Section A Flashcards
What is alliteration?
Repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words.
What is antithesis?
A rhetorical contrast of opposing ideas, often in parallel structure.
What is apostrophe in literature?
A figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person, an abstract concept, or an inanimate object as if present.
What is an aside?
A brief remark in a play, spoken by a character to the audience (or sometimes to another character) that is not heard by the other characters on stage.
What is assonance?
Repetition of similar vowel sounds in nearby words.
Example: “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain”.
What is blank verse?
Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter.
What is double meaning?
The use of a word or phrase that has two or more interpretations, often for humorous or dramatic effect.
What is dramatic irony?
A situation in which the audience understands the implications of a character’s words or actions, but the character does not.
What is denouement?
The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot.
What is an epilogue?
A concluding section of a literary work, often providing closure or commentary.
What does exeunt mean?
Stage direction meaning ‘they exit’ (Latin plural of exit).
What is hendiadys?
A figure of speech in which a single idea is expressed through two nouns joined by ‘and’.
Example: “nice and warm” instead of “nicely warm”.
What is hyperbole?
Deliberate and extreme exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect.
What is hubris?
Excessive pride or arrogance that leads to a character’s downfall, particularly in tragedy.
What is irony?
a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result.
Example: Verbal irony is saying the opposite of what is meant; situational irony is an outcome that contradicts expectations.
What is iambic pentameter?
A metrical pattern in poetry consisting of five iambs (unstressed-stressed syllable pairs) per line.
What is malapropism?
The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with humorous effect.
Example: “He is the very pineapple of politeness” instead of “pinnacle”.
What is onomatopoeia?
A word that phonetically imitates the sound it describes.
Example: “buzz,” “bang”.
What is a paradox?
A statement that appears self-contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.
Example: “Less is more.”
What is pastiche?
A work that imitates the style of another artist or period, often as homage.
Pastiche in Measure for Measure
Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure (1604) is often categorized as a “problem play” due to its tonal ambiguity, blending comic and tragic elements. While not a direct pastiche of a single work, it incorporates stylistic and thematic influences that align with the concept of pastiche:
Adaptation of Source Material:
The play draws heavily on two primary sources:
Cinthio’s Gli Hecatommithi: A tragic Italian tale where a woman is coerced into sleeping with a corrupt official to save her brother.
George Whetstone’s Promos and Cassandra: A comic adaptation of Cinthio’s story, introducing the “bed trick” (substituting one character for another in a sexual encounter) and lighthearted subplots 36.
Shakespeare merges these tragic and comic elements, creating a hybrid narrative that critiques moral hypocrisy while retaining structural humor (e.g., Lucio’s bawdy banter) 36.
Biblical and Philosophical Intertextuality:
The title Measure for Measure references Matthew 7:2 (“with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”), framing the play’s exploration of justice, mercy, and moral hypocrisy 3.
Claudio’s soliloquy on death (“Ay, but to die, and go we know not where…”) echoes existential themes found in tragedies like Hamlet, blending tragic introspection with the play’s comedic resolution 3.
Genre Hybridity:
The play juxtaposes dark themes (e.g., Angelo’s attempted abuse of power, Claudio’s near-execution) with comedic devices (e.g., the Duke’s disguise as a friar, the bed trick). This tonal duality mirrors the postmodern pastiche’s tendency to mix disparate styles 36.
Moral and Stylistic Ambiguity:
The unresolved ending—Isabella’s silence in response to the Duke’s marriage proposal—invites interpretations ranging from feminist resistance to societal compliance. This ambiguity reflects pastiche’s openness to reinterpretation and layered meaning 67.
Conclusion
While Measure for Measure is not a direct pastiche of a single work, it exemplifies pastiche through its intertextual blending of sources (tragic and comic), genre hybridity, and philosophical borrowing. By reworking existing narratives and themes, Shakespeare creates a complex critique of authority and morality that resonates with pastiche’s celebratory yet critical ethos
What is personification?
Attributing human qualities to non-human entities.
Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”
What is peripeteia?
A sudden reversal of fortune in a story, often in tragedy (though it can also apply to comedy).
What is a soliloquy?
A speech in a play in which a character, alone on stage, expresses their thoughts aloud.
What is syntax?
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences and achieve specific effects.
