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All Site ContentHamletAct 1Scene 2
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Imagery
Imagery
Act 1,
Scene 2
Lines 125-128

The imagery of cannons' fire echoing from the heavens discussed in Act 1, Scene 2 of myshakespeare's Hamlet.

Claudius

No jocund health that Denmark drinks today,
But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell,
And the king's rouse the heavens all bruit again,
Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away.
[Exit all except Hamlet]

 

Claudius is going to order the castle's cannons to fire a salute every time he drinks a toast. He's imagining that when he drains his cup the echo of the caonnon's roar from the clouds is heaven's response.