Coriolanus

“Anything but what I am” “Where I anything but what I am, I would wish me only he.”
“Rogues” “You dissentious rogues”
“Scabs” “Make yourself scabs”
“more angry” Tribune mockery Tribunes are mocking of Coriolanus and wanting to make him “more angry at it”, that the “commonwealth doth stand”
of wills “willingly” in banishing Corilanus it was “against our will”.
Volumnia’s “praises” “praises made thee first a solidor”
“Seek danger” “Seek danger where he was like to find fame.”
Scripted behaviour of her son. “You were got in fear, though you were born in Rome”
When he’s dead, what will volumnia’s son have been? “His good report… should have been my son”
MEAT “Anger’s my meat. I sup upon myself, and so shall starve with feeding.”
“Unbuckling” “unbuckling helms” and dreams of “encounters twix thyself and me”.
What is praise to Coriolanus? Coriolanus sees praise as a “bribe to pay my sword”
“Lie” “Lie in th’interpretation of the time”.
“Greatest taste” “The great’st taste most palates theirs”
“Triton” “Triton of the minnows”
“Thing” “Noble thing”
“Thankless” “Thankless country”
Authors choice of words, give examples of synonyms. Diction –
Quotations from another text. Epigraph –
Connotations Connotative meanings –
Mild or indirect to substitute on considered to be too blunt. Euphemism –
“A sword is to a warrior as a pen is to a writer.” Analogy
Using two sentences wth contradictory meaning close together, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” Antithesis –
a very typical example of a certain person or thing Archetype –
A character who acts as a contrast to another character Foil –
Deliberate use of language by a writer to instill a feeling or visual. Emotive language –
Incomplete sentences used to increase tension or urgency, or reflect the way people speak to each other. Fractured sentences –
references to other texts within the text Intertextuality –
first citizen remarks about Coriolanus’s relationship with his mother “Please his mother”
Clear example of Menenius as a foil, in act 1 “Always loved the people”
comparison not using like or as Metaphor –
A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it, such as voices for votes Metonymy –
When a word is weak in impact, it has low modality and is passive, whilst when more forceful, it has high modality and is assertive. (Eg. you might want to do this, to you must do this.) Modality –
Such as Shakespeare’s omission of Coriolanus’s soliloquy, meaning he doesn’t have to appeal to anyone. Omission –
Used by the author to demonstrate difference in reaction by various characters to situations, e.g., Aufidius and Coriolanus. Parallels –
two contradictory concepts put together. Oxymoron –
Sentence structure Syntax –
Two meanings Double entendre –
Homographic = same spelling different meaning. Homophonic = Sounds the same, but different meaning and different spelling. Pun
That which invokes the readers sense of tragedy The tragic element –
Pride. Protagonists flaw –
Such as Caius Martius in Corioli. Character isolation –
“Please” who he pleases according to citizens “Please his mother”
An order or request, such as “please be quiet.” Imperative mood (negative/postive) – Coriolanus is always using thirst person imperative mood, implying separation.
declares something, such as “he is outside” Declarative statements.
Coriolanus’s language is often unstable. Stabilised/destabilised language.
July 6, 2019