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.
Answer
A
The simile compares the poison to a fast-moving, toxic element, emphasizing its deadliness.
B
The metaphor compares the uncle to a poisonous plant, which illustrates his deadly intent.
C
The personification of the vial makes it seem more lethal.
D
The apostrophe allows the ghost to address the evil uncle.
Explanation
The phrase “swift as quicksilver” is a simile because it compares the poison’s movement to quicksilver using “as.” Quicksilver moves rapidly, so the comparison emphasizes how quickly the poison spreads through the body and how deadly it is. Choice A correctly describes this effect.
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