimes end iambic pentameter on an unstressed syllable. As shown in the play Hamlet where Hamlet Jr. has his famous soliloquy “to be or not to be, that is the question” (Mabillard). Additionally, he influenced many poets to use this method, like John Keats. Keats would keep Shakespeare’s works beside him when he wrote to spark imagination. Shakespeare was also very well known for his similes and imagery. He used strong words to give images. His similes gave the complete portrayal of a specific moment. He was a master of explaining several things in fewer words. The following is one of Shakespeare’s best examples of using imagery: “Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart; Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea” (Baluch).
Furthermore, Shakespeare’s writing style is an abundant reason why he is a great writer. He focuses on the grammatical structure and a natural flow of speech, he uses these to demonstrate a familiar relationship between characters. This can be seen in the play Hamlet when Hamlet Jr. writes a letter to Horatio. He also uses this to signify a character’s mind, also shown in Hamlet when Hamlet Jr. is exhibiting insanity. The character Hamlet Jr. tends to use this style both when he is being very rational and when he is very irrational, but the passionate Hamlet speaks in verse
Shakespeare uses rhetorical appeals in his writing. The soliloquy by Hamlet for example uses more the expression of pathos. Pathos interferes with emotional appeals, the sentimental imagery, and the visualizations represented in the writing. The character expression of pathos is obvious since he says everything from his heart and is serious about considering suicide. He has an effect on the reader by making the reader feel sympathy towards him and his situation. For example, he says, “For who would bear the whips and scorns at time” (Shakespeare, Pg.4), which means who would deal with life struggles. He also says, “Thus conscience makes coward of us all” (Shakespeare, Pg.4), which means our own inner self stops us from doing what we want.
Shakespeare to create a lot of contrasts and moods, as and when he wants to.
Originally titled The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke, this tragedy has been reproduced more times than any other play written by William Shakespeare (en.wikipedia.org 1 of 9). Prince Hamlet also has the lengthiest appearance of any character in all of Shakespeare's plays (en.wikpedia.org 6 of 9). In the play, Prince Hamlet is caught between balancing his need to avenge his father's death, dealing with the disgust he felt for Gertrude and Claudius' love affair, and maintaining the relationship he has with Ophelia without exposing his plans to kill his uncle Claudius for the murder of King Hamlet.
William Shakespeare, poet and playwright, utilized humor and irony as he developed specific language for his plays, thereby influencing literature forever. “Shakespeare became popular in the eighteenth century” (Epstein 8). He was the best all around. “Shakespeare was a classic” (8). William Shakespeare is a very known and popular man that has many works, techniques and ways. Shakespeare is the writer of many famous works of literature. His comedies include humor while his plays and poems include irony. Shakespeare sets himself apart by using his own language and word choice. Shakespeare uses certain types of allusions that people always remember, as in the phrase from Romeo and Juliet, “star-crossed lovers”.
Many details of Shakespeare’s person life were left a mystery for which we as readers must wonder if his plays and sonnets give clue. When going to a Shakespearean play one will find the experience in its self, is one of love, loss, and tragedy. People would come from all around to feel the way Shakespeare wanted the audience to feel. He wanted to express his life and his way of thinking through his art which was dramatic writing. Shakespeare expresses his love through his plays such as Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Hamlet and many others through his use of wit, humor and dramatic talent.
The means in which Shakespeare develops the dialogue between his characters allows the reader to hear the words as if they are being spoken to them personally. This helps in understanding the personality of each character. Once a reader develops a feel for each character and who they are, the audience begins to foreshadow and analyze a theme for the story. Shakespeare uses imagery and repetition of events in his dialogue to make the story easy to understand. Overall, diction place an important role in every story whether it be describing a character, developing a plot, or understanding a theme.
William Shakespeare’s sonnets are considered to be some of the most beautiful poems in English literature. Although little is known about the poet, many seem to put their focus on Shakespeare’s inner life; wondering why he wrote the things he did. William Shakespeare is mostly known for his plays; however, he did accomplish a lot in poetry. William Shakespeare was powerful with his words, and knew how to express things in great depth. Why or who he wrote about is still a mystery. Scholars only know so much about his life, and are still trying to put the unknown pieces together.
In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the importance of characters Laertes and Fortinbras have been an issue that's discussed and analyzed by many literary critics. Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are parallel characters in the play. Laertes and Fortinbras are often use by Shakespeare to compare the actions and emotions of Hamlet throughout the play. "They are also important in Hamlet as they are imperative to the plot of the play and the final resolution" (Nardo, 88). Shakespeare placed these three men: Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras into similar circumstances, which is, to avenge for their fathers' deaths. The main difference between the three is the way that each of them comes to grief of their fathers' deaths and the way they planned their vengeance.
Therefore, through these visually descriptive and figurative languages, readers can identify characteristics of these central characters. Firstly, Hamlet’s characteristics are revealed through imagery in his speech. Secondly, Claudius’ characteristics are revealed through the imagery in the Ghost and Hamlet’s descriptions of him. Thus, Shakespeare effectively uses imagery to characterize these central characters.
Hamlet, the cornerstone character of Shakespeare 's Hamlet, is thought to be the most complex character of English literature. This characterization is often due to the fact that Hamlet is thought to be mad. The depth at which Hamlet’s thoughts reach is far superior to those around him, leaving him misunderstood. Despite what scholars tend to think, Hamlet was too intelligent for the other characters to interpret his thoughts, words, and actions in any other way than madness.
By using just the right combination of words, or by coming up with just the right image, Shakespeare wrote many passages and entire plays that were so powerful, moving, tragic, comedic, and romantic that many are still being memorized and performed today, almost four centuries later. But the greatness of Shakespeare’s ability lies not so much in the basic themes of his works but in the creativity he used to write these stories of love, power, greed, discrimination, hatred, and tragedy.
To understand a play, you must first understand the fundamentals for the play: protagonist, antagonist, exposition, rising action, crisis, climax and resolution. I will examine Hamlet by William Shakespeare. This is a great example for the purpose of this paper it provides a clear and great examples.
Almost four hundred years after his death, William Shakespeare's work continues to live on through his readers. He provides them with vivid images of what love was like during the 1600's. Shakespeare put virtually indescribable feelings into beautiful words that fit the specific form of the sonnet. He wrote 154 sonnets; all of which discuss some stage or feature of love. Love was the common theme during the time Shakespeare was writing.
Through the elements of technique portrayed in this essay, it is clear to see that Shakespeare is able to influence the reader through soliloquies, imagery, and dual understanding. This overall influence being both the communication of a deeper meaning, and a more complex understanding of the events and statements within Hamlet.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragedy that revolves around three central themes. These themes are death, betrayal, and revenge. In order to both advance the plot and produce character motivations, Shakespeare uses a plethora of literary devices; including foreshadowing, imagery, symbolism, and indirect characterization. These devices have the additional effect of conveying a sense of suspense and danger, while also offering psychological insight into the characters’ minds.