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Figures of Speech in Shakespearean Language - Coggle Diagram
Figures of Speech in Shakespearean Language
Simile
Definition: Using like or as to compare 2 different things
Examples
My love is like a fever, longing still (Sonnet 147)
He is saying that his love is like a fever that wont go away. He compares love to a burning fever, emphathising on how painful love is.
Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear (Romeo and Juliet)
Romeo is saying that Juliet's brightly against the dark night, expressing how beautiful she is. The simile here is comparing Juliet't beauty to a beautiful jewel.
I’ll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb (Romeo and Juliet)
They are describing Romeo as gentle and harmless. The simile here is comparing Romeo (him) to a lamb, emphasising the fact that he is a gentle person.
I am as merry as the day is long (Much Ado About Nothing)
The speaker compares their joy to a long, bright day; this emphasises the amount of joy the speaker is feeling. The simile in here is the comparison of his or her joy to the day. The use of the word as shows that it is a simile.
As patient as the female dove (Othello)
The speaker compares themselves to be as patiet as a female dove, which represents patience. The simile in here is the speaker comparing themselves to be as patience as a female dove. The use of the words as shows that it is a simile.
Metaphor
Definition: comparing 2 things directly (not using like or as)
Examples
All the world’s a stage. (As you like it (that's the name of the story))
Shakespear is saying that life is like a play and people are like actors. The metaphor here is comparing the world to a stage.
Juliet is the sun (Obviously Romeo and Juliet)
Romeo is saying that Juliet brings the brightness into his world. The metaphor here is comparing Juliet to the sun.
There’s daggers in men’s smiles (Macbeth)
Macbeth is warning others that some people amy seem peaceful with nice smile, but dangerous things can be hidden in them. The metaphor here is comparing daggers to men's smiles.
Life’s but a walking shadow (Macbeth)
This sentence is comparing the word life to a shadow - meaningless. The metaphor in this sentence here is the comparison between life and shadow without using like or as.
The world’s mine oyster (The Merry Wives of Windsor)
What the author actually means here is that the world is full of opportunites that are waiting to be found. The comparison here is between the world and the oyster. This is a metaphor because these 2 things are compared without using like or as.
Personification
Definition: Giving human qualities to things that are not human.
Examples
The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night (Romeo and Juliet)
Shakespear is describing the sun rise as if it has emotions. The personification here is giving the mornign and the night human-like feelings.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May (Sonnet 18)
Shakespear is simply saying that the rough winds can disturb the flowers. The personification here is calling the buds darling and the using the word shake with the wind.
The moon looks with a watery eye (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Shakespear describes the moon, as if it could feel sad. The personification here is using watery eyes with the moon. The moon obviously can't have watery eyes.
Grief fills the room up of my absent child (King John)
In this sentence, grief (a non-human object) acts like a human. The personification in this sentence is the use fo the word fills the room up with grief.
Time’s winged chariot hurrying near (Sonnet 19)
In this sentence, time is given wings. This emphasises how fast time can fly by. The personificaiton here is giving time wings.
Alliteration
Definition: Repetition of the same sound
Examples
Full fathom five thy father lies (The Tempest)
This sentece is describing a body lost underwater. The alitteration in this sentence here is "Full fathom five", using the three fs.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair (Macbeth)
Shakespear is saying that appearances can be decieving. Sometimes, someone's beauty can be venom. The alliteration here is the use of fs in "Fair is foul, and foul is fair".
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought (Sonnet 30)
The poet is talking about the sadness and grief someone has expereinced in the past. The alliteration in here is the use of s in "sessions of sweet silent thought".
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes (Romeo and Juleit)
The alliteration in here is the uses of fs in "From forth the fatal lions". It just means that Romeo and Juliet were born into 2 different families who oppose each other.
Whereat with blade, with bloody, blameful blade (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
This is a part of a funny exaggerated speech where the actors pretend to fight. The alliteration in here is teh use of the letter b in "bloody, blameful blade."
Assonance
Definition: Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words
Examples
Is it thy will thy image should keep open. (Sonnet 61)
The poet is basically saying that he is wondering if it is his lover's picture that is keeping him awake. The assonacen in here is the use of thy, will, and image; all of them have the vowel -i
The moon looms through the gloom (The Tempest)
This sentence is describing the moon, which shines through the night sky. The use of assonacne in here is in teh words moon, loom and gloom; all of them use the vowel sound -o
Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove (Sonnet 10)
The poet is saying that to be kind to yourself. The assonance in here is using the -a and -i sounds
Blow, blow, thou winter wind (As you like it)
In this sentence, the writer tells the wind to blow beause he was recently betrayed and betrayal hurts more than nature. The assonance in here is the use of the o sounds.
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see (Sonnet 18)
This sentence is saying that as long as huans can read or breathe, this poem will keep the beauty alive. The assonance in this sentence is the usage of the letter e and the sound ee.
Hyperbole
Definition: Extreme overexaggeration.
Examples
There is no world without Verona walls (Romeo and Juliet)
In this sentence, Romeo is saying that by being banished from Verono (which is his city, I think) would feel like the end of his world. The exaggeration here is saying that there is no world without verona. It shows how deeply he loves the city and Juliet, who lives in the city.
I will weep for nothing, like Diana in the fountain (As you like it)
In this sentence, the speaker is saying that they would cry endlessly, even if there was no reason to; they also compared themselves to Diana. The hypebole here is the "I will weep for nothing", obviously no one can cry forever.
Thy eternal summer shall not fade (Sonnet 18)
In this sentence, the speaker is saying that their beauty will never fade. The hyperbole here is that evceryone ages and they will someday lose their beauty. However, Shakespear describe their beauty as summer, which could be interpreted as beauty and youth forever.
A thousand times good night (Romeo and Juliet)
This sentence exaggerates how much love Juliet has for Romeo. The hyperbole here is a thosuands time good night. Maybe its not a hyperbole, but its something a normal human wont do.
Love’s not Time’s fool (Sonnet 116)
This sentence is saying that the power of love wont be loss to time. This exaggerates love, as it obviously can't last forever.
Oxymoron
Definition: two words of opposite meaning joined together
Examples
O brawling love, O loving hate! (Romeo and Juliet)
This sentence is intrepreting that Romeo is overwhelmed by love. The oxymoron in this sentence is the use of the words brawling and love. The word brawling means to conflict, while love means acffection.
Parting is such sweet sorrow (Romeo and Juliet)
The meaning of this sentence is that Juliet is saying goodbye to Romeo, feeling both happiness, due to their love, and sadness, since they have to part ways. The oxymoron here is the use of the words sweet and sorrow.
O heavy lightness, serious vanity (Romeo and Juliet)
This sentence describes love as full of contradicitons. The oxymoron here is heavy lightness.
I must be cruel, only to be kind (Hamlet)
This sentence is saying that Hamlet must cause pain to gain success in the far future. The oxymoron here is the use of cruel and kind in the same sentence.
O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! (Romeo and Juliet)
In this sentence, Romeo is saying that Juliet has a beautiful face. The oxymoron is that her flwoering face is being compared to a serpent heart.
Pun
Definition: A play on words with many different meanings.
Examples
Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man (Romeo and Juliet)
He is joking as he's dying. He says that tommorw he'll be a grave man. The pun here is the word grave. The word has 2 meanings. The first meaning is actually being in a grave and the second meaning is being serious.
A little more than kin, and less than kind (Hamlet)
He dislikes his uncle and says this to insult him. The word kind has 2 meanings. The first meaning is just being nice towards someone, while the other meaning is family. Hamlet uses the word kin to say that he is a little more than kind, but less than family, hence describing his hatred towards his uncle.
Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York (Richard 3)
He doesnt actually mean winter and summer like the weather, but what he actually meant was the bad times and the good times. He uses winter to describe the troubling times, while using summer to describe the good times that are beggining to thank his little brother, the duke of York. The word sun sounds like son.
A hit, a very palpable hit (Hamlet)
The word hit has 2 meaning. A good idea and to damage someone. Shakespear uses the word hit in here during the fencing scene to show its double meaning.
I am too much in the sun (Hamlet)
The word sun sounds like the word son. Hamlet uses this sentence to mock his new stepfather, as he likes to call him my son. The pun here is the use of the word sun, whcih actually refers to the word son.
Irony
Definition: When the sentence or words don't actually mean the opposite.
Examples
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man (Julius Caesar)
What this sentence actually mean is that when someone was saying this speech after Caesar's death, he said that Brutus is an hnourable man, but based of his tone, it makes it clear that he actually meant the opposite. The irony here is the contrast between his literal words and his actual meanings.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks (Hamlet)
The queen comments on an actress that she is overreacting and insisting too much that she is faithful, which makes her look unfaithful. The irony is that she says that she is faithful, but she is actually unfaithful.
I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise (Romeo and Juliet)
Romeo says this to Tybalt, meaning that he loves him, as they are family thorugh Juliet. Tybalt does not know the truth and still hates Romeo. This is a case of dramatic irony, since the audience knows the truth.
This gentle murderer, the best of the cut-throats (Othello)
Othello calls murder gentle, but he's meaning the opposite. The irony here is Othello calling murder gentle.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves (Julius Caesar)
The irony in here is that they blame fate for what happened, but later into the story, they act as if fate controlled them.
Anaphora
Definition: Repetition of words or phrases at the start of a sentence.
Examples
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things (Julius Caesar)
A character is calling out to the crowd for not caring about Julius Caesar's death. The Anaphora in this sentence is the use of the word "you".
And needy nothing trimm’d in jollity,
And purest faith unhappily forsworn. (Sonnet 666)
The poem talks about the unfairness that exists in the world. The anaphora here is suing the word "And" in front of each sentence.
Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! (King John)
They are saying that everything, the world, the kings have gone mad. The Anaphora in here is the repeated use of the word "Mad" in front of the first three other words in the sentence.
I will not stir, I will not budge, I will not move (Julius Caesar)
The speaker in this sentence is basically saying that he won't do anything. The anaphora in here is the sue of the "I will not" phrase repeatedly.
My love is strong, my love is true, my love endures
In this sentence, the speaker emphasises how deep his love is towards her. This sentence clearly shows that he is madly in love with her. The anaphora here is the use of the phrase "My love".
Onomatopoeia
Definition: Words that imitate sound
Examples
Hark! Hark! Bow-wow (The Tempest)
The sounds of dog barking. The onomatopia in here is hark, bow, wow.
Knock, knock! Who’s there? (Macbeth)
There is an imitation of a sound of someone knocking on the door. The onomatopoeia here is the word knock.
The murmur of the dove’s lament (King Lear)
The sentence here is describign the whispering sounds of the dove's lament. The onomatopoeia in here is the word murmur.
The whizzing arrow sings through the air (Shakespearean imagery)
This sentnece basically describes the movement of an arrow to be extremel fast. The onomatopoeia here is the word whizzing.
Hark! The lark at heaven’s gate sings (Cymbeline)
The speaker is telling others to listen to the singing at dawn. The onomatopoeia here is the word hark.
Allusion
Definition: A reference to someone ro something from history, literature or even mythology.
Examples
You are a lover; borrow Cupid’s wings ( Romeo and Juliet)
Romeo's friend is teasing him, as he is in love and his friend is saying that he should act joyful like cupid. The allusion in here is Shakespear bringing cupid, the love god, into the story emphasising the fact that Romeo is in love.
He’ll not be Jupiter (Cymbeline)
The character says that he won't be as powerful as Jupiter. Shakespears brings Jupiter in to compare the person to him. This shows sarcasm towards the person's stregnth.
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
This means that love is blind, and people sometimes fall in love at first sight; people sometimes fall in love without thinking. Shakespear refers to cupid with a blindfold to explain how love can easily make people act foolish.
Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
This explains that their love is resting, comparing it to cupid falling asleep. The allusion here is the use of cupid, a fictional character.
You are like Hercules when he came to the crossroads (Antony and Cleopera)
This sentence explains that Antony is having a hard choice, which is similar to Hercules choosing between virtue and pleasure at the crossroad. This sentence emphasises the how hard the choice was. The allusion here is the reference towards Hercules.