Linguistic Devices
Scene Quotation Idea Analysis Device
Act 1 ‘Not having that, Twisted syntax exemplifies the Linguistic
Scene 1 which, having, complex life that he has at the
makes them short’ moment.
‘brawling love’, The whole speech uses Linguistic
‘loving hate’, ‘heavy oxymorons which are effective
lightness’, ‘serious in showing the conflict in his
vanity’, ‘feather of mind.
lead, ‘bright smoke’,
‘cold fire’, ‘sick
health’ ‘still-waking
sleep’
‘I do love a woman’ Love Romeo is only in love with the Linguistic
concept of being in love with a
woman. ‘a’ is impersonal.
Act 1 ‘store’ and ‘more’ He begins to use rhyming Linguistic
Scene 2 couplets towards the end which
shows his happiness. Upper
classes only had access to
education.
‘my daughter’ ‘daughter’ sounds cold and Linguistic
formal –the relationship
between them is stiff. She
doesn’t know where her
daughter is either.
‘my maidenhood’ Presents crude humour to the Linguistic
audience– she is swearing by
her virginity.
‘lamb’ ‘ladybird’ She uses terms of endearment, Linguistic
which present a contrast to Lady
Capulet’s ‘daughter’
‘thou comest to Shakespeare uses an innuendo Linguistic
age’ to show her crude humour
‘cockerel’s stone’
‘made already Her language is very matter of Linguistic
mothers’ fact, which contrasts with the
Nurse. The latter shows how
excited she is ‘made already
mothers’.
‘unbound lover’ Love The elaborate metaphors are all Linguistic
‘share the glory’ about wealth.
‘golden story’
Act 1 ‘ Queen Mab hath Intelligence Mercutio’s intelligence and Linguistic
Scene 4 been with you’ imagination is well shown
through his wit.
‘women of good Humour Pun. ‘carriage’ meaning carrying Linguistic
carriage’ the man but also about posture.
Act 1 ‘she doth teaches Light imagery Shakespeare uses light imagery. Linguistic
, Scene 5 the torches to burn Throughout the play, Juliet is
bright’ ennobled. Later on, in the
(Romeo) balcony scene, she is described
as ‘bright angel’ etc
‘snowy dove Religious Visual imagery – contrast Linguistic
trooping with Ennoble between colours. White – peace
crows’ and chastity. The dove
represented peace and love in
the bible so this is religious
imagery; she is being elevated.
Religious context.
‘rich jewel in an Petrarchan love Images of wealth show that it is Linguistic
Ethiop’s ear’ still part of the Petrarchan vein.
(Romeo) An ‘Ethiop’ – black people were
still rare at the time, therefore
shows to the audience that she
was unusual.
Elevation He speaks in poetic imagery – Linguistic
Love rhyming couplets and poetic Structural
imagery. Shakespeare elevates
him because he is in love.
‘well-govern'd Elevation Even Capulet cannot say Linguistic
youth’ anything bad about Romeo.
Shows how he is elevated even
by his enemy house.
‘should be a He is speaking in prose because Linguistic
Montague’ he is talking to a lower class
person and is talking of
violence. Note of discord in the
speech.
‘foe’ ‘villain’ ‘spite’ The images that he uses show Linguistic
‘scorn’ his aggressions and contrasts
with Romeo. Repetition of
‘villain’ shows that he is the
actual villain.
‘holy palmers' kiss’ Requited love Sexually, intellectually, Linguistic
spiritually very well matched. Structural
Throughout the play, both of
them are elevated (imagery).
They have a physical attraction
to each other, speak in poetry
(education and class) and also
use religious imagery.
Shakespeare has deliberately
made them the symbol of all
lovers that are well matched to
make their death more tragic.
Shows how futile the feud was.
Act 2 ‘raise a spirit’ Humour Wordplay is full of sexual Linguistic
Scene 1 ‘mistress’ circle’ language and is intelligent.
‘stand’ ‘laid it’
Scene Quotation Idea Analysis Device
Act 1 ‘Not having that, Twisted syntax exemplifies the Linguistic
Scene 1 which, having, complex life that he has at the
makes them short’ moment.
‘brawling love’, The whole speech uses Linguistic
‘loving hate’, ‘heavy oxymorons which are effective
lightness’, ‘serious in showing the conflict in his
vanity’, ‘feather of mind.
lead, ‘bright smoke’,
‘cold fire’, ‘sick
health’ ‘still-waking
sleep’
‘I do love a woman’ Love Romeo is only in love with the Linguistic
concept of being in love with a
woman. ‘a’ is impersonal.
Act 1 ‘store’ and ‘more’ He begins to use rhyming Linguistic
Scene 2 couplets towards the end which
shows his happiness. Upper
classes only had access to
education.
‘my daughter’ ‘daughter’ sounds cold and Linguistic
formal –the relationship
between them is stiff. She
doesn’t know where her
daughter is either.
‘my maidenhood’ Presents crude humour to the Linguistic
audience– she is swearing by
her virginity.
‘lamb’ ‘ladybird’ She uses terms of endearment, Linguistic
which present a contrast to Lady
Capulet’s ‘daughter’
‘thou comest to Shakespeare uses an innuendo Linguistic
age’ to show her crude humour
‘cockerel’s stone’
‘made already Her language is very matter of Linguistic
mothers’ fact, which contrasts with the
Nurse. The latter shows how
excited she is ‘made already
mothers’.
‘unbound lover’ Love The elaborate metaphors are all Linguistic
‘share the glory’ about wealth.
‘golden story’
Act 1 ‘ Queen Mab hath Intelligence Mercutio’s intelligence and Linguistic
Scene 4 been with you’ imagination is well shown
through his wit.
‘women of good Humour Pun. ‘carriage’ meaning carrying Linguistic
carriage’ the man but also about posture.
Act 1 ‘she doth teaches Light imagery Shakespeare uses light imagery. Linguistic
, Scene 5 the torches to burn Throughout the play, Juliet is
bright’ ennobled. Later on, in the
(Romeo) balcony scene, she is described
as ‘bright angel’ etc
‘snowy dove Religious Visual imagery – contrast Linguistic
trooping with Ennoble between colours. White – peace
crows’ and chastity. The dove
represented peace and love in
the bible so this is religious
imagery; she is being elevated.
Religious context.
‘rich jewel in an Petrarchan love Images of wealth show that it is Linguistic
Ethiop’s ear’ still part of the Petrarchan vein.
(Romeo) An ‘Ethiop’ – black people were
still rare at the time, therefore
shows to the audience that she
was unusual.
Elevation He speaks in poetic imagery – Linguistic
Love rhyming couplets and poetic Structural
imagery. Shakespeare elevates
him because he is in love.
‘well-govern'd Elevation Even Capulet cannot say Linguistic
youth’ anything bad about Romeo.
Shows how he is elevated even
by his enemy house.
‘should be a He is speaking in prose because Linguistic
Montague’ he is talking to a lower class
person and is talking of
violence. Note of discord in the
speech.
‘foe’ ‘villain’ ‘spite’ The images that he uses show Linguistic
‘scorn’ his aggressions and contrasts
with Romeo. Repetition of
‘villain’ shows that he is the
actual villain.
‘holy palmers' kiss’ Requited love Sexually, intellectually, Linguistic
spiritually very well matched. Structural
Throughout the play, both of
them are elevated (imagery).
They have a physical attraction
to each other, speak in poetry
(education and class) and also
use religious imagery.
Shakespeare has deliberately
made them the symbol of all
lovers that are well matched to
make their death more tragic.
Shows how futile the feud was.
Act 2 ‘raise a spirit’ Humour Wordplay is full of sexual Linguistic
Scene 1 ‘mistress’ circle’ language and is intelligent.
‘stand’ ‘laid it’
