Literary Devices in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

AllusionAllusion An indirect reference to another person, place, An indirect reference to another person, place,

or event in literature, history, art, or music.or event in literature, history, art, or music.

Example: Example: “Tis but the “Tis but the pale reflex of pale reflex of Cynthia’s Cynthia’s browbrow.” (III, .” (III, vv, 20) , 20)

(Cynthia was a name for the moon goddess.)(Cynthia was a name for the moon goddess.)

Example from PlayExample from Play Act II, Scene IIAct II, Scene II – – Juliet says, “Else would I tear the Juliet says, “Else would I tear the

caves where Echo lies/ And make caves where Echo lies/ And make her airy tongue more hoarse than her airy tongue more hoarse than mine/ With repetition of ‘My mine/ With repetition of ‘My Romeo!’” Romeo!’”

ExplanationExplanation – Echo is a nymph – Echo is a nymph who could only repeat what was who could only repeat what was said to her. She could not said to her. She could not communicate with the one she communicate with the one she loved and lived a life of solitude in loved and lived a life of solitude in a cave. Next time you go into a a cave. Next time you go into a cave say something and you will cave say something and you will hear her. Juliet is saying she would hear her. Juliet is saying she would say Romeo’s name over and over say Romeo’s name over and over as if in competition with Echo.as if in competition with Echo.

EpithetEpithet A descriptive adjective or phrase A descriptive adjective or phrase

used to characterize someone or used to characterize someone or something.something.

Example:Example:““Romeo! Humors! Romeo! Humors! Madman! Madman! Passion! Lover!Passion! Lover! (II.i.7) (II.i.7)

MeterMeter Definition:Definition: The pattern of syllables in a poem. The pattern of syllables in a poem.

Notes:Notes: Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter is one form of meter. is one form of meter.

An An iambiamb’s emphasis is ’s emphasis is unstressed, stressed unstressed, stressed

PentameterPentameter refers to the fact there refers to the fact there are five feet, or sets of syllables are five feet, or sets of syllables in the line. That in the line. That makes ten in total.makes ten in total.

Example:Example:

“ “Two Two house house 11 holds holds bothboth 2 2 a a likelike 3 3 in in dig dig 44 ni ni tyty…” 5…” 5

RepetitionRepetition The return of a word, The return of a word, phrase, stanza form, or phrase, stanza form, or effect in any form of effect in any form of literature.literature.

Some types:Some types: Alliteration, Alliteration, rhyme, repeating words, rhyme, repeating words, refrains. refrains.

Example:Example: “Romeo, Romeo, “Romeo, Romeo,Wherefore art thouWherefore art thou Romeo?” Romeo?”

CharacterizationCharacterization Definition: The Definition: The Personality a character Personality a character displays, also the way displays, also the way the author reveals it.the author reveals it.

Example: “Enough Example: “Enough of this, I pray thee of this, I pray thee hold thy peace.” –Lady hold thy peace.” –Lady Capulet, I, iii, 49Capulet, I, iii, 49

ForeshadowingForeshadowing Definition: Definition: The use of clues or hints The use of clues or hints To suggest what action To suggest what action is to come.is to come.

Example: Example: Romeo: “By some vile Romeo: “By some vile forfeit of the untimely forfeit of the untimely death…” (I, v, 111)death…” (I, v, 111)

OxymoronOxymoron Definition: A figure of speech that Definition: A figure of speech that

combines apparently contradictory combines apparently contradictory (opposite) terms(opposite) terms

Examples:Examples:““Parting is such Parting is such sweet sorrowsweet sorrow.”.”““Oh Oh loving hateloving hate””

AsideAside A dramatic convention by which A dramatic convention by which an actor directly addresses the audience an actor directly addresses the audience but is not suppose to be heard by other but is not suppose to be heard by other

actors on the stage.actors on the stage. ACT II Scene IIACT II Scene II – Romeo says, “ Shall I – Romeo says, “ Shall I

hear more, or shall I speak at this?”hear more, or shall I speak at this?” Explanation Explanation – Romeo is asking a – Romeo is asking a

rhetorical question to the audience. He is rhetorical question to the audience. He is not actually speaking to any of the actors not actually speaking to any of the actors or actresses on the stage and only the or actresses on the stage and only the audience is suppose to hear his question.audience is suppose to hear his question.

Character FoilCharacter Foil Sets off or illuminates the major Sets off or illuminates the major

character – usually to create a character – usually to create a contrast that is favorable to the contrast that is favorable to the major character.major character.

Act I Scene IIIAct I Scene III – The nurse – The nurse serves as a foil for Lady Capuletserves as a foil for Lady Capulet

ExplanationExplanation – The nurse – The nurse rambles using bawdy, common rambles using bawdy, common language. She is frank and language. She is frank and unrefined. Lady Capulet speaks unrefined. Lady Capulet speaks like a noble woman. Her lines like a noble woman. Her lines are in blank verse or rhymed are in blank verse or rhymed couplets. Lady Capulet’s couplets. Lady Capulet’s language is indirect and refined.language is indirect and refined.

IronyIrony

Situational IronySituational Irony – When there is a – When there is a difference in what the reader/audience difference in what the reader/audience is led to expect in a situation and what is led to expect in a situation and what actually happens. For example, Romeo actually happens. For example, Romeo goes to the party hoping to see goes to the party hoping to see Rosaline, but he actually meets and Rosaline, but he actually meets and falls in love with Juliet.falls in love with Juliet.

Dramatic ironyDramatic irony– – When the reader When the reader knows more about the knows more about the true state of affairs true state of affairs than the characters than the characters do. do.

For example, Romeo For example, Romeo enters the Capulet enters the Capulet tomb and notices how tomb and notices how Juliet does not even Juliet does not even look dead yet. The look dead yet. The audience knows this is audience knows this is because she is not because she is not dead.dead.

MonologueMonologue A long, A long,

uninterrupted uninterrupted speech that a speech that a character speaks in character speaks in front of other front of other characters characters

An example would An example would be Mercuito’s be Mercuito’s Queen Mab speech.Queen Mab speech.

PunPun A play on words A play on words

based on the based on the similarity of sound similarity of sound between the two between the two words with different words with different meanings (“son” and meanings (“son” and “sun” or “I” and “sun” or “I” and “eye”)“eye”)

SoliloquySoliloquy

A speech in which a character, alone on A speech in which a character, alone on the stage, addresses himself or herself to the stage, addresses himself or herself to let the audience know his/her inner let the audience know his/her inner thoughts/feelings.thoughts/feelings.

ACT II Scene III Friar Lawrence is on stage ACT II Scene III Friar Lawrence is on stage alone and speaks his thoughts so only the alone and speaks his thoughts so only the audience can hear them.audience can hear them.