Figurative language

Figurative language is used to expand ideas as 'metaphorical' rather than the literal meaning. Figurative language, thus, explains an idea by comparing it to another idea (or something else). Shakespeare uses figurative language an not ornamental but more as an indepth meaning to express the way the characters think or the interal or external relationships between characters. An example in Hamlet is when Polonius calls Ophelia "a green girl." Shakespeare demonstrates the metaphor to reveal the dominance in the family. He refers to Ophelia as inferior and basically expresses his mentality that Ophelia's words are not worth his time. Shakespeare intertwines figurative language to connote personality characteristics, like Polonius's dominate and confident trait.

Setting

Setting describes the place and time of the literature; thus, connoting an atmospheric feel of a scene by using different images or metaphors. The setting allows the audience/reader/viewer to understand the circumstance of the place the characters are situated in, as well as their personal qualities. For an example, in Austin's Pride and Prejudice, Darcy lives in a huge mansion in Pemberley. His estate doesn't only represent his wealth but this setting illuminates the climax of the plot of the novel. This setting is where Elizabeth starts to develop feelings for Darcy. Settings can differ throughout the literature, representing the growth of a character, like Elizabeth, as well as the tone of the character's emotional status. Like from the beginning when Darcy thinks of Elizabeth as 'intolerable' which changes into loving Elizabeth.

1st Hamlet Par

In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare demonstrates that in order to convey different personality types, language is a key element to persuade the audience’s perspective. Since the play consists of various speeches from different characters, Shakespeare projects language and diction to characterize the character’s attitudes and sophistication. Two characters that illuminate variation in speech are Hamlet and Claudius. Their dialogue allows the audience to see the contrasting personalities the two characters possess as well as their unexpected similarities. Moreover, not only does their diction and word choice express their insightful knowledge, but also Shakespeare incorporates soliloquies to express character’s inner thoughts and emotions. Claudius may publicly dictate his emotions while Hamlet fails to do so, but Claudius’s speech technique fails to represent his thoughts effectively. Although Hamlet and Claudius have comparable speech patterns, their choice of words express their diverse mentality and personal sophistication; moreover, both characters seize different emotional confrontation in the play.

Hamlet and Claudius speeches

Hamlet and Claudius’s speeches differ because of the language they use and how they are delivered. Their speech patterns are very similar, but their different diction uses illuminates their characteristics and shows the contrasting personalities they possess. An example is when both Hamlet and Claudius are speaking and their diction differs in the way that Claudius sounds more sophisticated with his replies while Hamlet speaks more simply and less elaborate. Claudius’s language, thus, reflects his personality because when he tries to complicate his sentences by using elaborate diction, his speeches lose the effect and point he is trying to make. Hamlet’s diction, however, resembles his straight-forward personality. Moreover, Hamlet’s language in his soliloquies emphasis his straight-forward emotions in his inner conflict, instead of publicly exclaiming them.

Character comparisons

Characteristics of characters differ depending on the genre of novel. In a fictional novel there is a protagonist and an antagonist who conflict with each other in the novel to illuminate characteristics of the two characters. There can be a narrator to also reveal characteristics as well. Furthermore, there can also be external or internal conflicts. Main characters commonly change or grow as the story moves along- these stories are referred to as coming-of-age stories. For example, in Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth Bennett serves as a coming-of-age character because of her maturity grows and simply because she is only 20-21 years old. In a dramatic novel there are also components to illuminate characteristics of characters by having the characters speak dialogue since there is no narrator. There are three major components of dramatic novels that reveal character: (1) the content  of the dialogue (2) the delivery of the lines and stage directions (3) and the response and reaction from other characters. For example, in Hamlet, dialogue between Hamlet and Claudius reveal how the delivery of the different characters lines reflect their characteristics as characters. Hamlet uses short sentences to answer Claudius while Claudius uses long and elaborate answers.

Hamlet compare/contrast essay

I would use the element by element style to structure an essay to compare/contrast Hamlet's and Claudius's language. I would set up the essay with two body paragraphs comparing and contrasting both character's diction and then the other paragraph comparing/contrasting the character's delivery of lines. It's interesting to see how different the two character's delivery of lines reflects the diction used. Even though both character's have long speeches, Hamlet replies to Claudius with shorter responses that get right to the point whereas Claudius has more of an elaborate response. Furthermore, Claudius comes across more sophisticated than Hamlet when he delivers his lines because Claudius takes a longer time to respond to Hamlet.

Compare/Contrast Essay Structures

Two different styles of writing a compare and contrast essay are: topic by topic or element by element. These different styles alter how the paragraphs are divided within the essay. For the topic by topic option, one paragraph would deal with a piece of poetry (for example, Woodchucks by Maxine Kumin) and the another separate paragraph would deal with a different piece of poetry (for example, Traveling through the Dark by William Stafford). After these two paragraphs there would be another paragraph that would compare and contrast the two pieces together. The other style is an element by element compare and contrast essay. This style of essay is separated by topics of both pieces (of both poems in this case). The writer would compare and contrast both pieces having to do with the topic of each paragraph. Like for example; comparing and contrasting the imagery of the poems within one paragraph and then the different tones of the poems within another separate paragraph. I think the element by element style is more effective if you want the essay to be more specific with information.