Romeo and Juliet Literary Devices and Language Study Guide

Aside

When a character makes a comment that is intended for the audience to hear but not the other characters

Soliloquy

A speech that a character makes when alone to allow the audience to know the character’s thoughts

Foil definition

A characters whose qualities sharply contrast with those of another character

When is foil used by the author?

To emphasize or de-emphasize another character’s traits

Sonnet

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

10 syllables per line

Iambic pentameter-iamb is a group of 2, penta is five

Dramatic Irony

A technique used to create suspense where the audience knows something the character doesn’t

Foreshadowing

Something to create suspense where the audience knows something the character doesn’t

Oxymoron

A phrase consisting of that are literally opposite in meaning, my favorite student teacher because student and teacher are 2 very opposite things

Pun

A form of word play exploiting the multiple meanings of a term, or similar sounding words, to add humor

Metaphor

A comparison by saying something IS something

Language