Literary Devices Shakespeare

Question 1

Anaphora

Answer 1

the use of a word referring to or replacing a word used earlier in a sentence, to avoid repetition
Example:
Her traces of the smallest spider web,

Her collars of the moonshine’s watery beams,

Her whip of cricket’s bone, the lash of film,

Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat (Mercutio to Romeo)

Question 2

Antithesis

Answer 2

When something/someone is opposite from something/someone else
Example:
“My only love sprung from my only hate” Juliet Scene 5 to herself/nurse

Question 3

Oxymoron

Answer 3

A phrase/words that create self-contradiction

“O loving hate” Romeo to Benvolio

Question 4

Blank Verse

Answer 4

Verse without rhyme
Example:
“If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.” (Prince in Act 1 Scene 1 to the Montagues and Capulets”

Question 5

Prose

Answer 5

Written work that follows grammatical patterns used in everyday speech
Example: “Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days” (Nurse to Juliet Act 1 Scene 3)

Question 6

Rhyme

Answer 6

To end with words that sound similar to each other.

Question 7

Enjambment

Answer 7

The continuation of a sentence stopping after a stanza
Example:
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life (Chorus to audience)

Question 8

Caesura

Answer 8

An interruption or break in between words

“Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage – The which, if you with patient ears attend” (Chorus to audience)

Question 9

Alliteration

Answer 9

An occurrence of the same letter or sound in a line.

Question 10

Personification

Answer 10

A living characteristic in a nonliving object.

Question 11

Symbolism

Answer 11

Objects, signs, or words that represent a deeper meaning in literature.

Question 12

Hyperbole

Answer 12

Extreme exaggeration that is used for effect.

“Oh, she doth teaches the torches to burn bright!” (Romeo looking at Juliet in Act 1 Scene 5)

Question 13

Pun

Answer 13

Using similar-sounding words for a humorous effect.
“No, for then we should be colliers
I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw”
(Sampson and Gregory in Act 1 Scene 1)

Question 14

Double entendre

Answer 14

A word or phrase that can be interpreted in two different ways
“Old Montague is come, And flourishes his blade in spite of me.” (Lord Capulet when looking at Lord Montague)