Hamlet Act II Literary Terms

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A play on words

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Pun: A form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect.

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Comparison using like or as

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Simile: A figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually using the words 'like' or 'as'.

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A hint about future events

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Foreshadowing: A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.

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Giving human qualities to non-human things

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Personification: A figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

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Character is alone on stage and reveals private thoughts

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Soliloquy: A dramatic device in which a character speaks to themselves, revealing their thoughts and feelings to the audience.

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A brief remark made by a character that is not heard by other characters

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Aside: A comment made by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters.

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A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

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Allusion: An indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

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A comparison that does not use 'like' or 'as'

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Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things by stating that one is the other.

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A recurring theme or idea in a literary work

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Motif: A repeated element that has symbolic significance in a story.

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The use of language to evoke a sensory experience

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Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a picture in the reader's mind.