Language of Hamlet

Although Hamlet and Beowulf both deal with revenge, their type of language is very different. Hamlet is trying to get revenge by killing his uncle, and Beowulf is trying to protect his people so that the monsters cannot cause havoc anymore. Beowulf is nearly perfect, he has immense strength, can conquer any monster, and is the hero of the area. Hamlet's accomplishments may not seem as great compared to Beowulf, but that is because the story is presented in a whole different way, where you can see Hamlet's flaws as well as into his head.

Part of Hamlet's action is done through talking, where as in Beowulf, the action is very exciting. Beowulf fights with monsters, beheads them, and uses swords and shields in full combat. It has little dialogue, and focuses more on the action. In Hamlet, it is the very opposite. There is little physical action because talking replaces the action. In his "To be or not to be" soliloquy, he is discussing the idea of death and has made a decision that he won't take his own life. It may not seem like a momentous action but it is Hamlet's form of acting.

Hamlet also talks to himself, and shows his thinking and his flaws. Throughout Hamlet's soliloquies, you can see his thought process. He shares his ideas, and you can see how he gets from decision to decision, and what motivates him. In Beowulf, you can't really see inside his head. He acts for the good of the community, and he acts like a hero. He has no weakness, he does what is right, simply because that's what is expected of him. Beowulf doesn't talk to himself or share his inner thoughts like Hamlet does.

The main difference in the two stories is the way the characterization is formed. Hamlet seems more human because his ideas are voiced and he has flaws. Beowulf is nearly perfect, defeating whatever comes his way and always doing good and protecting people. Hamlet is a more relateable character because the author chooses to show us inside his head.