All ELA Final Flashcards

Characters

Shakespeare often used a foil when creating his characters. Mercurio is one of the most famous examples of foils in literature, his ironic wit contrasting with Romeo’s romanticism and his fierce family pride contrasting with Romeo’s desire for peace between the Montagues and Capulets.

Setting

Playwright had to create a sense of where the characters were by us using descriptive dialogue.

Mood

Shakespeare is good at varying moods and building tension. He breaks the tension with devices such as comic relief, in which he uses word play. Puns make use of a word’s multiple meaning, or they play on its sound. Shakespeare often used a soliloquy (a character is alone and speaks on his/her innermost thoughts.) He also uses oxymorons (expressions containing an apparent contradiction). He also uses similes.

Suspense

Shakespeare builds suspense even when the audience knows what will happen. One device he uses is dramatic irony (in which the audience knows what one or more if the people on stage doesn’t know). Another important de ice is foreshadowing (at several points in the play characters refer, often unknowingly, to what will happen in the future).

What does Lord Capulet’s acceptance of Romeo’s presence tell you about him?

He is patient and tired of the family feud.

What kind of reputation does Romeo have?

People think Romeo is polite and had good manners.

Does Romeo’s friends know that Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet?

No, they think he’s still in love with Rosaline.

How does Nurse seem to feel about Juliet’s marriage?

She is supportive and helps the couple meet each other. She wants Juliet to be happy because she’s like a daughter to her.

Why does Benvolio urge Tybalt and Mercutio to take the fight off the streets?

To keep the peace and avoid public disturbance.

When Juliet finds out Romeo killed Tybalt, what is her first reaction?

At first she grieves for Tybalt, bu then grieves for Romeo because he is banished.

Does Capulet seem to feel badly about his treatment of Juliet, or to blame himself in any way for her death?

Yes, and eventually the two families resolve their conflict

What does Romeo notice about Juliet that might have made him wonder if she is really dead?

She still looked alive (her checks and lips still had color).

How is the chain of events finally explained to the families and to the Prince?

Romeo dies, Juliet wakes and sees him dead and kills herself out of separation. Friar Laurence tells the families the reason for their actions and the families vow to end their conflict.

Lord Montague, Lady Montague

Romeo’s parents and Leaders of the Montagues

Romeo

Son of Montague

Benvolio

nephew of Montague and friend of Romeo

Lord Capulet, Lady Capulet

Juliet’s parents and leaders of the Capulets

Juliet

daughter of Capulet

Tybalt

nephew of Capulet

Nurse

Juliet’s nurse

Prince Escalus

ruler of Verona

Mercutio

kinsman of the the prince and friend of Romeo

Friar Laurence

a Franciscan priest

tragedy

a drama that results in a catastrophe for the main characters

tragic hero

• the protagonist

• usually fails or dies because of a character flaw or a cruel twist of fate

antagonist

• the adversary or hostile force opposing the protagonist

• can be a character, a group of characters, or a nonhuman entity

foil

• a character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another character

• emphasizes another character’s attributes and traits

soliloquy

• a speech given by a character alone

• exposes a character’s thoughts and feeling to the audience

dramatic irony

• when the audience knows more than the characters; helps build suspense

aside

• a character’s remark that other on the stage do not hear

• reveals the character’s private thoughts

comic relief

• a humorous scene or speech meant to relieve tension; the contrast can heighten the seriousness of an action

reproach

address in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment

remonstrance

a forcefully reproachful protest

trepidation

a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen

felicitous

well chosen or suited to the circumstances

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

supercilious

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

dubious

careful and circumspect in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage

discreet

careful and circumspect in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage.

evasive

tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly

reconnoiter

scout (out), make a survey of, make an observation

tone

often regretful and wistful

themes

love, family, social class

(major) conflict

revolves around Pip’s desire to reinvent himself and rise to a higher social class

point of view

story is told from Pip’s point of view

Pip

Protagonist and narrator of Great Expectations. He begins the story as a young orphan boy who’s being raised by his older sister and brother in law in the country of Kent (in the southeast of England). Pip is passionate, romantic, and somewhat unrealistic at heart. He tends to expect more for himself than what is reasonable. Pip also has a powerful conscience and deeply wants to improve himself and become a gentleman.

Estella

Miss Havisham’s young adopted daughter. She is Pip’s unattainable dream throughout the book. She is very pretty and Pip loves her passionately, but sometimes she seems to consider him as a friend, as she is often cold, cruel, and uninterested in him. As the grow up together, she warns him many times that she has no heart.

Miss Havisham

Wealthy, eccentric old woman who lives in a manor called Satis House (near Pip’s village). She is manic and often seems unstable and insane, going around her house in a faded wedding dress, keeping a decaying feast and cake on her table, and surrounding herself with clocks stopped at twenty minutes to nine. On her wedding day, she was left on the altar by her fiancé and now had a vendetta against all men. She basically raises Estella to be the tool of her revenge, training her to break men’s hearts.

Abel Magwitch

The convict; Magwitch escaped from prison at the beginning book and terrorizes Pip in the cemetery. Pip’s kindness leaves an impression on the convict, and he devotes himself to make ing a fortune and using it to elevate Pip into a higher social class. He becomes Pip’s secret benefactor, funding Pip’s education and luxurious lifestyle in London through the lawyer Jaggers.

Joe Gargery

Pip’s brother in law and village blacksmith; Joe stays with his overbearing and abusive wife (Mrs. Joe) solely out of love for Pip. Joe’s quiet goodness makes one of the few sympathetic characters in the book. Although he is uneducated, he constantly acts for the benefit of those he loves and suffers in silence when Pip treats him coldly.

Jaggers

The powerful, foreboding lawyer hired by Magwitch to supervise Pip’s elevation to the upper class. As one of the most important criminal lawyers in London, Jaggers is privy to some dirty business; he consorts with vicious criminals and they are terrified of him.

Herbert Pocket

Pip first meets Herbert at Miss Havisham’s house when they’re both younger when Herbert challenged him to fight. Years later, they meet in London and Herbert becomes Pip’s best friend. He is a key companion in Pip’s elevation in society, teaching him small things he didn’t know, Herbert nicknames Pip “Handel”. He is the son of Mathew Pocket, Miss Havisham’s cousin. Herbert hopes to become a merchant so he can afford to marry Clara Barley.