Literary Devices in Romeo and Juliet 8Eng.

light & dark imagery Flipped in Romeo & Juliet because of the time they can see each other
personification inanimate object given human & animal qualities
personification examples For how wilt like upon the wings of night.Whiter than new snow on a raven’s back.Come, gentle night, come, loving, black brow’ night.
oxymoron when two juxtaposed words, having opposing or very divers meaning, are used together
oxymoron examples beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!poor living corpse,living in a dead man’s tomb!
foreshadow a reference to something that will happen later in the story
foreshadow example “Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine, That all the world will be in love with night, And pay no worship to the garish sun.”
pun a humorous play on words
pun examples Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes, with nimble soles; I have a should of lead…
dramatic irony when something happens or is said that the audience is aware of, but not the character
dramatic irony example Juliet talks aout Romeo on her balcony not knowing Romeo is there.
allusion reference to historical or literary figure, event, or object
allusion example Romeo says that “Rosaline hath Diana’s wit. He is _________ to Diana, goddess of chastity, who opposed love & marriage. In other words, Rosaline thinks like Diana & will not fall in love w/Romeo.
imagery representation in words of a vivid sensory experience
point of view perspective of person explaining the story
paradox a statement that might seem to contradict itself, but is, never-the-less true
paradox example “My only love sprung from my only hate.”
hyperbole a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect
hyperbole example I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!