Question

read the excerpt from act i of hamlet. horatio: our last king, whose image even but now appeard to us, was, as you know, by fortinbras of norway, thereto prickd on by a most emulate pride, dard to the combat; in which our valiant hamlet— for so this side of our known world esteemd him— did slay this fortinbras; who, by a seald compact, well ratified by law and heraldry, did forfeit with his life all those his lands to view the excerpt through a historical lens, which questions should the reader ask? select 2 options how does the structure of the text help the audience to understand the situation with fortinbras? what beliefs were common during this period that make the appearance of a ghost believable to the audience? how does the dialogue reinforce or challenge the gender stereotypes that were present at the time? what literary devices make the relationship between horatio and fortinbras clear to the audience? what major political events occurred that the

Explanation:

A historical lens focuses on contextual factors like period beliefs and political events. The question about ghost-beliefs relates to 16th/17th-century cultural context, and the (partially visible) question about major political events ties to historical background relevant to the excerpt’s themes of conflict and power. The other options focus on text structure, gender stereotypes (not central to the excerpt), or literary devices—irrelevant to a historical lens.

Answer:

What beliefs were common during this period that make the appearance of a ghost believable to the audience?
What major political events occurred that the audience was likely familiar with that influence this excerpt?