Read the excerpt from Act I of Hamlet.

Ghost: Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,

With juice of cursed hebona in a vial,

And in the porches of mine ears did pour

The leperous distilment; whose effect

Holds such an enmity with blood of man

That swift as quicksilver it courses through

The natural gates and alleys of the body.

Which correctly analyzes the use of figurative language in the excerpt?

The simile compares the poison to a fast-moving, toxic element, emphasizing its deadliness.

The metaphor compares the uncle to a poisonous plant, which illustrates his deadly intent.

The personification of the vial makes it seem more lethal.

The apostrophe allows the ghost to address the evil uncle

Question

English

Simon Burton

11 November, 16:05

Read the excerpt from Act I of Hamlet.

Ghost: Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,

With juice of cursed hebona in a vial,

And in the porches of mine ears did pour

The leperous distilment; whose effect

Holds such an enmity with blood of man

That swift as quicksilver it courses through

The natural gates and alleys of the body.

Which correctly analyzes the use of figurative language in the excerpt?

The simile compares the poison to a fast-moving, toxic element, emphasizing its deadliness.

The metaphor compares the uncle to a poisonous plant, which illustrates his deadly intent.

The personification of the vial makes it seem more lethal.

The apostrophe allows the ghost to address the evil uncle

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Tripp Hicks · Answer 1

The simile compares the poison to a fast-moving, toxic element, emphasizing its deadliness.

"That swift as quicksilver it courses through

The natural gates and alleys of the body."

Quicksilver is a reference to the element Mercury.