Romeo and Juliet

Simile

Example

“Too rude, too boist'rous, and it pricks like thorn."
1.1.25

Why and what it's used for

What Romeo is saying is that from his point of view, love is harsh and harmful, and that it
emotionally hurts and punctures his emotions/feelings just like a thorn pricks human skin. This is
important to the story because it shows the thoughts of Romeo early in the play, which gives the reader more understanding of the character.

foreshadowing

Example

“I fear too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

With this night’s revels, and expire the term

Of a despised life closed in my breast

By some vile forfeit of untimely death.”
1.4.113-118

Why and what it's used for

Foreshadowing in Romeo and Juliet is used to well Foreshadow the characters deaths. In the example given Romeo says that he doesn't want to go to Capulets ball since something bad might happen and we know that the "bad thing" that happens is him meeting Juliet because that sets of a chain of events that leads to his suicide.

Metaphor

Example

Romeo: "Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lover's eye."
1.1.197-198

Why and what it's used for

This is an example of metaphor because it compares love to smoke without using "like" or "as."
This example shows what Romeo thinks of love and really ties into the story line because the story is about finding love.

irony

Example

Benvolio:
"Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by,

Herself poised with herself in either eye;

But in that crystal scales let there be weighed

Your lady's love against some other maid

Tat I will show you shining at this feast,

And she shall scant show well that now seems best."

Romeo:

I'll go along, no such sight to be shown,

But to rejoice in splendor of mine own."
1.3.101-108

Why and what it's used for

Irony help creates humor, suspense, and tension because even though the audience knows what is going to happen they don't know how the characters will react and play out the scenes. In the example given above the irony is that Romeo says that he will never find another love but we know that he falls in love with Juliet right away.

oxymoron

Example

'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:

And yet no further than a wanton's bird;



Who lets it hop a little from her hand,



Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,



And with a silk thread plucks it back again,



So loving-jealous of his liberty.



(2.2 190-195)

Why and what it's used for

" An oxymoron is a figure of speech that is a combination of opposing terms that seem contradictory, yet work together to form expressive phrases." Oxymoron's are used in Romeo and Juliet to show the different emotions and ways of life of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is more depressed and uses oxymoron's to show how he doesn't want anything to do with the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues but he can not ignore his parents wishes. Juliet on the other hand uses oxymoron's in a more blissful fashion, like in the balcony scene in her soliloquy she basically uses apposing words like sweet and sorrow to show her conflicting thoughts about Romeo leaving her.

Impatient/impulsive actions

Example

The most important impulsive decision was that of Romeo and Juliet when they met each other and were in love at first sight.

Why and what it's used for

Impulsive actions are used in Romeo and Juliet to show that even though these characters might act grown they are still kids and can make dumb decisions that lead to bad stuff.

Love or lust at first sight

Why and what it's used for

Love at first sight is used in Romeo and Juliet to show that even though the Montagues and Capulets hate each other the power of love overcame decades of feud.

Example

Romeo arrives at the party and sees a girl in the distance standing, seeing how beautiful she is Romeo asks a nearby servant “What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand” (1.5.40) Romeo sees Juliet based on what her hand looks like and how beautiful she is. Romeo also compares her beauty to “...A rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear….. / a snowy dove trooping with crows….” (1.5.45,47) Romeo completely forgets about his heart break with Rosaline and moves onto Juliet without even talking to her or ever meeting her.

Dreams

Example

“O then I see Queen Mab hath been with you / And in this state she gallops night by night / Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love / Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues / Which oft the angry mab with blisters plague / Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are / Then he dreams of another benefice / Sometime, she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck / And then he dreams of cutting foreign throats / Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes / And being thus frightened, swears a prayer or two / And sleeps again ... ” (1.4.53-88)

Why and what it's used for

Shakespeare uses dreams in Romeo and Juliet to show Foreshadowing and to show that Romeo and Juliet's fate has been set from the very beginning.

Death

Example

To Juliet's grave, for their must I use thee.” ( 5.1.86)

Why and what it's used for

Shakespeare uses death in Romeo and Juliet to show tragedy and to move on the story. Shakespeare uses death to show to cause problems between the two families and that Romeo and Juliet still love each other after all those days