Hamlet Dramatic Techniques

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  • Hamlet Dramatic Techniques
    • Staging
      • Props
      • Entrances
        • E.g. Almeida performance- Hamlet facing Claudius in prayer scene, invalidates his reason for not killing
        • The presentation of the Ghost - in original Globe use of a trap door
        • Class based seating of Globe - yard v galleries, would vary experience of theatre
      • Surveillance
        • Contemporary CCTV use - involved audience in feeling of being watched
      • Structure- 5 acts like most Shakespeare plays
        • Act 1- establishes conflict
        • Act 2- rising action
        • Act 3- climax
        • Act 4- falling action
        • Act 5- resolution
    • Acting
      • Soliloquies
        • Who are they addressing- breaking of 4th wall talking to audience?
      • Metatheatre
        • Mouse Trap structurally important as central scene
        • Asides to foreshadow- 'and yet it is almost against my conscious (Laertes doubts about killing Hamlet)
        • Tension through audience knowing more- e.g. sword is poisoned
      • Whether Hamlet's 'antic disposition' is put on or real
    • Tragedy
      • Convention that bloody moments happy off stage- we are just told of them
        • Ophelia's death, Polonius' stabbing, R + G's death
        • But end scene we see everyone die- but lack of blood
      • Aristotle's tragedy
        • Fatal flaw- Hamlet's philosophising and morals
        • Peipeteia (fall) - Claudius marries Gertrude
        • Catalyst- Ghost's request
        • Epiphany- Realising Claudius killed Old Hamlet in Mouse Trap OR to be or not to be
          • Anagnorisis (discovery) - attempting to kill Claudius
          • Or: 'readiness is all' - anagnorisis in willingness to die
        • Error of judgement
          • Killing Polonius- catalyst for Laertes
          • Not killing Claudius Act 3 - indecision
        • Climax- duel/ Claudius dying
        • Resolution/ denouement- Fortinbras king, lack of catharsis, Hamlet should be King
          • Almeida performance- only saw Fortinbras on screen, lack of trust

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