Essay on Shakespeare A Literary Grandmaster - 699 Words

One does not simply become the father of English literature. To be coined such a grandiose title requires the approval of many, and especially the king of England. Although an entertaining storyline does earn one respect as a writer/poet. It was Shakespeare’s masterful use of literary devices that garners the respect and acknowledgement of many modern day professors. In Act 3, Scene 1, Hamlet begins a soliloquy in which Shakespeare showcases his literary genius. A literary device that is often overlooked in the Early Modern period of Europe is the utilization of soliloquys to give insight to a character’s inner thoughts. Perhaps the most famous line in English literature: â€Å"To be or not to be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is at the start of a soliloquy. Soliloquys†¦show more content†¦The use of this antithesis grabs the audience’s attention and informs the audience of one of the plays most prominent themes. Shakespeare also deploys the art of metonymy from his ars enal of creative devices. Metonymy is a special form of metaphor that substitutes the name of one thing with something it is closely associated with. In Act 3, Scene 1, Hamlet says: â€Å"That flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation/Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep--/To sleep, perchance to dream,† (3.1 72-4). In this example, sleep represents death. Another literary device that the Bard uses is parallel structure, which is the use of several phrases continuously with similar grammatical structure to create rhythm. For example, when Hamlet says: â€Å"Th’ oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,/The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,/The insolence of office, and the spurns/That patient merit of th’ unworthy takes,/When he himself might his quitetus make,† (3.1 79-83). These phrases all sound similar in structure, and thus it gives the passage more rhythm and draws attention to life’s woes. Lastly, Sh akespeare also utilizes metaphors to give his writing more flare. For example, Hamlet compares â€Å"The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune† and â€Å"The whips and scorns of time† to the problems of life. Because slings, arrows, whips, and scorns all to pain, Hamlet letsShow MoreRelatedEssay on Suspense of Stephen King1388 Words   |  6 Pagesaccomplishments that a lot of writers have never achieved. According to his biography, King has sold fifty bestsellers, and has acted in a few movies that are based on his books. The use of Suspense as a literary element is constant in books written by Stephen King. This will examine Stephen King’s life and the literary criticism of his short story, â€Å"The Two Dead Girls† The Green Mile. In his works he blends elements of the traditional gothic, depressing and threatening tales with those of the modern psychologicalRead MoreAmerican Government And Politics : The Melting Pot2725 Words   |  11 PagesIn hi s documentary about a Shakespeare play â€Å"Richard III,† Al Pacino discusses the difficulty in following and understanding Shakespeare’s lines, saying â€Å"They’re like poetry; it’s hard to grab hold of some rap slang, too. It’s hard to get hold of it until your ears get tuned† (DeCurtis 91). In his documentary, Pacino validates the similarities between rap and art, such as Shakespeare’s plays, in mainstream American culture. Pacino is not comparing the two, Shakespeare does not require â€Å"contemporary