1. 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)

2. 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.”

3. Romeo and Juliet:
Literary Devices

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. Foil Character
Sets off or illuminates the major character – usually to create a contrast that is favorable to the major character.
EXAMPLE
Act I Scene III – The nurse serves as a foil for Lady Capulet

7. 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”

8. Foreshadowing
The author uses hints and suggestions to foretell the end of the story.
EXAMPLE
The opening Prologue foreshadows the fate of Romeo and Juliet by stating, “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life .”

9. 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.”

10. Metaphor Implied comparison between two unlike things EXAMPLE:
Romeo: “Juliet is the sun,” (meaning that Juliet is bright and beautiful)

11. Oxymoron Two concepts that do not go together but are used together.
EXAMPLE:
“loving hate” and “heavy lightness” from Romeo’s dialogue with Benvolio in Act I scene I.

12. 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”).

13. 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)

14. 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)

15. Know these Terms!

16. End of Notes