iambic pentameter | Sonnet form |
quatrain, quatrain, quatrain, couplet | sonnet rhyme scheme |
foreshadowing | the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot |
Romeo’s premonition about his “untimely death” | foreshadowing example |
coincidence | the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events |
Romeo helps the servant and finds out Rosaline is going to the party | coincidence example |
comic relief | Amusing scene, incident, or speech introduced into serious or tragic elements, as in a play, in order to provide temporary relief from tension, or to intensify the dramatic action. |
end of scene 4 (depressing and scary) to scene 5 (bumbling servants) | comic relief example |
foil | a character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another |
Nurse and Lady Capulet, Benvolio and Tybalt | foil examples |
conceit | an elaborate, fanciful, extended metaphor |
Lady Capulet’s speech comparing Paris’ face to a book | conceit example |
oxymoron | conjoining contradictory terms |
cold fire | oxymoron example |
light/dark imagery | description that appeals to the sight with opposites (day, night) |
a snowy dove trooping with crows | light/dark imagery example |
metaphor | comparison not using like or as |
love is a smoke | metaphor example |
hyperbole | extravagant exaggeration |
(Juliet) doth teach the torches to burn bright | hyperbole example |
alliteration | use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse |
carry coals, burn bright | alliteration example |
couplet | two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme |
“we follow thee. Juliet the county stays. Go girl seek happy nights, to happy days.” | couplet example |
sonnet | a verse form consisting of 14 lines with a fixed rhyme scheme |
prologue and romeo and juliet’s first conversation | sonnet example |
prose | ordinary writing as distinguished from verse |
servant’s speech | prose example |
blank verse | poetry that does not rhyme |
“Alas that love, so gentle in his view, should be so tyrannous and rough in proof.” | blank verse example |
pun | a humorous play on words |
collier, choler, collar | pun example |
Queen Mab | dream fairy |
April 23, 1616 | Shakespeare’s death |
April 23, 1564 | Shakespeare’s birth |
drama | story told in action to be presented on stage before an audience by actors who impersonate the characters of the story |
comedy | light and amusing story – ends happily |
tragedy | serious themed story – ends with death |
catharsis | experience of vicarious emotional relief when the play is finished |
powerful people involved in the corrections of wrongs | tragedy |
hero with a tragic flaw | tragedy |
hero learns of his error | tragedy |
hero stands fast in his principles | tragedy |
dies and restores harmony, order, or justice | tragedy |
characterization | shown by action and dialogue |
protagonist | hero/heroine |
antagonist | opponent |
conflict | struggle of opposing forces |
acts | play is split into… |
scenes | acts are split into… |
plot | series of interrelated events |
denouement | working out of a solution |
exposition | creates tone, setting, characters, conflict, and background information |
complication | introduces major problem |
climax | turning point in action where struggle reaches peak and protagonist overcomes opposition |
falling action | consequences of climax |
catastrophe | destruction of protagonist; conclusion |
dramatic conventions | substitutions for reality in drama |
soliloquy | actors can reveal his/her thoughts aloud on stage |
aside | actors can “step out” of action and speak to audience |
sets | scenery, furniture… |
proscenium stage | stage with no outer stage, only inner and a large separating curtain’ |
Romeo and Juliet Act 1
August 30, 2019