Question

applying literary criticism
hamlet, act iii, scene iv
the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark, act
iii, scene iv
by william shakespeare
as you read, use a formalist lens to analyze the text. pay
close attention to language and structure. take notes about
any motifs that are repeated throughout the play.
hamlet and his mother argue while
polonius eavesdrops on their
conversation
act iii, scene iv.
which question about this excerpt best represents a formalist lens?
how do the allusions relate to the overall
theme of the play?
would the audience have been more
sympathetic to hamlet or his mother?
why would these allusions be significant to
shakespeare’s audience?
how does the image of two brothers reveal
gender dynamics in the play?

Explanation:

A formalist lens focuses on elements like language, structure, and motifs within the text. Analyzing how allusions relate to the overall theme involves examining the text's internal elements (language - allusions, structure - how they fit into the play's theme), which aligns with formalist analysis. The other questions involve audience perspective (sympathy, significance to audience) or gender dynamics (external to text's form/language/structure), so they don't fit a formalist lens.

Answer:

How do the allusions relate to the overall theme of the play?