romeo and juliet lit devices

Mrs. Collins’s English ClassMrs. Collins’s English Class

Literary Devices in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

1. Figurative Language1. Figurative Language

Definition: All Definition: All language language not not intended to be taken intended to be taken literally. literally.

Includes Includes PMS:PMS:PPersonificationersonificationMMetaphoretaphorSSimile…and imile…and AnalogyAnalogy::

1a. Figurative Language: 1a. Figurative Language: PersonificationPersonification

Definition: To assign human qualities Definition: To assign human qualities to something that isn’t humanto something that isn’t human

Example:Example: “I’ll say yon “I’ll say yon

gray is not the gray is not the

morning’s eyemorning’s eye.” .”

(III, v, 19)(III, v, 19)

1b. Figurative Language:1b. Figurative Language:MetaphorMetaphor

Definition: Comparison between two Definition: Comparison between two unlike thingsunlike things

Example:Example: ““Whiter than new snowWhiter than new snow upon a raven’s back.” (III, ii, 19)upon a raven’s back.” (III, ii, 19)

1c. Figurative Language: 1c. Figurative Language: SimileSimile

Definition:Definition: A comparison A comparison between two between two unlike unlike things things using like or as.using like or as.

Example:Example:““And to’ t they go And to’ t they go like lightninglike lightning” (III, i, 166)” (III, i, 166)

1d. Figurative Language: 1d. Figurative Language: AnalogyAnalogy

An EXTENDED comparison An EXTENDED comparison

showing the similarities showing the similarities

between two things.between two things.

Example:Example: Juliet’s comparison Juliet’s comparison

of Romeo and a rose in her of Romeo and a rose in her

soliloquy.soliloquy.

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.)

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. in the line. That makes ten in total.That 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?”

RhymeRhyme

Definition: A word answering in sound to Definition: A word answering in sound to another word.another word.

Example: Example: “Would “Would through the airy region through the airy region stream so stream so bright bright // That birds would sing That birds would sing and think it were not and think it were not night.” night.” (II, ii, 21-22)(II, ii, 21-22)

DialogueDialogue

Definition: A conversation between two or more Definition: A conversation between two or more peoplepeople

Example:Example:Lady Capulet:Lady Capulet: “Speak “Speak briefly, can you likebriefly, can you likeOf Paris’s love?”Of Paris’s love?”

Juliet:Juliet: “I’ll look to like if “I’ll look to like if looking liking move…” looking liking move…” (I, iii, 11-12)(I, iii, 11-12)

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)

ImageryImagery

Language that appeals Language that appeals to any sense (sight, hearing, to any sense (sight, hearing, taste, touch, or smell) or taste, touch, or smell) or any combination of these.any combination of these.

Example: “Many a morning Example: “Many a morning hath he there be hath he there be seenseen, with , with tears augmenting the fresh tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew.” (I, i, 122-23)morning’s dew.” (I, i, 122-23)

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””