Romeo and Juliet Act 1

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’