Question

Hamlet: What mood, or atmosphere, does Shakespeare establish in scene 1? Which details help create this mood?

Answer 1

In scene 1 from "Hamlet," Shakespeare creates a general feeling of evil, suspense and fearful apprehension, as if something tragic is about to happen. The details provided involve the frightened and perturbed guards in heavy darkness, the events occurring late at night in cold winter weather and the presence of King Hamlet's ghost.

Answer 2

The mood is dark, creepy, and sinister.

The details of midnight and three fearful guard in the opening scene is used to create this mood.

Step-by-step explanation:

A mood, in literature, can be defined as an arousing of certain emotions or feelings. These feelings are created through the words or description or details given by the writer. These words create certain feelings or mood in the audience.

In the scene 1 of Hamlet, the mood evoked by Shakespeare is dark, sinister, and fearful or creepy.

The details that create this mood from scene 1 are listed below:

"... it's bitterly cold outside and I'm depressed..."

"...dreaded sight..."

"...figure like the king that’s dead..."