Words, words, words

1) splenitive - "For, though I am not splenitive and rash, yet have I in me something dangerous, which let thy wisdom fear." (Act V, Scene I)

Splenitive- a synonym for rash that suggests someone has an uneven temperament. Hamlet declares that he is not rash, but does have some qualities that should be feared.

2) perdition- "Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you" (Act V, Scene II)

Perdition- utter destruction: eternal damnation. In this, Hamlet is saying that Osric's description does not take away from Laertes' good qualities

3) wanton- "I am afeared you make a wanton of me" (Act V, Scene II)

Wanton- Playfully mean or cruel. Hamlet is implying that Laertes is treating him like a child.

                                                                                       -Sam Slug

Language
Act IV
Lee Slug

IV.vii
"...so mortal that, but dip a knife in it, where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare..."
mortal: deadly
cataplasm: poultice
This section is very crucial for the audience's understanding of the rising action for the climax to come. If the audience doesnt uderstand what Laertes is saying, then  he/she doesnt understand the extensive plot to kill Hamlet.

"...the rather if you could devise it so that I might be the organ."
organ: agent, instrument
Laertes is expressing here that if Claudius can arrange a plan, Laertes would like to be the person that kills Hamlet.

IV.v
"O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!"
counter: hunting dogs that follow the wrong path

Words Words Words

1. III.i "We are arrant knaves all;..."
   Definition: A dishonest or unscrupulous man
   Here Hamlet is basically telling Ophelia that he never loved her and that all his advances and actions towards her were a lie. He tells her that she is crazy for believing that he was true to her and that men are all dishonest. She should have nothing to do with them, and in fact, should get herself to a convent. That way she will not have to deal with liars like himself. 
2. III.i "...thou shalt not escape calumny..."
   Definition: A false or slanderous statement
   After Hamlet informs Ophelia of the lie she has been believing this whole time, he tells her that if you does indeed get married one day, she will not be able to escape the untrue ways of marriage. Love is all but a lie for him and I think this reveals much more about Hamlet. The fact that everything that has been happening to him has overwhelmed and clouded his judgement therefore giving him a distorted perception on something he used to feel strongly for: Ophelia.
3. III.ii "it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious, periwig-pated fellow..."
   Definition: Wig-wearing
   Hamlet is speaking to the players and telling them how they should perform their roles. He asks of them that they not be so overly dramatic that they become loud and obnoxious. He does not appreciate the "wig-wearers" and states that it offends him. He seems to be somewhat passionate over how these actors are to portray his scene. Possibly so they get it just right for a wanted reaction from Claudius, so Hamlet will finally know whether he can seek revenge or not.
4. III.ii "Excellent, i' faith, of the chameleon's dish."
   Definition: Chameleons were thought to live off the air; eat air
   This phrase that Shakespeare decided to use is somewhat ironic. The dialogue is being held between King Claudius and Hamlet. Chameleons were thought to eat air, but as Hamlet and Shakespeare also meant the heir like the heir to a thrown. Hamlet was the heir to the thrown of Denmark before Claudius married Gertrude. This "chameleons dish" can make reference to the heir that was taken away from Hamlet.
5. III.iii "He took my father grossly, full of bread..."
   Definition: In the full enjoyment of the world
   Hamlet is speaking to himself as he sees Claudius kneeling before him. He wants to kill him right there, but since he appears to be praying, would end up going to heaven, which is the opposite of what Hamlet wants for his uncle. He is telling himself that Claudius took King Hamlet's life in a time when he was not in any religious state; he was not praying or fasting. Shakespeare makes a biblical allusion because Ezekiel 16:49 says, "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness."

xoxo,

Kara Slug

Language for Act Dos of Hamlet

From the beginning of the second act of Hamlet to the end Shakespeare barrages the reader with his all to advanced vocabulary, which has the reader constantly consulting the opposite page, looking for word meanings and references of events obscure people or events that us as high school students wouldn't otherwise know about, unless you're Joe.

1. Gyve (Pg.79 a2 s1) a shackle. Gyve adds to the context of Hamlet's previous states, his father died, then his mother remarried to his uncle of all people, while all his happened he was gyved down and away from Denmark, unable to intervene in these events, instead he returned from being away to learn of what atrocities occurred.   

2. Arras (Pg.93 a2 s2) A hanging screen of a rich tapestry or fabric. The arras that King Cladius and Polonius hide behind is a symbol to every one else in the play but Hamlet, at this point everyone else is in celebration for the richness and prominence of their home county in Denmark, while all of this is happening Hamlet is still sulking about, trying to figure out what to with the newly found information that his father didn't just die, he was murdered.

3. Lenten (Pg.107 a2 s2) Meager, Just Enough, Lacking in Fullness or Richness. Lenten adds to the a tone of Hamlet's being, he's just there, he's not anything more or anything less, he's just there.

4. Buzz, Buzz (Pg.107 a2 s2) a rude response. this adds on Hamlets distaste for most the people that surround him, showing this rude response to Polonius, and how he just want to be left alone after his father's death.

5.  Milch (Pg. 115 a2 s2) Wet with tears, milky. This is significant because the player playing this part from Aeneas' Tale played it with such emotion that his eyes were milch, this to stuck hamlet because he could connect with enduring such a sadness that the player just played through.  

-Spencer   

Language - Tevie

1. I.iiiii "With juice of cursed hebona in a vial..."
   - Basic definition - a kind of poison.
   - The revealing of the cause and culprit of King Hamlet's death is a pivotal point in the story. That he was murdered by poison and by his own brother emphasizes Hamlet's sense of betrayal and contributes to the overall conspiratorial undertone of the play.  In addition, poison often plays a major role in the misunderstandings and death that take place in Shakespeare's other plays. 
2. I.ii "Cast thy nighted color off..."
   - Basic definition - black mourning clothes
   - The mention of Hamlet's mourning attire contributes to the melancholy tone of Hamlet's thoughts and actions throughout the play and helps the reader to further visualize the difference between Hamlet's devastation and his kingdom's celebration. 
3.  I. iii "Let it be tenable in your silence..."
   - Basic definition - withheld/kept secret
   - The whole idea of keeping important secrets is always present in Shakespeare's work and, more often than not, leads to some crucial misunderstanding that results, if not in death, then in woe. The inclusion of this word sets the context for the agreement between these characters to keep the Ghost a secret.
4. I.iii "A double blessing is a double grace."
   - Basic definition - to receive one's father's blessing twice is a double favor from heaven.
   - Basically, this phrase helps emphasize the slightly sarcastic tone of Laerte's expressions to his sister concerning their overbearing father. Laerte's is remarking on the customary requisite that one must have one's father's blessing to do much of anything. This was a common notion explored in Shakespeare's plays and the basis for much of the conflict therein.
5. I.iiii "The stamp of one's defect, being nature's livery or fortune's star..."
   - Basic definition - nature's livery is something by which one is marked by nature, or born with. Fortune's star is something determined by luck or chance.
   - This phrase is hugely relevant to the theme and tone, not only of this work, but of Shakespeare's works in general. The separation of one's natural livery from their fortune's star is an idea commonly explored in his plays and is always of paramount importance to the story and the conflicts within.  Team Sea Slug fo' life