Assigment #4

·         Locate imagery that refers to the uncertainty of death.
“Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;” (l.9)

“For in that sleep of death what dreams may come” (l.11)

“But that dread of something after death, the undiscover’d country from whose bourn.” (ll.23-24)

·         Identify imagery that refers to the negative experiences of life.

“The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arm against a sea of troubles.” (ll.3-4)

“…under a weary life,” (l.22)

·         Appeals: Which appeal(s) does Hamlet use to convince and/or motivate his audience? Reference specific lines.

  Pathos: Appeal to the emotions or interest of the audience
He shows his feelings and emotions through his word choice and the way he present them.
“To be, or not to be: is the question:” (l.1)

“The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks” (l.7)

 

-          Throughout the whole speech Hamlet grabs the reader’s attention by using different literary devices. There is constantly something that make you turn around and read twice to understand it better and go deeper behind what it means. Two of the metaphors uses is “Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,” (l.4) and “…to sleep; no more; and by a sleep we say we end the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.”

I watched the four different versions of Hamlet's speech. The words are all the same and they are trying to convey the same thing, but still there is so much that makes them completely different. The sound, setting, costumes and props and camera angles are all different elements to make video and speech come alive in their own way, and give something different to the audience.

In the first video I watched, Kenneth Branagh did a good job. It was very straight forward, simple and easy, which gives the audience the change to focus on the words and the meaning. Throughout all the different mis en scene elements, we can see this pattern, all the focus is on the words and the presentation of the words and it’s simple. There is no sound, except from Hamlets own voice. The only props being used is a tiny and simple knife/ sword and a mirror. Costumes are kept casual to fit the time, situation and role of the character. The camera angle is focusing on him, and it’s always on the same level as his eyes, looking at him, not down or up. He’s standing still the whole time, which against only takes the focus on the speech and the words.

The second video I watched was set outside, where Hamlet (played by Laurence Oliver) is sitting on top of a big rock. This video is also kept simple, but they change it up a little bit by using sound effects like the waves smashing into the shore. The costumes this time is also made to fit the time and situation for when the scene takes place. This time the camera angle is slightly looking up at him, and sometimes is switches to looking into his eyes close up.

The third video, this time played by Mel Gibson, was places in a cellar/ basement. The scene starts with him walking down the steps, and throughout the whole speech he keep himself moving or in action doing something. This time more props are used, there are props around the scene that he uses while he speaks. The camera angle is focusing on his face some of the time, looking at him in the same level as his head. He is dressed the same way as the others; to fit the time we’re set in. No background sounds

The last video, Hamlet was played by Ethan Hawke. This video was the one most different from the other ones. The time was set in more modern days in a library, or book store, where he wsa walking down the aisle of action books. Throughout the whole video the element of action shows up, and gives an effect us a visual effect of what he is talking about. The camera switches from being close to his face showing emotions, and keeping his whole body in the screen to capture the movements, again the emphasize action. His cloths are from the modern days and not too fancy, but not too casual either. In this video there is some voice over and non- diegetic sounds.

For me the first one is the most effective. I find the focus on his words and meaning interesting instead of focusing on the surrounding and background sounds. The focus is all on him, and I’ts kept simple. Just the way I like it, I don’t see the need to complicate things. Tell the truth as it is, simple.