Question

t, part 1: an introducti
let, act i, scene i
the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark, act i,
scene i
by william shakespeare
as you read, take notes to keep track of the effects of
elements of drama, such as the setting, stage directions, or
dialogue.
the night watchmen tell horatio
that they have seen a ghost.
act i. scene i.
francisco stands guard in front of the castle in elsinore,
denmark. another guard, bernardo, enters to take over the
which lines of dialogue are most clearly meant to create suspense?
\before my god, i might not this believe /
without the sensible and true avouch / of mine
own eyes.\
\such was the very armour he had on / when
he the ambitious norway combated.\
\thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,
/ with martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.\
\but in the gross and scope of my opinion, /
this bodes some strange eruption to our state.\

Explanation:

This line creates suspense as it describes a ghostly figure appearing at a "dead hour" (midnight) twice before and now again, with a "martial stalk" (a military - like walk). The repetition of the ghost's appearance at an eerie time and the description of its ominous walk builds a sense of mystery and anticipation about what the ghost's presence means, which is a key way to create suspense in a play. The other lines either express disbelief (first line), describe past events (second line), or comment on the state of the kingdom (fourth line) without the same focus on building suspense through the description of a supernatural and repeated occurrence at a spooky time.

Answer:

"Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, / With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch."