Shakespeare Terms

1. ShakespeareTerms

2. Blank Verse • Unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter(5 beats of 10 syllables per line)

3. Atmosphere • The general mood or emotional quality o a literary work. • Ex. “The One Who Walk Away From Omelas” begins with a happy and idealistic atmosphere.

4. Motif • A repeated image, work, or idea in a literary work that relates to its theme. • Ex. A motif in Macbeth is bloody hands.

5. Tragedy • A literary work in which a main character, or hero, suffers a downfall as a result of a character flaw an error in judgment, or forces beyond human control. • Tragic Hero • Tragic Flaw • E. In the tragedyMacbeth, the tragichero’stragic flaw is hubris.

6. Hubris • Exaggerated sense of power or pride. • Ex. Hitler was a dictator with lots of hubris.

7. ComicRelief • Humor meant to give relief from emotional intensity. • Ex. In Romeo and Juliet Mercutio provides comic relief when he teases the nurse.

8. Foil • A minor character whose attitudes and behavior differ from those of a main character. • Ex. The young, gentle loving Romeo has a hot-headed foil named Tyblalt.

9. Soliloquy • A long speech spoken by a character alone on stage. • Ex. Juliet’s balcony speech “Romeo, o, Romeo” is a soliloquy.

10. Monologue • A long, uninterrupted speech in the presence of other characters. • Ex. Many comedians start each of their shows with a monologue.

11. Aside • A short remark usually directed to the audience and not intended to be heard by other characters. • Ex. Sometimes a character uses an aside to give inside information.

12. Paradox • A statement that appears to be opposites or contradictions but is actually true. • Ex. “Fair is foul and foul is fair.”