Shakespeare's Language
act - a main division of a drama. Shakespeare's plays consist of 5
allusion - a reference to a literary or historical person or event to explain a present situation
aside - a brief remark made by a character and intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters
atmosphere - the tone or mood established by events, places or situations
chorus - in greek drama, the singing and dancing group whose words formed commentary of interpretation of action. In Elizabethan drama the role of it was often taken by one actor to recite a prologue or several actors to offer commentary on a situation
comic relief - a humorous scene or speech in a serious drama which is meant to provide relief from emotional intensity and by contrast to heighten the seriousness of the story
foreshadowing - a hint of what is to come in the story. this is often used to keep the audience in a state of expectancy
imagery - words or phrases that appeal to the 5 senses, figurative language may create images but not all images are figures of speech
irony - a contrast btwn what is and what appears to be. One type is verbal in which a character says one thing and means another. Another is dramatic in which the audience knows what the characters don't
metaphor - a figure of speech that implies or states a comparison btwn 2 unlike things which are similar in some way (no like or as)
paradox - a statement which seems to be contradictory but is at the same time profoundly logical. it may be used to emphasize a particular theme or idea
scene - a small unit of a play in which there is no shift of locale or time
simile - a figure of speech that states a comparison btwn 2 unlike things which are similar in one aspect (uses like or as)
soliloquy - a speech given by a character alone on stage-to let the audience know what the character is thinking and feeling
tragedy - type of drama of human conflict which ends in defeat and suffering. often the main character has a tragic flaw which leads to their destruction, sometimes the conflict is w/ forces beyond the control of the character-fate, evil in the world
Shakespeare writes either in blank verse, in rhymed verse or in prose.
Blank verse - verse without rhyme, especially that which uses iambic pentameters. Has a noticeable rhythm.
Iambic pentameter - Technical term for the rhythm used in Shakespeare's verse.
'de-dum' x 5 makes a line of iambic pentameter.
EG: So LONG as MEN can BREATHE or EYES can SEE
Shakespeare's sonnets and the major part of his plays are written in iambic pentameter and this use of a set rhythm creates verse.
Rhymed verse – While blank verse forms the basis of Shakespeare’s writing, he often uses rhyme. Usually to close a scene or to suggest what will come next. Shakespeare uses rhyme and a variety of rhythm patterns to distinguish special characters such as the witches in Macbeth and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Rhyme is a clue to a character or situation. It is always helpful to ask why Shakespeare is using rhyme at a particular point and what effect it has.
Prose - written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.
act - a main division of a drama. Shakespeare's plays consist of 5
allusion - a reference to a literary or historical person or event to explain a present situation
aside - a brief remark made by a character and intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters
atmosphere - the tone or mood established by events, places or situations
chorus - in greek drama, the singing and dancing group whose words formed commentary of interpretation of action. In Elizabethan drama the role of it was often taken by one actor to recite a prologue or several actors to offer commentary on a situation
comic relief - a humorous scene or speech in a serious drama which is meant to provide relief from emotional intensity and by contrast to heighten the seriousness of the story
foreshadowing - a hint of what is to come in the story. this is often used to keep the audience in a state of expectancy
imagery - words or phrases that appeal to the 5 senses, figurative language may create images but not all images are figures of speech
irony - a contrast btwn what is and what appears to be. One type is verbal in which a character says one thing and means another. Another is dramatic in which the audience knows what the characters don't
metaphor - a figure of speech that implies or states a comparison btwn 2 unlike things which are similar in some way (no like or as)
paradox - a statement which seems to be contradictory but is at the same time profoundly logical. it may be used to emphasize a particular theme or idea
scene - a small unit of a play in which there is no shift of locale or time
simile - a figure of speech that states a comparison btwn 2 unlike things which are similar in one aspect (uses like or as)
soliloquy - a speech given by a character alone on stage-to let the audience know what the character is thinking and feeling
tragedy - type of drama of human conflict which ends in defeat and suffering. often the main character has a tragic flaw which leads to their destruction, sometimes the conflict is w/ forces beyond the control of the character-fate, evil in the world
Shakespeare writes either in blank verse, in rhymed verse or in prose.
Blank verse - verse without rhyme, especially that which uses iambic pentameters. Has a noticeable rhythm.
Iambic pentameter - Technical term for the rhythm used in Shakespeare's verse.
'de-dum' x 5 makes a line of iambic pentameter.
EG: So LONG as MEN can BREATHE or EYES can SEE
Shakespeare's sonnets and the major part of his plays are written in iambic pentameter and this use of a set rhythm creates verse.
Rhymed verse – While blank verse forms the basis of Shakespeare’s writing, he often uses rhyme. Usually to close a scene or to suggest what will come next. Shakespeare uses rhyme and a variety of rhythm patterns to distinguish special characters such as the witches in Macbeth and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Rhyme is a clue to a character or situation. It is always helpful to ask why Shakespeare is using rhyme at a particular point and what effect it has.
Prose - written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.