• 4 comments (chance to earn much needed points)
• R and G posts (do one for each reading of R and G this week)
• Rhetorical Analysis of “To be or not to be” soliloquy. As we discussed in class, Hamlet is giving quite a speech, and the rhetorical/linguistic strategies need to be up to that effort. You will analyze the rhetoric of the speech using the guidelines below:

1. Exigence — What needs doing at this point? In other words, what is compelling Hamlet to speak at this moment in the play?

2. Audience – The audience is comprised of people who can in some way act on this exigence. Who is Hamlet’s primary audience and how does that influence his choices? Who is Hamlet’s secondary audience and how does that influence his choices? [Hint: they are not on the stage]

3. purpose What is the purpose of Hamlet’s speech?

4. Appeals: Which appeal(s) does Hamlet use to convince and/or motivate his audience? Reference specific lines.

Ethos: Appeal to the character of the speaker

Pathos: Appeal to the emotions or interest of the audience

Logos: Appeal to logic

5. Figures of speech, imagery, diction, syntax: What literary devices does Hamlet employ? Where do you see him making comparisons?  Which tropes–similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, etc. does he use? How do these comparisons relate to his rhetorical purpose? What particularly vivid images stand out? What effect do these images have on Hamlet’s rhetorical purpose?

6. How do you respond to Hamlet’s soliloquy? In other words, what do you think of him right now?