Shakespearean Vocabulary Terms Concepts Shakespearean Vocabulary l l

Shakespearean Vocabulary: Terms & Concepts

Shakespearean Vocabulary l l l l l Elements of a Drama Verse vs. Prose Meter Foot Iambic Pentameter Blank Verse vs. Free Verse Sonnet Quatrain Couplet l l l l Aside Monologue Soliloquy Allusion Foil Tragedy Tragic Hero Tragic Flaw

Elements of a Drama l These are the FIVE (5) parts that correspond to the five ACTS of plays l Exposition (the introduction) l Establishes the TONE, introduces the setting, the main characters, and the conflict l It may also provide additional background info important to understanding the plot l In Romeo & Juliet, there was a Prologue to provide a comprehensive summary of the plot l Rising Action l Series of complications for the protagonist (main character) l Flows from the main character

Elements of a Drama (continued) l Climax (or crisis) Turning point in the story l The moment of choice (an important decision must be made) l Forces of conflict come together l l Falling Action Results of protagonist’s decision l Maintains suspense l l Resolution Conclusion of the play l Unraveling of the plot l Typically, in a Shakespearean play, may include the characters’ death l

Shakespeare’s Types of Characters l Static (or “Flat” characters) l l Dynamic (or “Round” characters) l l Characters within a story who remain the same– they DO NOT change their minds, opinions, or character Possess many character traits, like “real” people Dramatic Foil l A character whose whole purpose is to show off another character l Look for how Benvolio does this for Tybalt’s character in the story

In His Plays, Shakespeare’s Characters Use Dramatic Techniques on Stage for the Benefit of the Audience l Soliloquy Medium to long speech– one actor sharing his/her thoughts aloud l Spoken by one actor alone on stage (or not heard by other actors); not directed at the audience l Spoken for the benefit of the audience to understand the character’s thoughts, motives, etc. l

Some additional dramatic techniques l Monologue One person speaking for a longer period of time l Is NOT a dialogue (which is an fair exchange of words between two or more characters) l l Aside l Direct l Not address by actor to audience supposed to be overheard by other characters

Shakespeare’s Poetic Use of Language l Pun l A play on words involving A word or words with more than one meaning, or l Words with similar sound l “Not closing schools when it was negative 20 degrees out was a pretty cold gesture. ” “The woman who owns the bakery is very sweet. ” l Metaphoric Language Comparison of unlike things l “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? . . . ” l Alliteration l A repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of a word Example: “She sells sea shells by the sea shore. ” l

Literary Device: l Paradox: When the meaning is different from what is present, often interpreted as a contradiction. In this case, the true meaning is inferred from additional information, such as context. l This concept is similar to verbal irony in which the speaker says one thing, but means another.

l Theme: Dramatic Themes Central idea or insight about life featured in the plot l Common Theme: l Tragedy (Shakespearean) l Drama where the central character/s suffer disaster or great misfortune l In many tragedies, this downfall results from FATE l CHARACTER FLAW / FATAL FLAW l l l Or a combination of these two Comic Relief l Use of comedy or humor used to provide “relief” from the seriousness or sadness, or to “relieve” the tension of the situation

Understanding Shakespeare’s Meter l Foot/Feet: In Shakespeare’s poetry, it is the smallest unit of rhythm (more commonly referred to as a “Meter”) l Meter is a measure of the time-pattern that is repeated l l Iamb: l l A foot of two-syllables with unstressed syllable followed by the stressed syllable Iambic Pentameter 5 foot metrical line of weak followed by strong syllables l Each line is 10 syllables long in Shakespeare’s sonnets l l Intended for actors to speak lines naturally when performing a play

Blank Verse vs. Free Verse Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Free Verse: No regular meter One’s-Self I sing, a simple separate person, Yet utter the word Democratic, the word En-Masse.

Verse vs. Prose Verse: Poetic language that includes meter and sometimes rhyme; organized in lines with a consistent number of syllables Prose: Ordinary written language with no meter or rhyme; organized in sentences

Verse vs. Prose: Usage l Poetic style of verse used for high status characters, great affairs of war and state, and tragic moments. l Prose used for low status characters (servants, clowns, drunks, villains), proclamations, written challenges, accusations, letters, comedic moments, and to express madness.

Poetic Techniques l English Sonnet l Fourteen of them!) line poem (Shakespeare wrote 154 l Each line contains ten syllables and written in iambic pentameter l Rhyme scheme in a Shakespearean sonnet is a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g* l *The last two lines are a rhyming couplet

Sonnet: Example A B When my love that she is made of truth, I do believe her, though I know she lies, That she might think me some untutored youth, Unlearned in the world’s false subtleties. C D Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young, Although she knows my days are past the best, Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue; On both sides thus is simple truth supprest. E F But wherefore says she not she is unjust? And wherefore say not I that I am old? Oh, love’s best habit is in seeming trust, And age in loves not to have years told: G G Therefore I lie with her and she with me, And in our faults by lies we flattered be.

Tragedy: Vocabulary • • • Tragedy - by definition - protagonists die, a bloodbath at the end -> much needed CATHARSIS (spiritual cleansing, purification): “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. ” Catharsis or a cathartic effect in a tragedy is accomplished through a “bloodbath. ” hamartia(Gr. ) - a tragic flaw, leads to the fall of a noble man hubris (Gr. )- arrogance, excessive self-pride and self-confidence, the emotions in Greek tragic heroes that led them to ignore warnings from the gods and thus invite catastrophe; considered a form of hamartia stemming from overbearing pride and lack of piety. anti-hero -protagonist w/many qualities, but has a hamartia: inept, silly, indecisive; or an antagonist who elicits sympathy or admiration e. g. Dexter, Lucifer/Satan as portrayed in Paradise Lost by John Milton

Archetype ar·che·type /ˈärkəˌtīp/ noun 1. a very typical example of a certain person or thing. Example: “The book is a perfect archetype of the genre. " 2. an original that has been imitated. Example: “In the Juedo-Christian Bible, one of the archetypes of faith is Abraham. " 3. a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology. Example: “Mythological archetypes of good and evil are common in Greek mythology. ” synonyms: quintessence, representative, model, embodiment, prototype, stereotype

WWI Poem Presentations l As a group, you’ll present your poem and interpretation to the class l Read the poem to the class l Share the examples you selected from the text l Explain what interpretations or meaning you inferred about the poet’s message