Shakespeare Glossary Flashcards

Flashcards covering key Shakespearean terms and techniques. Each card contains a fill-in-the-blank style question.

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

Allegory

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

Allusion

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

Archetype

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

Bathos

Language that relates to the bible and thus has religious connotations is __.

Biblical

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

Blazon

An imitation where particular notable characteristics are exaggerated to a comic or grotesque effect is known as __.

Caricature

An informal word or phrase used in normal or familiar conversation is known as __.

Colloquialism

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

Comic relief

An impression, idea, or feeling associated with a word or phase beyond its literal meaning is known as __.

Connotation

A division or contrast between two opposed things is known as __.

Dichotomy

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

Double entendre

The substitution of a more offensive term for one considered less so is known as __.

Dysphemism

A word or phrase applied to a person to describe an actual or credited quality is known as __.

Epithet

A perfect example of a specific quality is known as __.

Epitome

The repetition of words in succession within the same sentence is known as __.

Epizeuxis

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

Euphemism

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

Extended Metaphor

A device in which an author suggests certain plot developments that might come later in the play is known as __.

Foreshadowing

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

Grotesque

An extravagant exaggeration of fact, used either for serious or comic effect is known as __.

Hyperbole

A system of beliefs and ideals, typically forming a framework for a political policy or a religion is known as __.

Ideology

Use of language which is visually descriptive or symbolic is known as __.

Imagery

The use of words where the meaning is contrary to what is expected to actually occur is known as __.

Irony

A literary technique that places two opposing words, phrases or events side by side, often for the main purpose of comparing or contrasting them is known as __.

Juxtaposition

A physical expression or realisation of an abstract idea through a character, object, place, or event is known as __.

Manifestation

An element that reoccurs, such as a word, phrase, idea, image, action, character or symbol that appears throughout the play for emphasis is known as __.

Motif

A form of paradox that combines a pair of contrasting terms into a single, sometimes unique expression is known as __.

Oxymoron

A story used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson, typically told in the Bible by Jesus is known as __.

Parable

When human emotions or characteristics are given to objects, nature or the weather is known as __.

Pathetic Fallacy

__ is Giving something non-human a human trait, capability, or personality.

Personification

A play on words which suggests multiple meanings is known as __.

Pun

The use of humour, irony or exaggeration to ridicule and criticize an individual’s stupidity is known as __.

Satire

When a writer employs multiple words which are similar and thus group together under one sub-heading is known as __.

Semantic Field

The repetition of ‘s’ sounds close together is known as __.

Sibilance

Comparing something to something else in a nonliteral way, in order to convey a particular idea or quality of the original thing is known as __.

Simile

Using one object or character to expose a broader idea running throughout the play is known as __.

Symbolism

A particular type of character, event, or setting that is used frequently in stories is known as __.

Trope

Imagery representing animal forms is known as __.

Zoomorphism

Repeating a sequence of words at the beginning of adjacent clauses is known as __.

Anaphora

Parallel structure that uses opposites to create emphasis is known as __.

Antithesis

A part of an actor’s lines that are not meant to be heard by other characters on stage and intended only for the audience; a short digression is known as __.

Aside

Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter is known as __.

Blank verse

A rhymed pair of lines is known as __.

Couplet

When the same sequence of events repeats throughout a story it is known as __.

Cyclical

When a character shows that they are oblivious of the reality of which the audience is aware this is known as __.

Dramatic Irony

A passage of speech in which one person is speaking to an audience or “thinking out loud” is called __.

Dramatic monologue

When the same word (or group of words) is employed at the end of successive sentences with the aim of emphasising it is known as __.

Epistrophe

Information provided through stage directions, narration, dialogue, or description, used to introduce the audience to crucial background information is revealed through __.

Exposition

The last two lines of a Shakespearean Sonnet - a couplet of rhyming iambic pentameter is known as __.

Heroic Couplet

A sentence (10 syllables in total) which is composed of two syllables: the first unstressed; the second stressed is known as __.

Iambic pentameter

Starting in the middle of the action is known as __.

In Media Res

Using a place, group of people, or event in the small-scale to represent something much larger is known as __.

Microcosm

A statement that seems to contradict itself but is still true is known as __.

Paradox

Using components that are similar in grammar, structure, or meaning within a sentence or multiple sentences, or throughout the text as a whole is known as __.

Parallelism

A word, phrase, or sentence that is repeated throughout a text is known as __.

Refrain

A dramatic device whereby a character stands alone on stage and addresses the audience, giving voice to their deepest thoughts and feelings is known as __.

Soliloquy

A highly stylized form of poetry, with 14 lines written in iambic pentameter is a __.

Sonnet form

A dialogue between two characters who speak one after the other is known as __.

Stichomythia

A moment in a play when a character makes a critical discovery, such as the tragic hero’s sudden awareness of a real situation usually as a result of their downfall is known as __.

Anagnorisis

A character who actively opposes or is hostile to another character, particularly the protagonist of the play is known as an __.

Antagonist

The process of letting go of or providing liberation from, strong or suppressed emotions is known as __.

Catharsis

A moral sense of right and wrong that guides a character’s behaviour is known as __.

Conscience

A character with qualities that are in contrast with another character is known as a __.

Foil

A character’s tragic flaw is known as __.

Hamartia

An exaggerated self-pride or self-confidence which often leads to a fatal retaliation is known as __.

Hubris

A sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal is known as __.

Peripeteia

The leading character in the play is known as __.

Protagonist

A character who is usually depicted as perfect and honourable yet has one ‘fatal flaw’ or hamartia is known as __.

Tragic hero

The stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, popular for how they celebrate chivalry and patriotism is known as __.

Arthurian Legend

The right and ability to be able to govern yourself, including your actions and decisions is known as __.

Autonomy

The moral, religious, and social code of Medieval knights, including bravery, honour, and courtesy is known as __.

Code of Chivalry

The traditional way of doing things is known as a __.

Convention

Denying someone their humanity, including their emotions and independent thought is an act of __.

Dehumanisation

The belief in Medieval Christianity that all life and matter on Earth was organised into a hierarchy by God is known as __.

Divine Order/Great Chain of Being

The belief in Christianity that the monarch of a country is chosen by God Himself to be His representative on Earth, meaning they don’t have to answer to anyone except God, is known as __.

Divine Right of Kings

A front or mask that is put up to disguise something or someone’s true character is known as a __.

Facade

The development of events outside an individuals’ control, it is sometimes said to be determined by a supernatural power, is known as __.

Fate

A theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare where all of Shakespeare’s plays were performed is called the __.

Globe Theatre

Someone who isn’t a Christian, particularly someone who is pagan or lacks moral principles, is known as a __.

Heathen

Never failing, incapable of making mistakes is known as being __.

Infallible

A dramatic piece that includes exaggerated characters and exciting events is known as __.

Melodrama

Hatred, contempt, or prejudice towards women for no reason other than their gender is known as __.

Misogyny

Principles, either personal or social, concerning the difference between right and wrong, going beyond legality and often religion is known as __.

Morality

A collection of stories, especially belonging to a particular religion or culture such as the Ancient Greeks, that teach moral lessons or explain aspects of our world is known as __.

Mythology

Believing life is pointless and meaningless is known as __.

Nihilism

A non-Christian or pre-Christian religion, particularly nature worship is known as __.

Paganism

A system of society whereby men have ultimate authority which they use to oppress women who are largely excluded from the male dominated society is known as __.

Patriarchy

Having a negative view or opinion of someone that is not based on experience or logic is known as __.

Prejudice

The feeling of intense regret and guilt for doing a bad deed is known as __.

Remorse

To feel or/and express great regret for sinning or committing a crime, particularly in a religious context is to __.

Repent

A view or preconception of a person or thing that is fixed and oversimplified, held by most of a population is known as __.

Stereotype

An assassination attempt on the King of England, King James I, in 1605, where a group of Catholics tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder is known as __.

The Gunpowder Plot

A period of time from the 14th to 17th century where artists, writers, and philosophers revisited the works of the Ancient Greeks and Romans is known as __.

The Renaissance

The concept that traditional male gender roles restrict emotion in men while encouraging negative, often violent traits is known as __.

Toxic Masculinity

A branch of drama that usually depicts the downfall and the reversal of fortune of a good person; suffering usually awaits many of the characters, especially the tragic hero is __.

Tragedy

A behaviour or trait that is immoral is known as __.

Vice

A behaviour or trait that is moral is known as __.

Virtue