Hamlet: style

Literary Devices in Hamlet

Soliloquies: Hamlet utilises soliloquies to reveal a character’s inner thoughts, fears, and desires. Hamlet’s own soliloquies provide deep insight into his state of mind and his conflict.
Symbolism: Shakespeare uses symbolism to convey abstract ideas. Key symbols in Hamlet include Yorick’s skull (representing death) and the ghost of Hamlet’s father (representing the past and unfinished business).

Iambic Pentameter: Hamlet, like other Shakespeare plays, is written primarily in iambic pentameter, giving the dialogue a rhythmic, almost musical quality.
Prose and Verse: Shakespeare switches between verse and prose to indicate the social status or state of mind of a character. High-ranking or sane characters generally speak in verse, while low-ranking or mad characters speak in prose.
Puns and Wordplay: Hamlet’s complex character is often expressed through his quick wit; wordplay is a key characteristic of his personality.

Costume and Setting: The choices of costume and setting can reinforce the themes of the play, particularly the corruption and decay in the Danish court.
Physical Action: Despite being primarily a psychological drama, Hamlet contains significant physical action including fights, the play-within-a-play, and the climactic duel. These serve to progress the plot and heighten tension.

Five Act Structure: Hamlet follows the traditional five-act structure of a Shakespearean tragedy, with each act serving a specific purpose in the overall narrative.
Foil Characters: Certain characters in Hamlet are designed to highlight certain traits of the main characters. Laertes, for example, is often seen as a foil to Hamlet - he takes swift revenge for the death of his father, unlike Hamlet.
Dramatic Irony: Shakespeare uses dramatic irony, where the audience knows something that the characters do not, to create suspense and engagement.