Literary Elements
in Romeo and Juliet
Allusion
A literary device that stimulates ideas,
associations, and extra information in the
reader’s mind.
A reference to a historical or literary figure,
event or object.
Example from Play
Act II, Scene II –
Juliet says, “Else would I tear the caves where Echo lies/
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine/ With
repetition of ‘My Romeo!’”
Explanation – Echo is a nymph who could only repeat
what was said to her. She could not communicate with
the one she loved and lived a life of solitude in a cave.
Next time you go into a cave say something and you will
hear her. Juliet is saying she would say Romeo’s name
over and over as if in competition with Echo.
Aside
A dramatic convention by which an actor
directly addresses the audience but is not
suppose to be heard by other actors on the
stage.
Example from the Play
ACT II Scene II – Romeo says, “ Shall I hear
more, or shall I speak at this?”
Explanation – Romeo is asking a question to
the audience. He is not actually speaking to
any of the actors or actresses on the stage
and only the audience is suppose to hear his
question.
Character Foil
Sets off or illuminates the major character –
usually to create a contrast that is favorable
to the major character.
Example from Play
Act I Scene III – The nurse serves as a foil
for Lady Capulet
Explanation – The nurse is frank and
unrefined. Lady Capulet speaks like a noble
woman. Her lines are in blank verse or
rhymed couplets. Lady Capulet’s language is
indirect and refined.
Chorus
A characteristic device in ancient Greek
drama, wherein a group of actors speaking or
chanting in unison – often while dancing –
convey information about the play, particularly
an emotion about the action or characters.
Example from Play
The Prologue at the beginning of the play is
sung or chanted by a chorus.
Extended Metaphor
Also known as a “conceit”, it is a metaphor
that is sustained or developed through a
considerable number of lines.
Example from Play
The sonnet that Romeo and Juliet share
before their first kiss is an extended religious
metaphor. Examine the words throughout the
sonnet that demonstrate how the metaphor
continues:
Holy, Shrine, Sin, Pilgrims, Devotion, and
Saints
Foreshadowing
The author uses hints and suggestions to
foretell the end of the story.
Example from Play
The opening Prologue foreshadows the fate
of Romeo and Juliet by stating, “A pair of star-
cross’d lovers take their life .”
Irony
Verbal irony– a figure of speech in which
what is said is the opposite of what is meant.
Dramatic irony– When the reader knows
more about the true state of affairs than the
characters do.
Irony - continued
Situational Irony – When there is a
difference in what the reader/audience is led
to expect in a situation and what actually
happens. For example, Romeo goes to the
party hoping to see Rosaline, but he actually
meets and falls in love with Juliet.
Monologue
A long, uninterrupted speech that a character
speaks in front of other characters
Motif
Devices that continually reoccur in a work
Images of light and dark throughout Romeo
and Juliet.
Oxymoron
Two concepts that do not go together but are
used together.
For example, “loving hate” and “heavy
lightness” from Romeo’s dialogue with
Benvolio in Act I scene I.
Paradox
A statement that contradicts itself. There are
more words in a Paradox than an Oxymoron.
An Oxymoron is only two words, and a
Paradox is similar but has other words
separating the Oxymoron.
For example, Juliet is upset after she hears
that Romeo has killed her cousin Tybalt.
Personification
When an inanimate object or abstract noun is
endowed with human qualities or abilities.
When Romeo says, “Arise, fair sun and kill
thy envious moon.”
Pun
A play on words based on the similarity of
sound between the two words with different
meanings (“son” and “sun” or “I” and “eye”)
Soliloquy
A speech in which a character, alone on the
stage, addresses himself or herself to let the
audience know his/her inner
thoughts/feelings.
ACT II Scene III Friar Lawrence is on stage
alone and speaks his thoughts so only the
audience can hear them.
Task
Find in Act 1 two examples of
Allusion Personification
Aside Soliloquy
Character Foil
Extended metaphor
Foreshadowing
Monologue
Oxymoron
Verbal Irony
