ROMEO AND JULIET TERMS 

1. Blank Verse: Most of Shakespeare’s plays are written in blank verse which is simply iambic pentameter without a rhyme scheme. See Sonnet Notes on class page for iambic pentameter.
2. Aside: A remark or piece of dialogue that is meant for the audience to hear, but not the other performers onstage.
3. Soliloquy: A soliloquy consists of the innermost thoughts or considerations of a character delivered by a single performer and directed to the audience.
4. Monologue: A monologue is a lengthy delivery of lines by one character/performer in a play.
5. Tragedy: A tragedy is a drama where the central character(s) loses in the conflict and suffers disaster or death. This is usually because of the character’s tragic flaw. Romeo and Julietis a tragedy which also consists of many comedic elements. 
6. Tragic flaw: A tragic flaw is a specific problematic character trait that causes the downfall of the main character (hero/protagonist) in a drama. Ex: Hubris; inflexibility; anger. 

7. Irony: There are three main types of irony--                                                                    a) Verbal irony: This type of irony is when there is a difference between what is said and        what is meant.

       b) Dramatic irony: This type of irony is when the reader knows some information that the             characters do not know. 

       c) Situational irony: This type of irony is when there is a contrast between what one                     expects to happen and what ends up happening. 

8. Juxtaposition: A technique of placing two events, ideas, or things next to each other for a desired effect(usually to contrast).
9. Apostrophe: A rhetorical/literary device where the speaker turns away from the audience to address a third party, often beginning with an exclamatory word or phrase; in poetry and plays, this third party is often an inanimate object or, a dead or absent person. Ex: Romeo apostrophizes Juliet when he thinks she is dead, “ Ah, dear Juliet,/Why art thou yet so fair...” 
10. Dramatic foil: A dramatic foil is a character who has specific features that contrast with another character, or is the foil to another character. The opposing character traits/features serve to highlight certain aspects of the characters’ personalities. Ex: Mercutio serves as a dramatic foil to Romeo; he is insensitive (vs. Romeo’s being hypersensitive), uses rough and crude language (vs. Romeo’s flowery, romantic language), and mocks love/being in love (vs. Romeo who loves love).