1. Shakespeare terms you need to know

2. Tragedies and Comedies
Tragedies: Focus on the fall of the tragic hero, due to a fatal flaw and the forces of external pressures.
Comedies: End happily, usually with marriage(s). There are disguises, mistaken identities, and several sub-plots.

3. Aside and Soliloquy
Aside: A dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience, without being heard by other characters on the stage.
Soliloquy: A speech in which characters speak to themselves, expressing their innermost thoughts.

4. Acts and Scenes
Act: A division or unit in drama. It is a collection of scenes that flow together and represent a major part of the play. Shakespeare’s plays contained five acts.
Scene: A division of an act in a play. The setting is fixed and the timing is continuous.

5. Roman Numerals
Traditionally, Shakespeare’s acts and scenes are indicated in Roman Numerals.
Upper case usually used for acts.
Ex: I, II, III, IV, V (1-5)
Lower case usually used for scenes.
Ex: i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x (1-10)

6. Dramatic Devices Pun: A play on words.
Ex: After Mercutio is stabbed in Romeo & Juliet, he says, “tomorrow…you shall find me a grave man.”
Hyperbole: A poetic device in which ideas are exaggerated for effect.
Ex: “Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls.” –Macbeth
Comic relief: A dramatic device in which a comic or amusing scene is used to relieve tension after a more serious one.

7. Dramatic Devices
Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which words with opposite meanings are used side-by-side for effect.
Ex: “Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical!” –Romeo & Juliet
Pathetic Fallacy: A dramatic device in which nature reflects what is happening in the play.
“I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.” –Macbeth
Equivocation (doublespeak): The deliberate use of words with double meaning in order to deceive.

8. Pronouns Thou: Used when YOU is the SUBJECT of the sentence.
Ex: You are a good friend Thou art a good friend.
Thee: Used when YOU is the OBJECT of the sentence.
I will give you I wilt give thee.
Thy: Used for the POSSESSIVE form of you. Use before a word that starts with a CONSONANT.
Your father Thy father.
Thine: Used for the POSSESSIVE form of you. Use before a word that starts with a VOWEL.
Your apple Thine apple.
Ye: Plural form of YOU, used for addressing a group.

9. Other Often Used Words Are=Art Will=Wilt Go=Hie Were=Wast
Why=Wherefore
Here=Hither
Have=Hast (2nd person)
Where=Whence
Pay Attention=Mark
Have=Hath (3rd person)
Farewell=Adieu
Indeed=Marry
Had=Hadst
Yes=Aye
Nothing=Nought
Do=Dost
Soon=Anon
Often=Oft
Does=Doth
Advice=Counsel
Maybe=Perchance
Did=Didst
Before=Ere
Please=Prithee
Can=Canst
Gladly=Fain
Sassy=Saucy
Shall=Shalt
Listen=Hark
Male of inferior rank=Sirrah
Should=Shouldst
Away=Hence