Shakespeare Literary Shakespeare Literary TermsTerms

ProloguePrologue

An introduction most frequently An introduction most frequently associated with drama. Prologues associated with drama. Prologues were frequently written by the author were frequently written by the author of a play and delivered by one of the of a play and delivered by one of the chief actors/chorus.chief actors/chorus.

PunPun Form of Verbal Irony figure of speech consisting of a deliberate confusion of similar

words or phrases for rhetorical effectORA play on words that relies on a word's having more than one meaning or sounding like another word(A play on words based on the similarity of sound between two words with different meanings, usually for comic effect)

Homonyms/homophones are commonly used in punsA humorous use of words that has more than one possible meaning, especially two words that sound alike but have differing meanings

Examples: “A mender of bad soles,” remarks the cobbler. There was once a cross-eyed teacher who couldn't control his

pupils.Police were called to a daycare where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

I couldn't quite remember how to throw a boomerang, but eventually it came back to me.

Stage DirectionsStage Directions

Material that an author adds to a text Material that an author adds to a text to indicate movement, attitude, to indicate movement, attitude, manner, style, or quality of speech, manner, style, or quality of speech, character, or actioncharacter, or action

GenreGenre

type/category of literary works based type/category of literary works based on form, technique or subject matter.on form, technique or subject matter.

DramaDrama

the realistic portrayal of serious the realistic portrayal of serious events; a story told in action by events; a story told in action by actors who impersonate the actors who impersonate the characters. (play)characters. (play)

ComedyComedy

a lighter form of drama that uses a lighter form of drama that uses humor and aims primarily to amuse humor and aims primarily to amuse (tells anecdotes/stories), and usually (tells anecdotes/stories), and usually is marked by a happy ending is marked by a happy ending (marriages)(marriages)

TragedyTragedy

a type of play that ends/results in an a type of play that ends/results in an unfavorable and unhappy unfavorable and unhappy ending/catastrophe (usually multiple deaths) ending/catastrophe (usually multiple deaths) and is treated with seriousness and dignity.and is treated with seriousness and dignity.

A drama in which the characters experience A drama in which the characters experience reversals of fortune, usually for the worse. reversals of fortune, usually for the worse.

catastrophe and suffering await many of the catastrophe and suffering await many of the characters, especially the hero. characters, especially the hero.

Tragic HeroTragic Hero

Noble or high birthNoble or high birth

exhibits tragic flaw or fateexhibits tragic flaw or fate

suffers a fall from glory into suffering suffers a fall from glory into suffering (because of tragic flaw/fate)(because of tragic flaw/fate)

Ex: Brutus, RomeoEx: Brutus, Romeo

Tragic Flaw (a.k.a. Hamartia)Tragic Flaw (a.k.a. Hamartia) weakness or limitation of character/personality, weakness or limitation of character/personality,

resulting in the fall of the tragic hero.resulting in the fall of the tragic hero.

Ex: Brutus = idealism. Romeo = fickle & Ex: Brutus = idealism. Romeo = fickle & impulsive passionimpulsive passion

““Hamartia” is derived from the Greek verbHamartia” is derived from the Greek verb hamartaneinhamartanein, meaning "to miss the mark" , meaning "to miss the mark"

Hubris, which is arrogance or extreme pride (the Hubris, which is arrogance or extreme pride (the term is derived from the Greek word term is derived from the Greek word hybrishybris, , meaning “excessive pride”) is the most common meaning “excessive pride”) is the most common form of tragic flaw and often occurs to the point form of tragic flaw and often occurs to the point that a mortal challenges the superiority of the that a mortal challenges the superiority of the gods, for which he/che may be punishedgods, for which he/che may be punished

ConnotationConnotation

the emotional association of a word the emotional association of a word (negative or positive) (negative or positive)

FigurativeFigurative

not literal (i.e. metaphors) not literal (i.e. metaphors)

ToneTone

attitude of the speaker/author attitude of the speaker/author towards the subject or audiencetowards the subject or audience

MoodMood

the emotion a text evokes in the the emotion a text evokes in the reader reader

ConflictConflict

interplay between two opposing forces.interplay between two opposing forces. Two types:Two types: 1) 1) internalinternal- a struggle between two - a struggle between two

elements within one characterelements within one character Ex. Ex. man vs selfman vs self

(mental/emotional/psychological/spiritual)(mental/emotional/psychological/spiritual) 2) 2) externalexternal- a struggle between a - a struggle between a

character and an outside forcecharacter and an outside forceEx.Ex. man vs manman vs man

man vs natureman vs natureman vs societyman vs society

SoliloquySoliloquy

a speech delivered while the speaker is alone, in a speech delivered while the speaker is alone, in order to inform the audience of what is passing order to inform the audience of what is passing in the character’s mind (what the speaker is in the character’s mind (what the speaker is thinking inwardly, with the audience as listeners)thinking inwardly, with the audience as listeners)

any long speech/set of lines in a play where only any long speech/set of lines in a play where only the audience hears what is being saidthe audience hears what is being said

a character thinking aloud in a play a character thinking aloud in a play

CLARIFICATIONCLARIFICATION If a speech is addressed to the speaker himself If a speech is addressed to the speaker himself

(which means the audience), it is called a (which means the audience), it is called a soliloquy.soliloquy.

MonologueMonologue

a speech delivered by a single speaker to listeners onstage, but the listeners do not speak

any extended speech in a play when an actor has a long set of lines to deliver Example: Prince Escalus’ speech warning the

fighters

CLARIFICATION If a speech is addressed to another person or

group of people, it is called a monologue.

AsideAside when an actor directly addresses the audience, or another when an actor directly addresses the audience, or another

character, but is not supposed to be heard by other actors character, but is not supposed to be heard by other actors onstage (usually shorter than a monologue/soliloquy)onstage (usually shorter than a monologue/soliloquy)

literary device where an actor speaks to the audience, literary device where an actor speaks to the audience, himself, or one character, but is not heard by other himself, or one character, but is not heard by other characterscharacters

examples: whispering to another character while the other examples: whispering to another character while the other characters on stage do not hearcharacters on stage do not hear

Turning and speaking to the audienceTurning and speaking to the audience

Turning away and thinking aloud to himself/herself, brieflyTurning away and thinking aloud to himself/herself, briefly

Different from a soliloquy because in a soliloquy, the Different from a soliloquy because in a soliloquy, the speaker is speaker is onlyonly speaking to himself/herself speaking to himself/herself

Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony

the words or acts of a character carry the words or acts of a character carry meaning unperceived by the character meaning unperceived by the character or other characters but are understood or other characters but are understood by the audience (the audience/reader by the audience (the audience/reader knows something that some of the knows something that some of the characters are blind to)characters are blind to)

When the reader and/or audience When the reader and/or audience knows something important the knows something important the character doesn’tcharacter doesn’t

Builds suspenseBuilds suspense

Dramatic FoilDramatic Foil

a character that contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, highlighting aspects of the main character's personality

Their differences create such a great contrast that it is easier to recognize the attributes of main character.

ExamplesRomeo vs. MercutioRomeo vs. BenvolioGeorge vs. Lennie

OxymoronOxymoron

a self-contradictory combination/pair a self-contradictory combination/pair of wordsof words

Ex. Ex. jumbojumbo shrimp shrimp