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Romeo & Juliet Literary Devices
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Iambic Pentameter Iambic pentameter
is a line of poetry made up of five iambs: an iamb is a metrical foot consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable; the pentameter line has five metrical feet; Shall I / compare / thee to / a sum/mer’s day? u / Shall I com pare thee to a sum mer’s day?
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Romeo & Juliet: The capulets
Lord Capulet: Juliet’s dad. Loves Juliet and wants to see her marry well, but thinks she is too young to marry yet. Expects obedience. Lady Capulet: Juliet’s mom. Manages the Capulet household. Like most wealthy women at the time, does not actively participate in Juliet’s upbringing, so they have a distant relationship. Juliet: 13 year-old daughter. Has been brought up to be a lady and be obedient to her father’s will. Like most women of the time, Juliet has lived a sheltered life. Tybalt: A hot-tempered cousin who’s always looking for a fight. Nurse: Juliet’s caretaker since birth. She had a daughter, Suzanna, who was Juliet’s age, and served as a wet nurse for Juliet . She is responsible for Juliet’s daily upbringing and becomes her confidante. Peter: The Nurse’s servant. Samson & Gregory: Capulet servants.
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Romeo & Juliet: The montagues
Lord Montague: Romeo’s father and head of the Montague family. Lady Montague: Romeo’s mother who is worried about Romeo’s depression at the beginning of the play. Romeo: The Montague’s teenaged son. At the beginning of the play, he is sad because Rosaline has rejected him. He vows he will never love again. Benvolio: Romeo’s peaceful and encouraging cousin. Benvolio tries to break up fights and encourages Romeo to play the field to get over his heartbreak. Balthasar & Abraham: Montague servants
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Romeo & Juliet: other characters
Church Friar Laurence: Religious advisor to Verona. Like many monks of the time, Friar Laurence is also a scientist whose expertise is in herbology. He has frequently advised Romeo to give up his failed courtship of Rosaline and serves as Romeo’s confidant. Friar John: Another monk who visits the sick. Royalty Prince Escalus: Ruler of Verona. Early in the play, he establishes the law that anyone who reignites the feud will be put to death. Mercutio: Romeo’s best friend. Mercutio is moody and erratic. Count Paris: A member of the royal family who is trying to make arrangements with Lord Capulet to marry Juliet.
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Drama Genre meant to be performed by actors in front of an audience.
Ex: Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible
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tragedy Sub-genre of drama in which events turn out disastrously for the main characters, often in death, caused by fate or a character’s tragic flaw. Ex: Romeo and Juliet
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prologue A brief opening of a play spoken by the “chorus” that settles the audience and previews the plot. Ex: “Two households, both alike in dignity…”
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pun A play on words that sound alike but have different meanings.
Ex: Did you hear about the sleeping man who got run over by a car? He was tired and exhausted!
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oxymoron Two juxtaposed words that mean opposite things.
Ex: sweet sorrow loud silence jumbo shrimp
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alliteration Repetition of similar consonant sounds in the same proximity. Ex: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Ex from R&J: “I’ll look to like if looking liking move” (Juliet Act 1, scene 3)
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Monologue A long, dramatic speech delivered by one character.
Ex: Prince Escalus addresses the crowd after the fight.
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sonnet A 14-line lyrical poem written in iambic pentameter and following the rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. EXAMPLE: ???
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Imagery Language that appeals to the five senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Ex: The hot pizza burned his mouth but tasted great as it filled his growling stomach.
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Personification A figure of speech in which an object or idea is given human qualities. Ex: The grass danced in the wind, happy to receive a spring breeze.
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Simile A figure of speech that compares two things using like or as.
Ex: She floated in like a cloud on a breezy day.
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Metaphor A figure of speech that directly equates two unlike things.
Ex: The book was a passport to adventure.
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Aside Words spoken that other characters on stage do not supposedly hear. Ex: Juliet speaking about Romeo, but her mother not hearing.
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Soliloquy A long speech in which a character, usually alone on stage, reveals thoughts and/or feelings. No other characters are meant to overhear a soliloquy. Ex: Romeo talking about how beautiful Juliet is while hiding beneath her balcony.
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Monologue A long, dramatic speech delivered by one character.
Ex: Prince Escalus addresses the crowd after the fight.
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Malapropism Absurd or humorous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound. Not a pun – often a mistake. When the Nurse says “I desire some confidence with you.” She should have said conference. EX: When the oven caught on fire, my brother had to use the fire distinguisher to put it out. "He was a man of great statue." Thomas Menino, Boston mayor "Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child." Dan Quayle, Vice President
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Foreshadowing Clues in the text to suggest what is going to happen later. Ex: Act 1, scene 4 Romeo: “I feel to early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars…”
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Dramatic Irony The audience knows something the characters do not know. Ex: We know the killer is in the closet, but the soon-to-be victim does not. Romeo and Juliet example: ?????????
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Foil Character A character that contrasts the personality traits of another character, usually opposites. Ex: ????
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Apostrophe Occurs when a speaker addresses something nonhuman.
Ex: Juliet talking to her tears.
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Allusion A reference to a person, place, or thing in literature or culture that the writer expects the reader to understand. Ex: She is as mysterious as the Mona Lisa’s smile.
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Comic Relief Humor in a play to break a serious mood or relieve tension. Ex: The musicians making puns with Peter after Juliet is found dead.
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Hyperbole An exaggeration or overstatement used for effect.
Ex: My backpack weighs a ton!
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Situational Irony The situation turns out differently than the audience expects. Ex: A wife sells her hair to buy her husband a watch chain, but he has sold his watch to buy combs for her hair.
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VERBAL IRONY Saying one thing but meaning another, often sarcastically. Ex: You have a broken leg that really hurts but you say, “I feel like I could run a marathon!”
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Motif Recurring idea or element (symbol, character, etc.) in a work.
Ex: Various bird references appear in To Kill a Mockingbird.
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Symbol Represents something beyond itself, usually abstract or complex. Ex: The American flag symbolizes freedom and democracy to many people.
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Theme A stated or implied underlying meaning or message of a work.
Ex: Dorothy learns that “there’s no place like home” in the Wizard of Oz.
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Act 3-5 Quiz Plot developments for Acts 3, 4, and 5 (multiple choice)
Literary Devices – Review all (matching) One short answer (big points) This will cover Act 3, scene 1 Romeo’s tragic flaw Tragic turning point: Things take a serious turn for the worse; all downhill. This is the dramatic & tense moment when the forces of conflict come together. The role of fate/fortune in this scene. If you’ve missed class, or are confused, go to No Fear Shakespeare online. MODERN ENGLISH.
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