Shakespeare Vocabulary

A 14-line poem, typically about love or romance, that contains three quatrains (sets of four lines) and a rhyming couplet. Written in iambic pentameter, and follow the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

• Iambic pentameter

• Sonnet

• Blank verse

• Chorus

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

A form of poetry that most resembles natural speech. It is made up of unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter.

• Rhyming couplet

• Oxymoron

• Blank verse

• Comic relief

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

A protagonist, or central character, who falls or dies because of a character flaw or cruel twist of fate.

• Foil

• Blank verse

• Aside

• Tragic hero

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

When a character speaks in order to be heard by the audience but not, supposedly, by the other characters.

• Pun

• Dramatic irony

• Chorus

• Aside

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

Two lines of poetry that rhyme and have the same meter; may be used to emphasize meaning.

• Rhyming couplet

• Comic relief

• Blank verse

• Iambic pentameter

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

A speech given by a character onstage, alone, to let the audience know what he/she is thinking or feeling.

• Oxymoron

• Soliloquy

• Blank verse

• Chorus

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

A character whose personality and attitude contrasts sharply with those of another character; used to highlight both characters' traits

• Aside

• Tragic hero

• Soliloquy

• Foil

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

Poetry without a set pattern 

• Blank verse
• Free verse 

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.11

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

 reference to a well-known work of art, literature, historical event.  In Shakespeare, the references are usually to mythology. Cupid Dian Aurora

• Allusion 
• Aside

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Personality trait of the main character in a tragedy that leads to his/her downfall

• Stupidity
• Tragic Flaw
• Climax
• Pun

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10