Romeo and Juliet: Act 1 & 2

pernicious having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual way
augmenting make something greater by adding to it
grievance a real or imagined wrong or other cause for complaint or protest
portentuous giving a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen
prodigous impressively great in extent; unnatural
chided to scold or rebuke
rancor bitterness or resentfulness
predominant present as the strongest or main element
lamentable deplorably bad or unsatisfactory
foil a character used to highlight or emphasize (by contrast) the traits of a protagonist
example of foil Mercutio & Romeo; Lady Capulet & Nurse
foreshadowing hinting at further events
example of foreshadowing the prologue; “your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace”
hyperbole exaggeration for effect
example of hyperbole Romeo’s expression of love towards Juliet
pun a play on words based on multiple meanings
example of pun Mercutio and Benvolio’s pun off in Act 2 Scene 4; “draw your neck out of collar”
conflict struggle between opposing forces
example of conflict Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet; Benvolio and Tybalt’s fight near the beginning
oxymoron figure of speech that combines contradictory terms
examples of oxymoron feather of leadbright smokeloving hateserious vanity
juxtaposition arranging two ideas, settings, characters, etc. together for comparison
dramatic irony words and actions of the character have a different meaning to the audience than to the character
example of dramatic irony when Juliet thinks she is talking to herself on the balcony; the Nurse and Romeo talking about marriage
imagery vivid description appealing the the senses
example of imagery Romeo talking about Juliet
malapropism comical misuse of a word
example of a malapropism when the nurse says “I desire some confidence with you” confidence was supposed to be conference meaning secretive
motif recurring element that has symbolic significance
example of motif Romeo’s references to the sun and moon
direct characterization author (narrator) directly describes a character
example of direct characterization prologue of act 2; “With tender Juliet matched, is now not fair. Now Romeo is beloved and loves again
indirect characterization use of words, actions, appearance, thoughts to describe a character
example of indirect characterization Romeo talking about Juliet, her appearance, we character, naïve
Romeo depressed, sensitive, in love, “Ay, me! Sad hours seem long”, “And she’s fair I love”
Juliet naïve, impatient, in love, “And palm to palm is holy palmers kiss”
The Nurse scatter brained, discursive, bold, whole time she was talking to Romeo
Benvolio peaceful, brother like, “I do but keep the peace”, “I’all know his grievance or be much denied”
Mercutio witty, playful, “Where the devil should this Romeo be?”
Lord Capulet prudent, protective, “My child is a stranger in the world”
Paris presumptuous, arrogant, “Younger than she are happy mothers made”
Tybalt vain, violent, “I hate the word as I hate hell”
August 31, 2019