Hamlet / figurative language

What type of figurative language is used in the phrase, "The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" from Hamlet’s soliloquy?

• • A) Simile

• • B) Personification

• • C) Metaphor

• Not figurative language

Answer explanation

Explanation: This is a metaphor comparing misfortune to physical attacks like slings and arrows, highlighting Hamlet's emotional turmoil.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which of these is a simile used in Hamlet’s soliloquies?

• • A) "The wind whispered through the trees"

• • B) "Life is like a walking shadow"

• • C) "The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune"

Answer explanation

This is a simile because it uses "like" to compare life to a shadow, emphasizing its fleeting nature.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

How does the metaphor "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" enhance Hamlet’s emotional depth?

• • A) It shows Hamlet is confused about his future.

• • B) It highlights the intense suffering and misfortune Hamlet feels is attacking him.

• • C) It compares Hamlet's internal conflict to a battle for power.

Answer explanation

It highlights the intense suffering and misfortune Hamlet feels is attacking him.
Explanation: The metaphor deepens our understanding of Hamlet’s struggle, portraying his pain as a physical attack.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

What is the purpose of personification in the phrase "The wind whispered through the trees"?

• • A) To create a connection between nature and Hamlet's thoughts.

• • B) To emphasize Hamlet's distrust of others.

• • C) To compare Hamlet's enemies to the wind.

Answer explanation

A) To create a connection between nature and Hamlet's thoughts.
Explanation: Personifying the wind adds an eerie, contemplative mood, reflecting Hamlet’s internal conflict.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

How does Shakespeare's use of figurative language, like similes and metaphors, help convey Hamlet’s internal struggles?

• • A) It makes the soliloquy more entertaining.

• • B) It creates deeper emotional resonance and complexity in Hamlet’s expressions.

• • C) It distances Hamlet from the audience.

Answer explanation

B) It creates deeper emotional resonance and complexity in Hamlet’s expressions.
Explanation: Shakespeare uses these devices to give Hamlet's inner thoughts more emotional weight, helping the audience connect with his conflict.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Rewrite this simile from Hamlet’s soliloquy using your own modern version: "Life is like a walking shadow."

• • A) Life is like a fleeting echo in an empty room.

• • B) Life is like a river running through the forest.

• • C) Life is like a dream you can never wake from.

Answer explanation

A) Life is like a fleeting echo in an empty room.
Explanation: This modernizes the idea of life being transient, maintaining the same emotional depth as the original.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D