1. Romeo and Juliet
Literary Terms

2. Tragic Hero The protagonist, or central character
Usually fails or dies because of a character flaw or cruel twist of fate
Has high social status
Shows strength while facing his/her destiny

3. Foil
A character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another character
Highlights both characters’ traits because they are opposites of one another

4. Metaphor
A figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else…a direct comparison.
Example: “Oh speak again bright angel!” Romeo about Juliet
Example: “He’s a man of wax.”
Nurse about Paris

5. Simile
Figure of speech in which “like” or “as” is used to compare two unlike things.
Example: “Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boist’rous, and it pricks like thorns.”
Romeo describing love

6. Oxymoron Two unlike words put together to make a strong impact
Example: Cold fire, sick health, feather of lead, still waking sleep
Descriptions show Romeo’s conflicting
emotions about love

7. Pun
Play on words based on different meanings of words that sound alike
Example: “You have dancing shoes with nimble soles. I have a soul of lead so stakes me to the ground I cannot move.”
Romeo

8. Soliloquy
A speech in which a character, alone on stage (or they think they are), expresses his/her thoughts to the audience. This reveals their thoughts and advances the plot
Example: Juliet speaking about Romeo in the balcony scene of Act II

9. Monologue
A lengthy speech, but unlike a soliloquy, a monologue is addressed to another character(s), not the audience.
Example: Mercutio’s “Queen Mab” speech before the Capulet party

10. Aside
A short speech or line delivered by an actor to the audience. This reveals the character’s thoughts and the other actors on stage “don’t hear this” (obviously they do, but they pretend that they don’t )

11. Motif A repeating theme, idea, or symbol throughout a work.
Motifs to look for in Romeo and Juliet are:
Light and Dark Imagery
Flower Imagery
Bird and “Winged” Imagery
Dream References
Stars and Heavens Imagery

12. Comic Relief
Funny scene after a serious scene
The purpose here is for contrast and enjoyment…to lighten the mood after a serious scene.
Example: Act II scene iv

13. Dramatic Irony
This occurs when a character’s work or actions have one meaning for the character and a different meaning for the audience.
This occurs when the audience knows more than the character about a situation
Example: We know Romeo and Juliet are from enemy families before they do