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Shakespearean Figures of Speech
Simile
“My love is as a fever, longing still.” — Sonnet 147 : Shakespeare is saying his love feels like a worsening illness, and he shows this by using a simile that compares his desire to a fever that won’t stop.
“I’ll warrant him as gentle as a lamb.” — Romeo and Juliet : He’s saying the person is very soft and calm, comparing him to a lamb. This is a simile because it uses “as” to show the comparison.
“I am as constant as the northern star.” — Julius Caesar : Shakespeare shows that Caesar sees himself as steady and unchanging by using a simile that compares his reliability to the northern star, which sailors believed never moved.
“Like a man to double business bound.” — Hamlet : Shakespeare compares Hamlet to someone pulled in two directions at once, using a simile to show how he feels pressured by two heavy responsibilities he can’t ignore.
*comparing something (use likes or as)
Metaphor
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” — As You Like It : He’s saying that life is like a big play, and everyone acts different roles, It’s a metaphor because he directly calls the world a “stage” and people “players” without using “like” or “as.”
“Juliet is the sun.” — Romeo and Juliet : Romeo is saying Juliet is bright and important, It’s a metaphor because he says she is the sun, not that she is like the sun.
“I have immortal longings in me.” — Antony and Cleopatra : He’s saying he feels a strong desire or feeling that seems endless, It’s a metaphor because he calls his feelings “immortal”.
“Time is the justice that examines all offenders.” — As You Like It : He’s saying that time eventually reveals the truth and judges everyone for what they do.It’s a metaphor because it describes time as a judge who “examines” people.
*say one thing is something else (show deeper meaning)
Personification
“The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night.” — Romeo and Juliet : In Romeo and Juliet, calling the morning grey-eyed and saying it smiles makes the morning seem alive and friendly.
“Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon.” — Romeo and Juliet : Romeo and Juliet, the sun is told to kill the envious moon, giving the sun human power and emotion.
“Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.” — Cymbeline : In Cymbeline, Shakespeare gives Fortune human qualities, showing it can guide events like a person steering boats.
“The winds did sing it to me.” — The Winter’s Tale : In The Winter’s Tale, saying the winds did sing makes nature seem alive, as if it can communicate like a person.
Giving human actions or feelings to things that are not human.
Alliteration
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes.” — Romeo and Juliet : In Romeo and Juliet, “fatal loins of these two foes” repeats the “f” sound, emphasizing the danger and tension between the families.
“Full fathom five thy father lies.” — The Tempest : In The Tempest, “full fathom five” repeats the “f” sound, giving the line a flowing, wave-like rhythm.
“Charm’s wound with the wind.” — Macbeth : In Macbeth, “wound with the wind” repeats the “w” sound, making the line feel musical and dramatic.
“With bloody blameful blade he bravely broached his boiling bloody breast.” — A Midsummer Night’s Dream : In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the repeated “b” sounds in “bloody blameful blade he bravely broached” make the action feel violent and intense.
When words near each other start with the same letter
Assonance
“The moonlight sleeping upon this bank.” — A Midsummer Night’s Dream : He’s describing the scene as calm and peaceful, like the moonlight.It’s assonance because the long “ee / ea” vowel sound repeats in words like sleeping and bank.
“The moon me thinks looks with a watery eye.” — The Merchant of Venice : He’s saying the moon looks sad, It’s assonance because the “oo” sound repeats in words like moon and looks.
“A sea of troubles.” — Hamlet :
He’s saying he has many problems coming at him all at once. It’s assonance because the “ea/ee” vowel sound repeats.
Repeating vowel sounds inside nearby words.
“Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks.” — Romeo and Juliet : He’s describing the person’s face as being very red, like they’re blushing,It’s assonance because the short “i” sound repeats in words like crimson and lips.
Hyperbole
“There’s no more faith in thee than in a stewed prune.” — Henry IV, Part 1 : In Henry IV, comparing someone’s honesty to a stewed prune exaggerates how untrustworthy they seem.
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” — Macbeth : In Macbeth, asking if Neptune’s ocean can wash away the blood is hyperbole that shows how guilty he feels.
“I will tear her all to pieces!” — Othello : In Othello, saying “I will tear her all to pieces” is an exaggeration that shows how angry he is, not something meant to be taken literally.
“I’ll put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes.” — A Midsummer Night’s Dream : In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, claiming she can circle the earth in forty minutes exaggerates her magical speed.
A big exaggeration to show strong emotion.
Oxymoron
“O brawling love! O loving hate!” — Romeo and Juliet : He’s saying that love feels violent and peaceful at the same time, It’s an oxymoron because it puts opposite ideas together, like “brawling love”.
“Parting is such sweet sorrow.” — Romeo and Juliet : He’s saying that saying goodbye feels sad but also meaningful, It’s an oxymoron because “sweet” and “sorrow” are opposite ideas put together.
“Cold fire, sick health.” — Romeo and Juliet : He’s talking about emotions that feel mixed and confusing, It’s an oxymoron because it puts opposite words together, like “cold” with “fire”
“Heavy lightness.” — Romeo and Juliet : He’s describing a feeling that is both serious and empty at the same time. This works as an oxymoron because “heavy” and “lightness” are opposite ideas put together.
Two opposite words put together.
Pun
“Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.” — Romeo and Juliet : In Romeo and Juliet, “a grave man” is a pun because it means both serious and literally in a grave, adding dark humor.
“Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York.” — Richard III : In Richard III, “sun of York” plays on “sun” and “son,” linking the king to both light and his family line.
“Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles; I have a soul of lead.” — Romeo and Juliet : Romeo and Juliet, “soles” and “soul” is a pun contrasting quick dancing feet with a heavy, sad heart.
“A little more than kin, and less than kind.” — Hamlet : In Hamlet, “more than kin, and less than kind” plays on family ties and personal feelings, showing Hamlet’s bitterness.
A joke using double meanings or sound-alike words.
Allusion
“Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships?” — Doctor Faustus (For compare) : In Doctor Faustus, asking “Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships?” alludes to Helen of Troy, emphasizing her extreme beauty.
“Like Niobe, all tears.” — Hamlet : In Hamlet, comparing someone to Niobe refers to the myth of a woman who cried endlessly, showing deep sorrow.
“She’ll not be hit with Cupid’s arrow.” — Romeo and Juliet : In Romeo and Juliet, saying she won’t be hit with Cupid’s arrow alludes to the Roman god of love, meaning she won’t easily fall in love.
“He’s a Hercules.” — Much Ado About Nothing : In Much Ado About Nothing, calling someone Hercules refers to the strong hero from Greek myth, showing they are very strong.
A reference to something famous (myth, history, story).
Irony
“Brutus is an honourable man.” — Julius Caesar : He says Brutus is “honourable,” but he actually means the opposite and is criticizing him. This is irony because the words sound like praise, but the real intention is to accuse Brutus of wrongdoing.
“Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.” — Othello : She says she believed him, but she’s actually speaking in a sharp, sarcastic way. This is irony because her words sound obedient, but she means the exact opposite.
“I am a fool, thou art nothing.” — King Lear : He’s insulting the other person by saying even if he’s a fool, the other person is even worse. This is irony because he puts himself down to make the insult sharper, showing the opposite of humble meaning.
“I thank you for your pains.” (said sarcastically) — Macbeth : He’s pretending to be thankful, but he actually means the opposite. This is irony because the words sound polite, but the real meaning is sarcastic.
When the real meaning is the opposite of what is said or expected.
Anaphora
“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?” — Romeo and Juliet : In Romeo and Juliet, repeating “Romeo” shows Juliet’s intense focus and longing for him.
“Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition!” — King John : In King John, repeating “Mad” emphasizes how chaotic and crazy everything seems.
“It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden.” — Romeo and Juliet : Romeo and Juliet, repeating “too” stresses how quickly and recklessly things are happening.
“If ever you have looked on better days…
If ever been where bells have knolled…” — As You Like It : In As You Like It, repeating “If ever” highlights the speaker’s memories and creates a reflective, poetic tone.
Repeating the same word at the beginning of lines or sentences.
Onomatopoeia
“Bow-wow” — The Tempest (used when imitating sounds) : In The Tempest, Shakespeare uses “Bow-wow” to copy the sound of a dog, making the scene playful and funny.
“Hark! hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings.” — Cymbeline : In Cymbeline, Shakespeare describes the lark singing at sunrise, using imagery to show the beauty and joy of the morning.
“Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed.” — Macbeth (“mewed”) : Shakespeare means the witches think the cat’s three meows are a sign, and he uses the word “mewed” to make the moment sound creepy and magical.
A word that sounds like the noise it describes.
