Question

Ghost: "I am thy father's spirit; doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, and for the day confin'd to fast in fires, till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purg'd away." – Hamlet, William Shakespeare. Read the passage, and then use the drop-down menus to answer the questions. Which word best describes the tone of the ghost’s speech? What feature of the ghost’s speech conveys the tone? a) Mysterious; use of words like "doom'd" and "walk the night." b) Joyful; reference to being "thy father's spirit." c) Angry; mention of "fast in fires" and "foul crimes." d) Melancholic; reference to "my days of nature."

Answer 1

In Shakespeare's 'Hamlet,' the ghost's speech has a melancholic tone, reflected in its somber reflection on its earthly life and current suffering in the afterlife.

Step-by-step explanation:

The tone of the ghost's speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet is best described as melancholic. This tone is conveyed through the ghost's reference to "my days of nature", wherein it reflects on its past life and present suffering in the afterlife. The use of phrases like "doom'd", "walk the night," and "fast in fires" underscores the regret and sadness of King Hamlet's spirit, as it tells of its purgatorial existence until its sins are purged.