Question

in act i, scene 2, lines 139 - 153, hamlet alludes to hyperion and niobe. what purpose do these allusions serve? the antagonist and protagonist of the play are best described as: a) claudius/hamlet b) the natural order/hamlet c) rosencrantz and guildenstern/horatio d) living/death and the mystery of the afterlife they link claudius and gertrude to the crimes committed in ancient tragedies. a) they identify qualities of claudius and gertrude that are carefully concealed. b) they suggest that claudius and gertrude are equally guilty. c) they are used to characterize the behavior of claudius and gertrude.

Explanation:

Allusions in literature often serve to add depth, draw parallels, and evoke certain emotions or ideas. In Hamlet, allusions to Hyperion and Niobe can be used to characterize Claudius and Gertrude by comparing them to figures from ancient tragedies, highlighting their qualities or actions. They can also suggest moral or thematic parallels between the characters' situations and those of the mythological figures.

Answer:

They identify qualities of Claudius and Gertrude that are carefully concealed. They suggest that Claudius and Gertrude are equally guilty. They are used to characterize the behavior of Claudius and Gertrude.