Romeo and Juliet Act II Vocabulary and Literary Elements

Romeo and JulietAct II Vocabulary and Literary

Elements

Chide [chid’st] – v – criticize, scold

Confound – V – confuse, obscure

Conjure - call up; summon

Discourse – n- a lecturev – to talk or speak

Drivel – N - chatter; jabber

Exposition – n- display; demonstration

Idolatry - n - worship; adoration

Impute – v – accuse, stigmatize

Intercede – V – to come betweenIntercession -N - asking a favor of;

intervention

Lamentable – adj. - unfortunate; regrettable

Perjuries - lies; swearing to what is untrue

Rancor [rancour]- n - hatred; hostility

Repose - calm; peacefulness

Sallow - sickly; pale

1. Metaphor

A metaphor makes a direct comparison between things that are not truly alike.

In Scene ii, Romeo utters the famous line, “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the sun.” The metaphor compares the sun to Juliet.

2. Dramatic Irony• From the prologue,

we know that Romeo and Juliet are fated to die. We know that this play will be a tragedy.

Dramatic Irony happens when the audience knows something unbeknown to the characters.

3. Soliloquy• Usually, the character is

alone on the stage. If other characters are present, they do not “hear” the speech. One of the most famous soliloquies in drama is Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” speech, in which he argues with himself about the value of life.

• In drama, a soliloquy is a longer speech that reveals the innermost thoughts and feelings of the character who speaks it – just as if the character were speaking to himself or herself.