Download Literary Terms for Julius Caesar

LITERARY TERMS
The following list provides definitions and explanations of key literary and critical terms to
help you appreciate, interpret, and write about The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Please keep this
list throughout this year; if we have gone over a literary term, it is expected that you
remember it.
1. Alliteration-The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of several words in a line of
poetry. ie. Marilyn Monroe or “the diamond deserts in disguise”
2. Anachronism- An anachronism is when a literary work mixes time and place on purpose for effect or
accidentally in error. In Julius Caesar, I think a gun is referenced; however, during the Roman times
guns were not invented.
3. Anaphora-Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines in prose or verse.
4. Anti-climatic-When the ending of the plot (in poetry or prose) is unfulfilling or lackluster.
5. Apostrophe- Figure of speech in which an absent person, a personified inanimate object, or an
abstraction is addressed as though present. Whitman-O Captain, My Captain. Captain=Abraham
Lincoln who is dead.
6. Aside- A dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience, or to another character. By
convention the audience understands that the character’s speech (usually a brief comment) is not
heard by the other characters. –Think of Malcolm in the Middle (breaking the 4th wall)
7. Blank verse-Name for unrhymed iambic pentameter. An iamb is a metrical foot in which an
unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable. In iambic pentameter there are five iambs per
line making ten syllables.
8. Caesura-A pause in the middle of a line in poetry usually marked by punctuation. This occurs
frequently after enjambment.
9. Catharsis- Aristotle coined this phrase, a Greek term, to describe that strangely pleasurable sense of
emotional release we experience from watching great tragedy. Watching someone else’s tragedy is a
purifying or cleansing experience.
10. Climax-The turning point in the plot or the high point of action.
11. Connotation-An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing, ie. Bat=evil.
House…home…shack. How does the connotation change when comparing these similar words?
12. Dramatic Irony13. Enjambment-The continuation of reading one line of a poem to the next without pausing. Also
called a run-on line.
14. Eulogy-Speech given at a funeral that praises the dead.
15. Euphemism-The act of substituting a harsh, blunt, or offensive comment for a more politically
accepted or positive one. (short=vertically challenged, purgers not murderers, conflict or struggle not
war, euthanize not kill).
16. Expansion-When a poet adds a syllable to the end of a line/word in order to maintain the rhythm or
rhyme in the verse. Example: Unbraced, Pronounced un-brac-id (three syllables)
17. Extended metaphor- A metaphor that is used throughout a lengthy artistic work.
18. Flat character-A literary character whose personality can be defined by one or two traits and does
not change over the course of the story. These characters are usually minor or insignificant
characters. Also called static characters.
19. Foil Character-A character that by contrast underscores or enhances the
distinctive characteristics of another. This may be accomplished by the foil being similar to the main
character (lighter versions of traits) or being the antithesis of the main character. Example: Batman and
Robin
20. Foreshadowing- Clues in the text about incidents that will occur later in the plot;
this technique creates anticipation in the novel.
20. Hero- The principal male character in a story, play, film, etc. This character does
not have to be heroic per se, although that description may apply.
21. Inversion- When the natural pattern or word order is inverted for poetic effect or
to maintain the rhyme scheme.
22. Monologue- A long utterance by one person in a play.
23. Poetic Justice- When a character gets what he/she deserves. The bad guy receives negative
consequences while the good characters receive positive ones.
24. Prose- Anything written in paragraphs-essays, novels, short stories, etc…
25. Protagonist- The main character in a drama or literary work.
26. Pun- Play on words, when two words have multiple meanings and spellings and are used in a
humorous manner.
27. Rhetorical questions- Questions that make the reader think, not meant to be answered necessarily,
just pondered. Example-Do you think you’re funny young lady? (I wouldn’t answer this question, would
you?)
28. Round character-A character who is developed over the course of the book; these characters are
usually major characters in a novel. Round characters are also called dynamic characters.
29. Situational Irony-When one thing should occur, is apparent, or in logical sequence but the opposite
actually occurs. Example: A man in the ocean might say, “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to
drink.” Example: Dying in a living room.
30. Soliloquy-A dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself,
revealing his or her thoughts without addressing a listener. Typical in plays. Similar to an aside but
longer.
31. Tragedy- A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin
or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral
weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.
32. Tragic Flaw- A flaw/trait that leads to the main character’s demise/downfall.
33. Tragic Hero- The main character who causes his own downfall (see above).
34. Verbal Irony- When one thing is said and the opposite is intended.
35. Verse- Anything written in lines-poems, songs, plays.
TOP 10 GLOBE THEATRE FACTS
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Trivia Fact 1 - The Globe was built in a similar style to the Coliseum, but on a smaller scale - other Elizabethan
Theatres followed this style of architecture which was called amphitheatres.
Trivia Fact 2 - The Globe Theatre was built in with the materials and timber 'stolen' from the first 'Theatre' in
1599 when William Shakespeare and the Chamberlain's men were forced to leave because the Puritan owner,
Giles Allen, refused to re-new the lease. It only took six months to build!
Trivia Fact 3 - Theatrical Performances proved to be so popular that in 1591 the growing popularity of theatres
led to a law closing all theatres were closed on Thursdays so that the bull and bear baiting industries would not
be neglected.
Trivia Fact 4 - The Globe theatre was also used for gambling and for immoral purposes.
Trivia Fact 5 - Outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague were so serious that the Globe Theatre was forced to close.
The outbreaks and closures occurred in 1593, 1603 and 1608. In 1563, in London alone, over 20,000 people
died of the deadly Bubonic Plague.
Trivia Fact 6 - William Shakespeare and his company built TWO Globe Theatres - on 29 June 1613 there was
a fire at the original Globe and the theatre burnt to the ground within two hours. A new Globe was quickly rebuilt in 1614.
Trivia Fact 7 - The motto of the Globe theatre was "Totus mundus agit histrionem" ( the whole world is a
playhouse ). The phrase was slightly re-worded in the William Shakespeare play As You Like It - "All the
world’s a stage" which was performed at the Globe Theatre.
Trivia Fact 8 - No women were allowed to work as actors - female roles were taken by young lads who wore
women's clothes and elaborate make-up. The lead content in the white make-up led to many early deaths of the
boy actors.
Trivia Fact 9 - Different colored flags were used to advertise the themes of plays which were to be performed
at the Globe Theatre. A black flag indicated a tragedy, a white flag indicated a comedy and a red flag indicated
a History.
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Trivia Fact 10 - The Globe Theatre was demolished by the Puritans. On 15th April 1644 landowner Sir
Matthew Brend demolished the playhouse and built tenement houses on the site.