Deafening silence. A small crowd. Oxymorons like these, allusions, paradoxes, puns, and juxtaposition are commonly used in writing. Authors use these to describe characters without directly listing their traits. In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare is known for using these literary devices. Shakespeare uses oxymorons, paradoxes, allusions, and puns to indirectly reveal character traits of Romeo, Juliet, and Friar Laurence. The paradoxes and puns that are used by Shakespeare allow the reader to infer character traits of Romeo. Romeo says, “O, she is rich in beauty; only poor That, when she dies, with beauty dies her store” (1.1.208-209). Romeo uses this paradox to explain how he is upset that Rosaline has plenty of beauty, but her beauty will die when she dies. Romeo only cares about her physical appearance, revealing that he is a shallow man. Romeo jokes with Mercutio: “Nay, good goose, bite not” (2.4.69). This is a pun because Romeo is calling Mercutio a goose while Mercutio is talking about how Romeo has been leading them on a wild-goose chase. This exchange allows the reader to infer that Romeo is witty and likes to joke. The reader can infer character traits about Romeo by …show more content…
When Juliet is waiting for Romeo, she says, “Thou sober-suited matron, all in black, And learn me how to lose a winning match” (3.2.11-12). The use of this paradox reveals that Juliet is impatient because she wants to lose her virginity right away so that she can win at being a proper wife. Juliet also says, “Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus’ lodging! Such a wagoner as Phaëton would whip you to the West” (3.2.1-3). Shakespeare uses these allusions to show that Juliet is educated because she knows about Phoebus and Phaëton. Not only does Shakespeare use allusions and paradoxes to indirectly characterize Juliet, but he also uses oxymorons to reveal character traits about Friar
Through a young man’s journey through life, they will eventually stumble upon the obstacle of love. Some may choose to avoid it and others may choose to face it head on. Those who chose to face love head on experience rejection. In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare oxymorons and metaphors to emphasize Romeo’s exaggerated reaction after he faces rejection.
William Shakespeare is really famous for his writings, especially Romeo and Juliet. A pair of two star crossed lovers take place, on their mission to unite two houses, Capulets and Montagues, once and for all. In the play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare presents a lot of paradoxes. This provides a lot of contrast to the text and allows readers to think harder and better understand the intricacies of this writing. In this play, there are many paradoxical themes expressed through the text for example good versus evil, love versus hate, and many more. All these paradoxes are communicated through figurative language, characterization, sound devices, and literary foils. These are literary devices that authors use to help readers to visualize
William Shakespeare’s diverse use of rhetorical and figurative language enhances and develops the moods he conveys, thus creating vast and various atmospheres throughout his works. An example of one his works that uses many of these devices is Shakespeare’s renowned Romeo and Juliet. In the famous play, the two lovebirds (Romeo and Juliet), fall in a forbidden love as the long-lasting rivalry between their two families continues its onslaught. The couple later on tragically commit suicide, which ultimately ends the feud. During the journey of the two lovers, Shakespeare expresses clearly the mood of each scene using figurative language.
Juliet is very clever at this point because she is speaking with double meanings and this misleads her mother think that she hates Romeo. “Indeed I shall never be Satisfied until I behold him -Dead-. ” Later on in the scene Juliet is sarcastically plotting to poison Romeo, this is quite ironic because Romeo indeed does poison himself when he hears about Juliet’s ‘death’ “To bear a poison, I would Temper it.
Nurse is an old woman who works for the Capulet family and who also happens to be Juliet’s mother figure. Nurse has a sizable personality and is as unpredictable as a hand in poker. She brings humor to this tale of star-crossed lovers and through the duration of the composition, it is shown that she enjoys teasing Juliet. A specific example of this is “Your love say, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a virtuous- Where is your mother?” (II. iv. 38-40). Nurse is trying to work and mold Juliet’s emotions just to see how she reacts. Her sarcastic nature is also emanated when she says, “Well, you have made a simple choice, you know not how to choose a man. Romeo? No, not he. [...] He is not the flower of courtesy, but, I’ll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb. Go thy ways, wench, serve God. What, have you dined at home?” (II. v. 38-39; 43-45). From the context in this scene, the audience can tell that Nurse is being sarcastic. In reality, she actually enjoys Romeo and thinks he is a suitable match for Juliet. Another instance where Nurse’s wit is presented is when she says, “Yes madam. Yet I cannot choose but to laugh to think it should leave crying and say ‘Ay’. And yet, I warrant, it had upon its brow a bump as big as a young cockrel’s stone; A perilous knock and it cried bitterly” (I. iii. 50-55). Before this quotation, Capulet cracks joke. Unlike Lady Capulet (who does not even crack a smile), Nu...
Language and Dramatic Devices in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Introduction Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is known as a love tragedy. features many rhymed verses, especially when Romeo and Juliet first. speak.
In the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses oxymorons, paradox, pun, and or juxtaposition to indirectly characterized characters. Oxymorons, paradox and puns all contribute to juxtaposition. Because if the way they spoke, many of the examples found in Romeo and Juliet are paradoxical. Shakespeare doesn't tell the audience about his characters. He uses his language. William Shakespeare uses literary devices in Romeo and Juliet to portray complex characters.
Romeo loses hope about being basinshed and instead of listening to the friar and listening to all of his options. We further learn that if Romeo hadn't left it wouldn’t have caused such a great calamity between him and Juliet. As teenagers we tend to lose patience very quickly, this causes us to not think through all our options and makes us lose hope. With a lack of patience comes a sense of mistaken and forgotten. Shakespeare in this scene explores this ironic scene and only if Romeo calmed down and listened to his options he would be such a different
William Shakespeare, the author of many various forms of writing, was born in Stratford upon Avon, in 1564. He wrote plays and sonnets alike, and occasionally combined the two. “Romeo and Juliet” was an example of this as many sonnets are used in it so as to display their love. This play was perhaps the shortest one that he ever wrote, and it is a tragedy that still warms the hearts of people today. It is, no doubt, amongst the most well known plays by him, and is greatly enjoyed by children and adults alike. In this essay, I will identify the various techniques used in this work of art, explicitly focusing on dramatic irony and foreshadowing.
With dramatic irony, on the other hand, it was used mainly for a comedic effect, rather than creating a plot twist for the audience. By creating a comedy using these two types of irony, Shakespeare was able to deliver his message of the true meaning of love. Situational irony is when the reader or audience is surprised by the outcome of the story. We see more of situational irony later on in the story, especially since it often leads to disputes and fights. For instance, when Robin was supposedly ordered to put flower droplets shot from cupid’s arrow into the eyes of Demetrius, he ended up putting them in the eyes of Lysander instead, mistaking him for the Athenian man Oberon had seen and causing a dispute.
What is the difference between saying “yes” and “yeah”? How do these replies, though they have the same meaning, alter one’s perception of the speaker’s level of education, courtesy and personality? William Shakespeare successfully explores the effect of speaking mannerism on perception in his tragedy Romeo and Juliet as characters use varying poetic meters, literary devices, diction and length of sentences in order to enhance characterization. Furthermore, he implements these diverse characteristics and social classes in order to release tension and reinforce theme. Thus, through Shakespeare’s manipulation of language in Romeo and Juliet, it is undeniable that he effectively reveals social class and develops character, consequently providing
William Shakespeare depicts Romeo’s character by using language. In the play, Romeo is very depressed because of a girl who won’t be with him. He says, “I have lost myself; I am not here: This is not Romeo, he’s some other where” (Shakespeare 19). Romeo wants to be with a girl, Rosaline, but she doesn’t want to be with him. She wants to live in chastity. Romeo is viewing his life as if it is going to end because of this girl. This quote is explaining how he is not actually there, but he is living. He is lost because he doesn’t know what to do. This quote also shows symbolism. Being “lost” is a symbol of his depression and when he says he is “Some other where” he is symbolizing his feeling confusion and representing that he is mentally not there. Shakespeare shows Romeo’s depression in more than one way. Rome grows tired of not being in love. He says, “Is the day so young” (Shakespeare 18) to Benvolio, his cousin. When he says this, it is around 9am. Romeo doesn’t want to go on with the day. He doesn’t want to keep going on if he can’t be with Rosaline. Romeo is tired and depressed. He wishes that he wouldn’t need to go through all the hours left in the day. This quote also shows Shakespeare’s usage of literary devices. This quote is personification. Personification is when a writer gives human traits to an inanimate object. The day cannot be youthful so Sha...
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a tragic story about two lovers who are from two disputing families, and their eventual suicides. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony throughout the play to create tension for the audience and foreshadow the ending. Dramatic irony is when the words or actions of characters in a story have a different meaning to the reader than to the characters. This is because the reader knows something that the characters do not. Romeo and Juliet’s death could have been prevented if the characters in the story weren’t so ignorant of their situations, and often times the reader recognizes this.
uns are the ultimate literary device. They can be corny and make you groan, or poetic and full of raw meaning. Shakespeare fully realized the power of the pun, and worked to make it a focal point of his play Romeo and Juliet. He uses puns to a plethora of extents, from displaying character emotions, foreshadowing, and malapropisms that convey a deeper meaning.
Shakespeare incorporates figurative language to characterize one of the main characters named Romeo. In the midst of speaking with Mercutio, Romeo claims that “[he] has a soul of lead,” (1.4.15), showing his morale is low. A type of figurative language like a metaphor is used to confess one of Romeo’s character traits, like his sunken morale. A brief metaphor can be more appealing than the character just expressing that he or she is depressed. While speaking to Mercutio, Romeo also claims that “Under love’s heavy burden do I sink,” (1.4.22), showing he is crushed by love. Another type of figurative language such as personification also is used to characterize Romeo. Personification can give an emotion or feel a stronger perception to the reader