Download Romeo and Juliet: Literary Terminology for Act I

Notes on Drama and Literary
Devices for Reading

Romeo and Juliet
"For never
was a story
of more
woe than
this of Juliet
and her
Romeo." (Act
V, Scene III)
Tragedy
Tragedy is a type of drama that
began in ancient times.
 Tragic hero is the character
who is brought down by a
single weakness.
 The weakness that brings
down the hero mentioned
above is called the tragic
flaw.
 The word Tragedy comes from
the Greek word, “tragos,”
meaning “goat song.”

Romeo and
Juliet:
Literary Devices
What do you call it when actors are
talking?



Soliloquy is a speech in which one character is
alone on stage expressing his/her thoughts to
the audience.
Dialogue is conversation between characters.
Monologue is a speech in which one character
is talking, but there are other characters on
stage.
Aside

A part of an actor's lines
supposedly not heard by
others on the stage and
generally intended only
for the audience.
EXAMPLE
Romeo: “Shall I hear
more, or shall I speak at
this?” (rhetorical question
to the audience)
Foil Character

Sets off or
illuminates the major
character – usually
to create a contrast
that is favorable to
the major character.
EXAMPLE
o Act I Scene III –
The nurse serves as
a foil for Lady
Capulet
Simile

A direct comparison of unlike things using “like”
or “as”
EXAMPLE:
Friar Lawrence: “These violent delights have
violent ends and in their triumph die, like fire and
powder, which, as they kiss, consume”
Foreshadowing

The author uses hints and suggestions to foretell
the end of the story.
EXAMPLE
o The opening Prologue foreshadows the fate of
Romeo and Juliet by stating, “A pair of starcross’d lovers take their life .”
Personification

When an inanimate object or abstract noun is
endowed with human qualities or abilities.
EXAMPLE:
Romeo: “Arise, fair sun and kill thy envious
moon.”
Metaphor

Implied comparison between two unlike things
EXAMPLE:
Romeo: “Juliet is the sun,” (meaning that Juliet is
bright and beautiful)
Oxymoron

Two concepts that do not go together but are
used together.
EXAMPLE:
o “loving hate” and “heavy lightness” from
Romeo’s dialogue with Benvolio in Act I scene I.
Pun

The humorous use of a word or phrase so as to
emphasize or suggest its different meanings or
applications, or the use of words that are alike
or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning;
a play on words.
EXAMPLE:
Mercutio: “Ask for me tomorrow and you shall
find me a grave man.” (“Grave” meaning both
“serious” and “dead”).
Paradox

A statement that contradicts itself. There are
more words in a Paradox than an Oxymoron. An
Oxymoron is only two words, and a Paradox is
similar but has other words separating the
Oxymoron.
EXAMPLE:
Juliet: “Book containing such vile matter so fairly
bound.” (fairly contradicts the “vile” matter)
Allusion
Stimulates ideas, associations, and extra
information in the reader’s mind.
 A reference to a historical or literary figure,
event or object.

EXAMPLE:
Juliet: “Else would I tear the caves where Echo
lies/ And make her airy tongue more hoarse
than mine/ With repetition of ‘My Romeo!’”
(Echo was a nymph who could only repeat what
was said to her)
Know these Terms!
End of Notes