Allusion | An indirect reference to another literary work or to a famous person, place, or event. |
Aside | A brief remark meant to be heard by the audience or one other character, but not the others |
Comic Relief | A humorous scene, incident, or speech that is included in a serious drama to break the tension |
Dramatic Irony | Where the reader or audience knows something the characters don’t know |
Foil | A character who provides a striking contrast to another character; traits are enhanced by the contrast |
Foreshadowing | A writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will happen later in the plot |
Iambic Pentameter | A metrical line of 5 “feet”, or units, each of which is made up of two syllables, the first unstressed and the second stressed |
Metaphor | A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are seeming unlike, but have something in common; often uses “is” |
Monologue | an emotional speech in which a speaker addresses another person (silent or absent listener) |
Personification | A figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea |
Soliloquy | A speech in which a character speaks thoughts aloud. Generally the character is alone on stage, not addressing anyone in particular |
“If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours” Which literary term? | allusion |
“The flat transgression of a schoolboy who, being overjoyed with finding a birds nest, shows it his companion and he steals it.” Which literary term? | metaphor |
“Is it possible disdain should die when she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?” Which literary term? | personification |
“She would have made Hercules have turned spit.” Which literary term? | allusion |
“I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace.” Which literary term? | metaphor |
“Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes.” Which literary term? | personification |
“Oh, that I had been writ down an ass!” (Dogberry) Which literary term? | comic relief |
“This can be no trick, the conference was sadly born…” Benedick is standing alone in the orchard, saying his thoughts about Beatrice aloud. Which literary term? | soliloquy |
“Wherefore? Why doth every earthly thing cry shame upon her?…” Leonato is speaking his thoughts about Hero to Beatrice, Benedick, and the Friar. Which literary term? | monologue |
Much Ado Literary Terms
July 18, 2019