Question

read the excerpt from act ii of hamlet.
but i am pigeon-liver’d, and lack gall
to make oppression bitter, or ere this
i should have fatted all the region kites
with this slave’s offal. bloody, bawdy villain!
remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!
o! vengeance!
why, what an ass am i! this is most brave
that i, the son of a dear father murder’d,
prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words,
and fall a-cursing, like a very drab,
a scullion!
what is the effect of the figurative language used in this excerpt? choose two answers.
□ it reveals hamlet’s anger with himself.
□ it reveals hamlet’s love for ophelia.
□ it reveals hamlet’s plan for retaliation.
□ it reveals hamlet’s hesitation to act.
□ it reveals hamlet’s distrust of gertrude.

Explanation:

1. Analyze "I am pigeon - liver’d, and lack gall" and "What an ass am I!": These self - critical phrases show Hamlet is angry at his own inaction, so "It reveals Hamlet’s anger with himself" is correct.
2. Analyze "Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words, And fall a - cursing, like a very drab, A scullion!": Comparing his revenge - related actions to a whore's or a scullion's (menial worker) actions implies he is not taking decisive action, revealing his hesitation to act. "It reveals Hamlet’s love for Ophelia" is incorrect as the excerpt focuses on his revenge and self - criticism, not love. "It reveals Hamlet’s plan for retaliation" is incorrect as he is criticizing his lack of action, not revealing a plan. "It reveals Hamlet’s distrust of Gertrude" is incorrect as the excerpt is about his own inaction and anger at himself, not distrust of Gertrude.

Answer:

A. It reveals Hamlet’s anger with himself, D. It reveals Hamlet’s hesitation to act