Shakespearean Drama English

Three Classifications of Shakespearean Drama: COMEDY HISTORY TRAGEDY

TRAGIC HERO Qualities of a Tragic Hero: Possesses high importance or rank Exhibits extraordinary talents Displays a tragic flaw—an error in judgment or defect in character—that leads to downfall Faces downfall with courage and dignity

BLANK VERSE Verse Dramas Blank Verse Iambic Pentameter

Act One, Scene 2, Lines 192-195 Let me’ have men’ about’ me that’ are fat’ Sleek’-headed men’, and such’ as sleep’ o nights,’ Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much, such men are dangerous.

SOLILOQUY AND ASIDE Long speech given by a character while alone on stage to reveal his or her private thoughts or intentions Character’s quiet remark to the audience or another character that no one else on stage is supposed to hear

SOLILOQUY OR ASIDE? Trebonius: Caesar, I will. And so near will I be That your best friends shall wish I had been further. --Act Two, Scene 2, Lines 124-125

RHETORICAL DEVICES Make speech more convincing and memorable ? Repetition Parallelism Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical Device? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday? --I, i, L50-51 Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. --III, ii, L22-23

DRAMATIC IRONY Irony—contrast between appearance and reality Dramatic Irony—the audience or reader knows something the character(s) does not know