Romeo and Juliet vocab

Foil

a character in literature who has qualities that are in sharp contrast to another character, thus emphasizing the traits of each

Pun

a play on words that have similar sounds but more than one possible spelling or meaning

Soliloquy

a word taken from Latin, and it means 'talking by oneself.' It's a device that dramatists used to allow a character to communicate their thoughts directly to the audience.

Monologue

a speech made by a character to other characters, sometimes to a crowd

Nuptial

wedding; marriage

Posterity

future generations

Prodigious

terrible; extraordinary

Conjure

call up; summon

Idolatry

worship; adoration

Rancor

hatred; hostility

Garish

gaudy; showy

Jocund

cheerful; happy

Usurer

swindler; extortionist

Inundation

flood; outpouring

Abhorred

hated; despised

Steeped

soaked; covered in liquid

Tragic Hero

a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to their own destruction; downfall, the result of a tragic flaw

Comic Relief

the addition of humorous scenes and characters to an otherwise serious play

Dramatic Irony

when the audience has important knowledge that a main character lacks

Allusion

a reference to a historical or literary figure, happening, or event that is meant to enhance the meaning of the story