Shakespeare Dramatic Devices and Figurative Language

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ShakespeareDramatic Devices and Figurative
Language

• 9th Grade Communication Arts
• Mr. Whitehead

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Lets Review Figurative Language

• The line What light through yonder window
  breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun.
  BEST illustrates what type of figurative
  language?
• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Personification

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Lets Review Figurative Language

• The line Rise fair sun and kill the jealous
  moon, who is sick and pale with grief. BEST
  illustrates what type of figurative language?
• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Personification

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Lets Review Figurative Language

• The line You are as glorious as a heavenly
  angel. BEST illustrates what type of figurative
  language?
• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Personification

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Lets Review Figurative Language

• The line The heart-ache and the thousand natural
  shocks BEST illustrates what type of figurative
  language?
• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Personification

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What is a Soliloquy?

• A soliloquy is a device often used in drama
  whereby a character relates his or her thoughts
  and feelings to him/herself and to the audience
  without addressing any of the other
  characters.1

Romeos Soliloquy-Act 2 Scene 2 He jests at scars
that never felt a wound.But, soft! what light
through yonder window breaks?It is the east, and
Juliet is the sun.Arise, fair sun, and kill the
envious moon,Who is already sick and pale with
grief,That thou her maid art far more fair than
sheBe not her maid, since she is enviousHer
vestal livery is but sick and greenAnd none but
fools do wear it cast it off.It is my lady, O,
it is my love!
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Monologue and Aside

• Soliloquy is distinct from monologue and aside.
• A monologue (or monolog) is when the character
  may be speaking his or her thoughts aloud,
  directly addressing another character, or
  speaking to the audience, especially the former.

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An Incredible Example
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Aside

• An aside is a dramatic device in which
  a character speaks to the audience. By convention
  the audience is to realize that the character's
  speech is unheard by the other characters on
  stage. It may be addressed to the audience
  expressly (in character or out) or represent an
  unspoken thought.

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Aside (continued)

• An aside is usually a brief comment, rather than
  a speech, such as a monologue or soliloquy.
  Unlike a public announcement, it occurs within
  the context of the play.
• An aside is, by convention, a true statement of a
  character's thought a character may be mistaken
  in an aside, but may not be dishonest.

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Soliloquy, the past and future

• Soliloquies were frequently used in poetic
  dramas dramas in prose tend to use a more
  realistic speaking style and rarely if ever
  feature them.
• The plays of William Shakespeare feature many
  soliloquies. The "To be or not to be" speech
  in Hamlet is perhaps the most famous one in the
  English language.

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Hamlet to be or not to be
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Lets Review Figurative Language

• Hamlets to be or not to be speech illustrates
  what type of dramatic element?
• Soliloquy
• Aside
• Monologue
• Speech

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Lets Review Figurative Language

• Which of the following is not a characteristic of
  a soliloquy?
• It is heard by the audience
• It is heard by another character
• The character relates a thought or feeling
• It is not heard by another character

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Assignment

1. Split into groups of two. Remove all of the
   figurative language from the Soliloquy and come
   up with a basic translation of what Romeo says.
2. Combine with another group and reassess your
   translation.
3. Share your translation with the rest of the class.