Studied by 6 peopleQuote bank w literary devices and location in the text for Royal Hunt of the Sun
Old Martin’s Soliloquy at the start of Act I
“This story is about ruin. Ruin and gold.”
Repetition of ruin, emphaisisng significance of plunder and violence in the play.
Symbolism of ruin and gold as overarching themes of the play.
Description of Pizarro’s relationship with Martin in Martin’s soliloquy.
“He was my altar, my bright image of salvation, and the only wish of my life is that I had never seen him.”
Metaphor of “Altar”, to convey the deep significance and reverence they hold for this individual.
Hyperbole - “Only wish of my life is that I had never seen him”.
Irony/Juxtapostion of Martin’s initial admiration for Pizarro, contrasted with his current regret.
Imagery - conveys hope and puritythat Martin once associated with Pizarro.
Description of Valverde at the start of Act I
“…Peasant priest whose zeal is not greatly tempered by intelligence, nor sweetened by an anxiety to please.”
Alliteration of plosives in “peasant priest”, potentially alluding to the joint motives of gold and the cross for the Spanish in their conquests.
Antithesis between “zeal” and “intelligence” as well as “zeal” and “sweetened by an anxiety to please”.
Valverde’s overt arrogance of his Western religion
“This is a heathen - a being condemned to eternal flame unless you help him.”
“And on all who come with us to alter the heathen.”
“Give them instead the priceless mercy of heaven.”
“He who helps me lift this dark man into light, I absolve of all crimes he ever committed.”
“You are the huntsmen of God. The weapons you draw are sacred…beat the savage out of his dark forests on to the broad plain of Thy Grace.”
“Oh my brothers, where have we come? The land of Antichrist!”
Pizarro’s speech - pg 8
“Spain and I have been strangers since I was a boy.”
“If I live this next year I’m going to get me a name that won’t be forgotten.”
[To De Soto] - “You inherited your honor - I have to root for mine ike pigs. It’s amusing.”
De NIzza’s description of Incans - Irony
“You go to break mercy on them like bread.”
“You are bringers of food to starving peoples.”
Stage directions of the Inca pg - 13
“When he speaks, his voice is strangely formalised.”
Inca’s lack of knowledge and misinterpretation of the Spanish conquistadors.
“White men sitting on huge sheep”
“The White God"!”
Relgious attitudes towards Atahuallpa
“He is the Son of the Sun. He needs no wedded mother. He is God.” - Transcends human aspect.
Atahuallpa’s naivety of Spanish
“He surely is a God! He teaches my people to praise him!”
“If he is a God, he will find me. Of he is no God - He will die!”
Pizarro’s imitation of the cross with his sword
“He makes the sign of a cross with his sword.”
Spanish desire for Gold
Domingo - “Six weeks in this pissing forest and not one smell of gold. I think we’ve been had.”
Greed for gold causes ill discipline in the Spanish army.”
“You talk on duty again and I’ll cut you out”.
Pizarro’s attitudes towards chivalry and religion - pg20
“Your chivalry laws don’t govern me.”
“Don’t ever trust me, boy.”
“You’re a worshipper. You were born with feet but you prefer your knees.”
Recognition of Incas sophistication as a society.
“There was a road fifteen feet wide, bordered with mimosa and blue glories.”
“This could be Eden at world’s start. When work was praise, and vegetables sang.”
“I have settled several lands. This is the first I’ve entered which sames our Spain.”
Pizarro’s perspective on loyalty
“army loyalty is blasphemy. the world of soldiers is a yard of ungrowable children”
Pizarro’s perspective on nobility.
“Give me a reason that stays noble once you start hacking off limbs in its name.”
Pizarro’s perspective of greed
“We are born greedy for possessions.”
Pizarro riling up his troops
“You’re not men any longer, you’re Gods now.”
“He must see Gods walk on earth.”
“Get up, you God-boys. March!”
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