Literary Terms Shakespeare

Metaphor Comparing two unlike items without using “like” or “as.” Saying one thing IS another. Example: Her betrayal is a knife in the back.

Simile A comparison between two unlike objects using “like” or “as.” Example: The toddler left alone in the kitchen for a few moments was like a bull in a china shop.

Hyperbole An extreme exaggeration

Allusion A reference to a place, event, person, literary work, myth, etc. that the reader is expected to know. What are the following alluding to? She was breathtakingly beautiful, but he knew that she was forbidden fruit. Christy hated spending money. She was such a Scrooge, and no one wanted to go out with her.

Comic Relief humor added that lessens the seriousness of the plot

Tragedy Aristotle defined tragedy as a form of drama that elicits pity and fear. It does not need to end in death.

Tragic Hero A tragic hero must have two traits: a noble birth and a tragic flaw, which eventually brings their downfall. The most common tragic flaw is pride, or hubris (extreme pride)

Aside A character speaks directly to the audience without being overheard by other characters on stage Remember, they are ON THE SIDE of other people

Soliloquy A character converses with himself/herself by expressing thoughts aloud while alone on stage. Remember, they are SOLO (alone)

Parts of Plot Exposition – the beginning; intro to characters and the issues Rising Action- Story starts to unfold; complications arise; suspense builds Climax- most exciting moment; a turning point Falling Action- Story dies down; events and problems fall into place Resolution/Denouement- Loose ends wrapped up; all falls into place

Parts of Plot

Irony Dramatic Irony - the audience or reader knows more about a character’s situation than the character does and knows that the character’s understanding is incorrect. Example: Romeo and Juliet Situational Irony – When the unexpected happens, the opposite of what you’d expect. Example: The fire house burned down. Verbal Irony - a discrepancy between what is said and what is really meant; sarcasm. Example: A large man whose nickname is “Tiny.”

Monologue a long speech by one character in a play

Foil a character who is used as a contrast to another character; this highlights or sets off the personality traits of the characters

Pun An expression that achieves emphasis or humor by utilizing two distinctly different meanings for the same word. A play on words. Example: In Romeo and Juliet, one character, Mercutio, says after being fatally stabbed, “Ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man.”

Blank Verse poetry verse without rhyme written in iambic pentameter

Iambic Pentameter Ten syllables in each line Five pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables The rhythm in each line sounds like: ba-BUM / ba-BUM / ba-BUM / ba-BUM / ba-BUM