shakespear vocab

allusion

an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals, historical events, or philosophical ideas, and they do so in order to layer associations and meanings from these sources onto their own work

Aside

a short remark or speech delivered by a character directly to the audience, or to themselves, while other characters are present on stage but unable to hear it. It breaks the fourth wall to reveal true feelings, inner thoughts, or plot secrets, creating dramatic irony and intimacy

Blank verse

unrhymed poetry written in consistent iambic pentameter, meaning each line typically has ten syllables with alternating unstressed and stressed beats (da- DUM da- DUM da- DUM da- DUM da- DUM)

Hyperbole

A figure of speech utilizing extreme, intentional exaggeration not meant to be taken literally, designed to emphasize intense emotions, create humor, or magnify a description

iambic pentameter

a line of verse composed of ten syllables arranged in five metrical feet (iambs), each of which consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable

malapropisms

incorrect words used in place of correct words; these can be unintentional or intentional, but both cases have a comedic effect

oxymoron

a figure of speech combining two contradictory or opposing terms, such as "bittersweet" or "deafening silence," designed to create a dramatic, humorous, or thought-provoking effect

pun

a form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for a humorous or rhetorical effect

soliloquy

a monologue in which a character in a play expresses thoughts and feelings while being alone on stage

monologue

an extended, uninterrupted speech delivered by a single character, either addressing other characters, the audience, or speaking to themselves to reveal inner thoughts, motivations, and emotions

foreshadowing

A literary device in which authors hint (directly or indirectly) at plot developments that doesn't actually occur until later in the story

dramatic foil

A character whose traits contrast with another main character, thereby highlighting some aspect of that character (also known as character foil)

dramatic irony

One or more characters in a story remain unaware of plot developments that have already been revealed to the audience, giving rise to humor, suspense, or double meanings.  (When the audience knows more than a character)

hamartia

a tragic flaw or error that leads to a character’s downfall

wherefore

why

hark

listen

plaugue

curse

doth

does

Thee

you

thy

your

Privy

informed

Heavy

sad, depressed

Marrow

Days