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Literary devices of literature
Literary devices english12
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Light imagery is often used in literature and theatre to establish mood. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, contrasting images of light and darkness are used by Romeo to explain his depression after losing Rosaline, his infatuation upon meeting Juliet, as well his attachment and reluctance to leave her later on. Romeo’s use of light imagery underscores the volatility of his emotional responses to events.
Romeo compares Rosaline to the light and his disposition to darkness near the beginning of the play. Before the party starts, Benvolio tries to persuade Romeo that other women are prettier than Rosaline, but Romeo, who is annoyed, tells him that “The all-seeing sun / Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun” (I.ii.92-93). Romeo
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Upon seeing her, he is star-struck and tells her “she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear” (I.v.44-46). Here, Romeo describes Juliet's beauty in terms of dark and light—a beauty brighter than the blaze of a torch and a presence that makes the whole room light up. The bright blaze of Juliet's beauty, compared to an earring, is made even brighter by the contrasts with the blackness of the ear of an "Ethiope". In the balcony scene, longing for Juliet, Romeo sees her in the window of the Capulet mansion and says, “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun” (II.ii.2-3). Romeo compares Juliet to the sun, which can be interpreted as saying that she is the ‘light of his life’. This also shows that the love Romeo had for Juliet is greater than the love he had for Rosaline, because while he claimed the sun shone brightest on Rosaline, he likens Juliet to the sun itself—a symbol of power and new life. A little later, Romeo compares Juliet to a “bright angel” and tells her that she is “as glorious to the night… as is a winged messenger of heaven” (II.ii.26-28). Romeo, it seems, really believes that Juliet is angelic. An angel is "glorious to the night" because it appears in a "glory," a halo surrounding and emanating from its body. …show more content…
As Romeo is getting ready to leave, he remarks, “Look, love, what envious streaks / Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east” (III.v.7-8). Romeo paints a picture that is dually beautiful and gloomy, dark with light seeping through, or light covered by clouds of darkness. Little bits of sunlight are filtering through the slowly parting clouds in the east, but those streaks are "envious" because they mark the end of Romeo and Juliet’s happy time together and the beginning of their sad, separate lives. This effect of sad beauty grows in what Romeo says next: “Night’s candles” [i.e. the stars] "are burnt out, and jocund day / Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. / I must be gone and live, or stay and die" (III.v.9-11). The day is perched on the top of the world, ready to announce its triumphant arrival, but for Romeo it means being forced to either leave or be executed—either way he may never see Juliet again. Seeing the sky get lighter as the time passes by, Romeo sums up the sad irony of the situation: "More light and light; more dark and dark our woes!" (III.v.36). The world around Romeo and Juliet is light and happy—it is a beautiful day, and the Capulets are eagerly anticipating Juliet marrying Paris. However, for the two lovers, it seems like everything is just getting darker—to be together again seems impossible, as Romeo
On the night of the lovers’ first encounter, Juliet, thinking she is alone, reveals her affection for Romeo on her balcony. When she realizes that he overhears her, she urges him to leave, concerned that her kinsmen would find Romeo, a Montague, and execute him. Completely dismissing Juliet’s practical insight, he responds, “Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye / Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet, / And I am proof against their enmity” (2.2.76-78). In other words, he would rather be stabbed by twenty swords than be told that Juliet does not love him. As long as she returns his love, he claims he is invincible against any animosity or hatred. Romeo’s use of hyperboles emphasizes his illusory and unstable personality, which is directly contrasted with Juliet’s sensibility and reason, regardless of her younger age. After Romeo continues pouring his heart out, also in an exaggerated form, Juliet stops him; she wishes him to be genuine in expressing affection instead of overstating his feelings. However, in a later scene, the characters’ personalities switch. Before Romeo leaves for Mantua due to his banishment, the couple exchanges their last words. Juliet, hesitant to let go of her dearest husband, insists various times that the morning song belongs to that of the nightingale, not the lark. Knowing this is not true and that it is, in actuality, morning, Romeo
Juliet is brighter than the torches which light the whole room and that she teaches them to be as bright as she is. Romeo then goes on to talk of Juliet as "a snowy dove trooping with crows," saying that Juliet is a bright, white dove, a symbol of peace. walking among black crows; she stands out like a beacon of light in the dark. Romeo then asks. My heart loves it till now, forswear it.
An example of this is “Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, That runaways’ eyes may wink and Romeo leap to these arms, untalk’d of an unseen”. Juliet is longing for Romeo to come and consummate their marriage at night, which is when they can be together, as their relationship is too unnatural for them to meet at day, due to the hatred of their families. It is further proven that the dark imagery represents passion. Juliet is passionate about Romeo, as she has made up her mind to give her maidenhood to him, which is something she can never undo. An additional quote is “Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. I must be gone and live, or stay and die… Let me be ta’en, let me be put to death; I am content, so thou wilt have it so“. Romeo has just consummated his marriage with Juliet. He says that the stars are gone, and that daylight is coming. Romeo must leave, as Verona is waking up, and he will be killed if he is seen with Juliet. Even with this risk, he considers staying with Juliet, as he enjoys being with her. Dark imagery is used to show how passionate Romeo is about Juliet. He made their marriage legal, and is even considering risking death to stay with her longer. He has permanently committed to her, and cannot go back. As the evidence presented shows, the dark imagery in Romeo and Juliet reflects the theme of passion.
In the Franco Zefferelli adaptation, proceeding the extravagant Capulet party, Romeo walks down a dark stone path alone with his very boisterous friends trailing closely behind him. They sound drunken and unruly so Romeo seeks refuge from them by climbing rocks into a nearby forest. He pauses in the darkness to listen to his confidants joke about how fantastic a lover Romeo is, and he smiles in amusement at the contents of their commotion. Traveling deeper into the foliage, Romeo sees the light pouring from Juliet's window and continues towards it in curiosity. He walks slowly in the darkness until he clearly sees the illuminated palace in which Juliet resides, finding his love leaning on the balcony wall. Juliet wear a white gown which makes her appear very angelic and virginal. Her hair is soft, her eyes sparkle, and her innocence is undeniable. Romeo moves slowly and quietly through the bushes trying to get a better look at her, and, doubting his presence there at that time, he pauses and leans his head against a tree, trying to remain anonymous.
He does not think he will ever be happy again, he doesn’t want to be out during the day and creates an artificial night, but this changes the moment he sees Juliet. Juliet, instantly becomes the new love of Romeo, bringing him out of the darkness and becoming the light to Romeo’s darkness. Montague, concerned about his son’s behavior says, “But all so soon as the all-cheering sun should in the farthest East being to draw the shady curtains from Aurora’s bed, away from light steals home my heavy son and private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, and makes himself an artificial night.” (I.i. 142-148) Montague saying this explains how Romeo has been acting extremely upset and depressed, shutting out all light and enveloping himself in darkness. However, when he meets Juliet, everything changes and he begins to embrace the light. Romeo muses, “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is East, and Juliet is the sun!”(II.ii. 2-3) Here, Romeo refers to Juliet as the sun, for she has brought light into his life, bringing him out of the darkness. Due to Juliet, Romeo goes from being depressed all the time to learning to embrace the light and finding
On first seeing Juliet, Romeo exclaims, "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; … So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows" (Act 1 Scene 5 Lines 44-48) Romeo describes Juliet's beauty in terms of light and dark. "She doth teach the torches to burn bright" means both that her beauty is brighter than the light of any torch and that she makes the whole room light up. The brightness of Juliet's beauty is made even brighter by the contrasts with the blackness of the "Ethiope" and the blackness of crows. The use of antithesis with the "snowy doves" and the "crows" creates a powerful opposing force showing how she stands out from the others. Another interpretation of the dove is that it is a symbol of peace and sets in place an image of Romeo and Juliet's love creating peace between the two rival families. Another moment is when Juliet is waiting for Romeo to come to her bed. In her imagination, the night will bring her love. She goes on to say, "Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, / That runaways' eyes may wink and Romeo" (Act 3 Scene 2 Lines 5-6). Juliet is seeing things as though she is in bed, the curtains are closed, creating a dark atmosphere where they act their love. In the dark, the pair will create their own light, because "Lovers can see to do their amorous rites / By their own beauties" The use of courtly love is very common in theatres at the time of Romeo and Juliet because in those days people would dream and fantasize about courtly love and was an entertaining
When Romeo first see Juliet, his excitement shows through the imagery he uses to emphasise how much her beauty contrasts with the other people in the room. For example, he says ‘Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright’. This metaphor emphasises the way in which she stands out in contrast to the rest of the guests and how brightly she seems to shine to him, with this contrast being further emphasised by the dimly lit room. ‘Burn bright’ could suggest both light and heat, as if she is the sun in the room. He also describes Juliet as ‘a snowy dove trooping with crows’.
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon'. This demonstrates Romeo's true affection and physical attraction to Juliet. Even to a non-romantic at heart, the following lines are simply magical. 'Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return'.
On first seeing Juliet, Shakespeare uses light and dark imagery to emphasise Juliet’s beauty. Romeo exclaims ‘O, she [Juliet] doth teach the torches to burn bright!’ he describes Juliet’s beauty as being brighter than the light of a torch. Light and dark imagery is used to create mood and show contrast as the light of a torch is used to show the way in darkness and is also suggested to be a beacon of hope, this proposes Romeo was in the dark and Juliet is his light to guide the way. Romeo also compares Juliet to ‘a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear’ the bright glare of Juliet’s looks are made even brighter as a ‘bright jewel’ contrasts against the darkness of an ‘Ethiop’s ear’, this simile is used to highlight Juliet as a rare, unique...
Juliet’s weakness to be controlled by love leads her to make unadvised and irresponsible decisions that contribute to her choice of ending her life. Characterized as a young and rash teenager, with no interest in love and marriage at first, Juliet wants to be independent. However, after she first lays eyes on Romeo, Juliet’s perception of love is quick to change. Their strong love easily manipulates and clouds her judgment. Even if she is cautious and realizes their love is too fast, the rush of feelings from having a first love overcomes her. Her soft-spoken words symbolically foreshadow the journey of Romeo and Juliet’s love. “Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, / I have no joy of this contract tonight. / It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;…/ This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, / May prove to be a beauteous flower when next we meet” (2.2. 117-123). The blooming flower is indicative of their growing love, especially Juliet. Being her first experience of true love, her actions become more rash the deeper she falls in, even ...
1. Romeo is so love struck that he compares Juliet to many things that show contrast to one another. For example he says that she stands out against the darkness like a jeweled earring hanging against the cheek of an African. “It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.” He also says that she is like a white dove in the middle of a flock of crows; “So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows.” At this point it clear that Romeo has fallen out of love with Rosaline and fell deeply in love with Juliet.
The light and dark imagery that Shakespeare uses in this passage describes Juliet as a young and eager lover. Romeo associates Juliet with light meaning goodness. Then Romeo says that Juliet looks like the excellent night. The night that Romeo speaks of represents Rosaline. Romeo basically says through with light and dark imagery, that Juliet is as good as Rosaline to love. Romeo then compares Juliet to a "winged messenger of heaven" who filled with lightness and goodness. He says that all humans look upon this kindness as the messenger "bestrides the lazy puffing clouds" while doing his errands. Romeo explains using this imagery that everyone looks at Juliet because she gives off a stunning and intricate outlook.
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night/ As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear” (Shakespeare 1.5.43-45). When Romeo compares Juliet to a torch, he makes a metaphor, suggesting that her beauty and radiance resemble the light of a torch. He continues to refer to Juliet’s beauty when he compares her to a sparkling jewel that catches the eye of the night sky (the “Ethiop” being a person with dark skin). Romeo correlates Juliet to a torch and a jewel, but never once mentions anything about her personality, even when he has his first interaction with her at the feast. Romeo simply feels a desire towards Juliet and seems to over exaggerate his feelings for her.
Later on in this same scene, it is revealed that Rosaline is taking a vow of chastity, and after that, it could be inferred that Romeo does not know Rosaline well at all. He is simply interested in the concept of her, rather than being in true love with her. After he pursues Rosaline, and quickly gets over her at the masquerade party, Romeo moves on to Juliet, the two immediately “fall in love”, even though they are meeting for the first time. Romeo experiences the same thrill, speaking of Juliet in poems and flowery adjectives, for example, saying that “..It is the East, and Juliet is the sun.” (II.2.69) There are many other incidents where he speaks similarly about the two women, even though they are different.
The imagery used gives color to the language and there are certain images, which reappear more often in the play, so called iterative imageries, one of. these are light and darkness. This image gives a strong contrast used. to describe Romeo’s and Juliet’s love for one another. The less important characters, which most of the time are the lower class, such. as servants or musicians, do not have such richness in their word.