Romeo and Juliet - key terms

Define ‘allegory’.

A story, character, place or event is used to convey a hidden meaning, typically moral or political, about real-world events or issues.

Define ‘allusion’.

An indirect reference to another event, person or work which the writer assumes the reader is familiar.

Define ‘archetype’.

The first real example or prototype of something; an ideal model or the perfect image or something.

Define ‘bathos’.

An anti-climax which is abrupt; usually humour that comes from an odd and sudden change in tone.

Define ‘biblical’.

Relating to the bible; religious connotations.

Define ‘blazon’.

A poem in which the speaker describes a woman’s physique by focusing on and listing various individual parts of a woman’s body.

Define ‘caricature’.

An imitation where particular notable characteristics are exaggerated to a comic or grotesque effect.

Define ‘colloquialism’.

An informal phrase common at its time of utterance.

Define ‘comic relief’.

Relief from tension caused by the introduction of a comedic element.

Define ‘connotation’.

Using text to create implied meaning without explicitly referring to said meaning.

Define ‘dichotomy’.

A division or contrast between two opposed things.

Define ‘double entendre’. 

Words or phrases that have a double meaning and is deliberately ambiguous, especially when one of the meanings is risque.

Define 'dysphemism'.

A substitution of a more offensive term for one considered less so.

Define ‘epithet’.

A word or phrase applied to a person to describe an actual or credited quality.

Define ‘epitome’.

A perfect example or embodiment of a concept.

Define ‘epizeuxis’.

The repetition of words in succession within the same sentence.

Define ‘euphemism’.

The substitution of a harmless term for one that is considered as offensively risque or explicit.

Define ‘extended metaphor’.

A metaphor that continues over many sentences and could even extend throughout the entire play.

Define ‘foreshadowing’.

An indication that an event will occur later in the narrative.

Define ‘grotesque’.

Ugly and distorted, physically or figuratively, in a way that is comic or repulsive.

Define ‘hyperbole’.

Use of exaggerated statements.

Define ‘imagery’.

Use of language which is visually

descriptive or symbolic.