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Shakespearean Figures of Speech, BY PANUTH (TLE) #21 ROOM M.2/351 - Coggle…
Shakespearean Figures of Speech
SIMILE
Compares 2 different things using the words, "like" or "as".
From 'Romeo And Juliet'
"Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.”
Meaning: Romeo says Juliet stands out beautifully in the crowd.
How it works: Uses like to show how bright she appears.
From 'Macbeth'
“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it.”
Meaning: Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to look harmless but hide danger.
How it works: Compares someone’s appearance to an beautiful flower. (I think)
METAPHOR
Compares 2 things without using "like" or "as".
From 'As You Like It'
“All the world’s a stage.”
Meaning: Life is like a big performance.
How it works: Compares life to a stage to show people play roles.
From 'Othello'
“O my soul’s joy!”
Meaning: Desdemona is the source of Othello’s happiness.
How it works: She isn’t literally his soul, but the metaphor shows deep emotion.
PERSONIFICATION
Giving real-life actions that humans can do to a non-living thing.
From 'Sonnet 18'
“Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May.”
Meaning: Spring flowers are disturbed by rough winds.
How it works: The wind “shakes” like a person.
From 'Macbeth'
“Let not light see my black and deep desires.”
Meaning: Macbeth wants to hide his evil thoughts.
How it works: Light is treated like a human with eyes.
ALLITERATION
Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
From 'Romeo and Juliet'
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes…”
Meaning: Two families are trapped in a deadly feud.
How it works: Repeating the f sound emphasizes conflict.
From 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
“With bloody blameful blade.”
Meaning: Describes a violent sword.
How it works: Repeating b creates drama and rhythm.
ASSONANCE
Repetition of vowel sounds.
From 'Macbeth'
“Is this a dagger which I see before me…” (repetition of the long e sound)
Meaning: Macbeth hallucinates a dagger.
How it works: Repeating vowel sounds adds eeriness.
From 'Juliet Caesar'
“Men at some time are masters of their fates…” (repetition of a)
Meaning: Cassius argues people can control destiny.
How it works: The vowel sound creates emphasis.
HYPERBOLE
Use of extreme exagerration.
From 'Romeo and Juliet'
“There is no world without Verona walls.”
Meaning: Romeo feels life is meaningless outside Verona.
How it works: Exaggerates his sadness, I think???
From 'Othello'
“I’ll love thee after death.”
Meaning: Expressing everlasting love.
How it works: Impossible promise = exaggeration.
OXYMORON
When two opposite words are used together.
From 'Romeo and Juliet'
“O brawling love, O loving hate!”
Meaning: Romeo is confused about love.
How it works: Opposites show mixed emotions.
From 'Julius Caesar'
“Cowards die many times before their deaths.”
Meaning: Cowards suffer from fear repeatedly.
How it works: “Die many times” contrasts with “death.”
PUN
A joke based on wordplay.
From 'Romeo and Juliet'
“Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.”
Meaning: Mercutio jokes about “grave” meaning serious and also a burial place.
How it works: Same word, two meanings.
From 'Much Ado About Nothing'
“Nothing” also sounds like “noting” (observing).
Meaning: Title is a pun about misunderstandings.
How it works: Word sounds similar to another.
ALLUSION
Using a phrase or reference to something well-know, such as singers, myths, books, and more
From 'Macbeth'
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”
Meaning: Macbeth feels guilty.
How it works: Neptune = Roman sea god.
From 'Romeo and Juliet'
“Diana’s wit.”
Meaning: Alludes to Diana, goddess of chastity.
How it works: Juliet is compared to a goddess.
IRONY
[A meaning opposite to the words used, or when the audience knows more than the characters.
From 'Romeo and Juliet'
The audience knows Juliet is alive, but Romeo thinks she’s dead.
Meaning: Creates tragic dramatic irony.
How it works: Audience has more information.
From 'Julius Caesar'
“Brutus is an honorable man.” (Repeated sarcastically.)
Meaning: Antony actually means the opposite.
How it works: Verbal irony.
ANAPHORA
Repetition of words at the beginning of phrases or lines.
From 'Julius Caesar'
“And Brutus is an honorable man…” repeated.
Meaning: Antony uses repetition to persuade the crowd.
How it works: Repetition adds rhythm and sarcasm.
From 'Richard II"
“I’ll give my jewels… I'll give my lands.."
Meaning: Character lists the things he’s giving up.
How it works: Beginning word repeats for emphasis.
ONOMATOPOEIA
A word that imitates a sound. Such as "Honk", "Buzz", and many more.
From 'The Tempest'
“Hark! Hark! Bow-wow.”
Meaning: Sound of a dog bark.
How it works: Words mimic real sounds.
From 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
“Ho! Ho! Ho!”
Meaning: A fairy making a calling noise.
How it works: Sound-like words create atmosphere.
BY PANUTH (TLE) #21 ROOM M.2/351