| prologue | Prologue: a separate introductory section of a literary or musical work. This often describes the backstory of a character or event which will be important later.”Two households, both alike in dignity,In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.From forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;Whose misadventured piteous overthrowsDo with their death bury their parents’ strife.The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love,And the continuance of their parents’ rage,Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;The which if you with patient ears attend,What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend” (Prologue). |
| Shakespearean Sonnet | Sonnet: the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg. Shakespeare often uses rhyming to appeal to the audience and make the dialogue flow smoothly.”If I profane with my unworthiest handThis holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready standTo smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,Which mannerly devotion shows in this;For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take” (Act I, Scene V). |
| Iambic Pentameter | Iambic Pentameter: a line of verse with five metrical feet. This is the way the phrase or quote is organized in text or dialogue, making it easier to understand and read.”It is the east, and Juliet is the sun” (Act II, Scene II). |
| Oxymoron | Oxymoron: a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. Oxymorons are often used to emphasize on something important, or to represent how accurate something is.”O brawling love! O loving hate!” (Act I, Scene I) |
| Pun | Pun: a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings. Puns are used to make the audience laugh. They are often a play on words, using homophones to change the topic and meaning of a sentence.”Gregory, on my word, we’ll not carry coals.No, for then we should be colliers.I mean, if we be in choler, we’ll draw.Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of collar” (Act I, Scene I). |
| Allusion | Allusion: an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference. This is essentially a reference or joke that the audience may or may not understand.”‘Well, in that hit you miss: she’ll not be hit/With Cupid’s arrow; she hath Dian’s wit” (Act I, Scene I). |
| Metaphor | Metaphor: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. This is extremely similar to a simile, as it compares two different things. Metaphors, however, do not contain the words “like” or “as”.”This precious book of love, this unbound lover” (Act I, Scene III). |
| Foreshadowing | Foreshadow: be a warning or indication of (a future event). This is a form of dramatic irony, as the audience sees that something will go wrong in the future of the story, even though the characters do not.”Take thou some new infection to thy eye, And the rank poison of the old will die” (Act I, Scene II). |
Romeo and Juliet Flashcards
September 7, 2019