Quirky Quotes!
The line in which Claudius implores a foreign nation to kill Hamlet for him
What is “Do it England”
A mime sequence in which gestures convey meaning or a story
What is a dumbshow?
The actor whose production of “Hamlet” saw them kissing and generally acting very odd towards Gertrude, a prime example of the Oedipus Complex.
Who is Mel Gibson?
The supposed actor of Old Hamlet’s ghost in the original production of “Hamlet”
Who is William Shakespeare?
Three things Showalter names that Ophelia is “deprived of”
What is “thought, sexuality and language?”
What Hamlet wishes would “melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew”.
What is “this too too sullied flesh”?
A literary technique that entails assigning human characteristics or actions to non-human animals or objects
What is anthropomorphism?
The artwork featured on a T-shirt worn by David Tennant’s Hamlet, a reflection of his heroism (or lack thereof)
What is abs/muscles?
Out of Rozencrantz and Guildenstern, this character has the most lines
Who is Rozencrantz?
The rest of the Bradley quote “Hamlet is unable to carry out the sacred duty…”
What is “imposed by divine authority of punishing an evil man by death”
Hamlet likens his madness to a cardinal direction
What is “I am mad but North-North West”.
An adjective used to describe using ruthless and cunning plots and schemes for political gain (e.g. Claudius), named after the Italian philosopher who suggested such an approach.
What is Machiavellian?
The famous neo-expressionist American artist whose art style is mimicked by Hamlet in Essiedu’s production
Who is Jean-Michel Basquiat?
The first actor to use the donated skull of composer Tchaikovsky in an RSC production.
Who is David Tennant?
The author of this quote: “Hamlet is haunted, not by a physical fear of dying, but of being dead”.
Who is C.S.Lewis?
Hamlet claims he could “count himself” as this, ”were it not that I have bad dreams”
What is “King of infinite space”?
A literary technique where two adjectives are joined by an “and” to convey a single idea and emphasise it’s effect.
What is Hendiadys?
The production in which we see Hamlet stab Claudius through a grate (in his imagination)
What is the Kenneth Branagh production?
The historical figure, famous for challenging the authority of religion in 16th century Europe, that famously attended the same university as Hamlet (Wittenberg)
Who is Martin Luther?
The missing words from this Showalter quote: “The madwoman is a —. A — figure who rebels against the family and social order”.
What is “heroine” and “powerful”?
4 of polonius’ pieces of advice for Laertes, upon his departure to France.
What is “———“
A Latin phrase meaning “in the middle of things” describing when a scene begins seemingly within the middle of the action.
What is In media res?
A large, portable object Ophelia possesses in the Kinnear production, a marker of her madness.
What is a shopping trolley?
The setting of the current RSC production of Hamlet, directed by Rupert Goold.
What is the Titanic?
The character that Vardy suggests is “instrumental to the seizure and control of power and is at the heart of this corrupt and oppressive state”.
Who is Polonius?