Question

Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene i. Horatio: That can I; At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, Whose image even but now appear’d to us, Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, Thereto pick’d on by a most emulate pride, Dar’d to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet— For so this side of our known world esteem’d him— Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal’d compact, Well ratified by law and heraldry, Did forfeit with his life all those his lands Which he stood seiz’d of, to the conqueror; What is the main purpose of Horatio’s speech? to describe to the audience the location of the castle and kingdom to help the audience better understand Horatio’s character to inform the audience of the events leading up to this point to explain to the audience how the former king died and became a ghost

Answer 1

The main purpose of Horatio's speech is to inform the audience of the events leading up to this point.

In this excerpt, Horatio is telling the audience what has happened in the past. He refers to the battle that King Hamlet fought against Fortinbras, the King of Norway and also Hamlet's biggest rival. Moreover, Horatio describes King Hamlet as a courageous man for killing Fortinbras in that fight and gaining his territories. He informs the audience about these events because later on the story King Fortinbras' son will seek to recover the territories that were lost.

Answer 2

The main purpose of Horatio's speech is :

• to inform the audience of the events leading up to this point .

It talks about the story of the battle he had with Fortinbras and how did he die.Then both men came to an agreement.