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Transcript

HAMLET: Importance of The Gravedigger Scene

Thesis

The function of the gravediggers in the play Hamlet is vital to the development of the story because they add comic relief Which prolongs the evident theme of death

Agenda

  • Thesis
  • Synopsis of graveDigger scene
  • Gravedigger scene clip
  • Functions of The Gravediggers
  • Theme of death
  • Activity
  • Conclusion

The Theme of Death

Video Clip

Grave Digger Scene: Summary

Examples of Death

PRE ACT 5 SCENE 1

  • King Hamlet is murdered.
  • Polonius stabbed by Hamlet.
  • Ophelia "drowns".
  • Two gravedigger begin to prepare Ophelia's grave and pass the time by joking about their work.
  • Hamlet and Horatio approach and join the conversation.
  • Hamlet comes upon the skull of Yorick, a court jester who he'd known from childhood.

Death has been a repeating Theme throughout the play, both pre and post Gravedigger scene.

The theme of death is very important because without it there was no story of Hamlet.

POST ACT 5 SCENE 1

  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are reported dead.
  • Death of Claudius, Hamlet, Laertes and Gertrude.

Function of the Gravediggers

Function of the Gravediggers CONT

One function of the gravediggers was to add some comic relief to the play.

Conclusion

Why Shakespeare used the gravediggers to prolong the theme of death

Another Function of the Grave diggers was to progress the themes of birth, youth, old age and most importantly DEATH. (Cycle of Life)

Up until this scene of the play, it has been very serious and dramatic.

Quick Question

Who Found This Scene to be funny?

By including the Gravediggers in the play, Shakespeare was able to use these characters to set the mood for the upcoming scenes, which is a result of numerous murders while still prolonging the theme of death.

Activity

The role of the gravediggers is critical to the plot of Hamlet because they add comic relief and prolong the inevitability of death. Without these characters as without them the final scene would not be set, and the play itslef would be a very dark story.

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow

of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath

borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how

abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rises at

it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know

not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your

gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,

that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one

now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen.

Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let

her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must

come; make her laugh at that. Prithee, Horatio, tell

me one thing.

HORATIO What's that, my lord?

HAMLET Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion i'

the earth?

HORATIO E'en so.

HAMLET And smelt so? pah!

Puts down the skull.

HORATIO E'en so, my lord.

HAMLET To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may

not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander,

till he find it stopping a bung-hole? 191

HORATIO 'Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so.

HAMLET No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with

modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it: as

thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried,

Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of

earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he

was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?

Imperious Caesar, dead and turn'd to clay,

Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.

O, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,

Should patch a wall to expel the winter flaw!

But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king.

  • Analyze the following text, keep in mind any possible symbolization and themes.

Works Cited

Knight, Wilson. The Embassy of Death: An Essay on Hamlet (n.d.): n. pag. Alanreinstein.com. Alan Reinstein, 14 June 2011. Web. 5 May 2015

Hammersmith, James. "Hamlet and the Myth of Memory." Jstor. John Hopkins University Press, 09 Mar. 2009. Web. 5 May 2015.

BY: Stephen Caira

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