Back to Literary Analysis

Hamlet Motifs

Motifs and symbols tracked across analyzed chapters, with links back to chapter summaries and chapter analysis pages.

Madness

8 occurrencespersistent

Political unrest

7 occurrencespersistent

Corpse/Body

5 occurrencespersistent

Night watch / darkness

5 occurrencespersistent

Cold and sickness

4 occurrencespersistent

Honor vs cowardice

4 occurrencespersistent

Poison as treachery

4 occurrencespersistent

Political unrest (Fortinbras conflict)

4 occurrencespersistent

Revenge contemplation

4 occurrencespersistent

Exile/Journey

3 occurrencespersistent

Ghost of King Hamlet

3 occurrencesrecurring

Omens and portents

3 occurrencespersistent

Spying

3 occurrencesrecurring

Theatre/Play within a play

3 occurrencesrecurring

Letters/Communication

2 occurrencesemerging

Omens and portents (cock crow, celestial signs)

2 occurrencesemerging

Prayer and guilt

2 occurrencespersistent

Sickness

2 occurrencesemerging

Nunnery

1 occurrencessingle-hit

Piracy

1 occurrencessingle-hit