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Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 13   AIL 1226 short lesson, about 20 seconds

"My Words Fly Up, My Thoughts Remain Below"

Captions available

The idea

Hamlet exits, and Claudius rises and says his words fly up while his thoughts remain below, and that words without thoughts never to heaven go. The king has not been praying at all. The audience learns it four lines after Hamlet has gone.

In practice

The prayer was empty all along.

Where people slip

The audience is told after Hamlet leaves.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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