Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet

drama Literature intended to be performed by actors in front of an audience; includes script with dialogue, a cast of characters, and stage directions.
act A major division in a play. Often, individual acts are divided into smaller units called scenes that all take place in a specific location.
stage directions The term in drama refers to part of the printed text in a play that is not actually spoken by the actors on the stage, but which instead indicates actions or activity for the actors to engage in.
stage directions example what is this an example of?​Act I. Scene I. Verona. A public square.Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, of the house of Capulet, armed with swords and bucklers (shields).
monlogue A long, uninterrupted speech that is spoken in the presence of other characters. Unlike a soliloquy and most asides, a monologue is heard by other characters. It is important because it is a dramatic moment where all attention is focused on one character.
monologue example what is this an example of?MERCUTIO: O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comesIn shape no bigger than an agate stoneOn the forefinger of an alderman,Drawn with a team of little atomiesOver men’s noses as they lie asleep;Her wagon spokes made of long……..”
aside When a few words or a short passage is spoken by one character to the audience while the other actors on stage pretend their characters cannot hear the speaker’s words. Sometimes asides are spoken between two characters and the audience can hear the dialogue but the rest of the characters on stage cannot.
aside example ABRAHAM: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSON [aside to GREGORY] Is the law on our side, if I say ay?GREGORY (servant of Capulet) [aside to SAMPSON] No.SAMPSON: No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.
pun A play on the multiple meanings of a word.
pun example what is this an example of?(as Mercutio is dying) “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”
oxymoron Two clashing or incompatible words brought together to make a striking impression.
oxymoron example what is this an example of?​”Parting is such sweet sorrow”
allusion A reference to a fairly well-known event, place or person.
allusion example what is this an example of?​”It was like Romeo and Juliet, only it ended in tragedy”
shakespearean tragedy A type of drama in which the protagonist suffers a downfall or destruction. This downfall may occur because of some error in his or her judgment, weakness of character, or a twist of fate. A Shakespearean tragedy ends with the death of the protagonist.
tragic hero A character who falls from a dignified, elevated status due to a weakness within known as the tragic flaw; a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on tragedy.
tragic flaw A character trait that leads to the downfall of a hero; ironically, this trait is often what has made the character admired.
tragic flaw example What is this is an example of? Macbeth’s ambition makes him admired but also leads to his downfall.
Foil A minor character who contrasts with a main character in order to highlight specific traits of the main character.
Foreshadow Clues of hints that alert the reader to what is going to happen later in the play or novel.
July 25, 2019