Tuesday, August 30, 2011

What rhetorical devices are used in Juliet's speech (scene 2.2 lines 131-135)?I am doing an oral presentation and have seleced this speech. I...

Undoubtedly you are considering Juliet's famous "What's in
a name?" speech.  Excellent choice.


Though short, this
speech employs many of the devices Shakespeare is most known
for.


First, there is an example of
metaphor:


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That which we call a rose by any other word would
smell as sweet.



Comparison of
the meaninglessness of Romeo's name to the meaninglessness of the name of a rose.  The
name alone does not change the character of that which it
describes.


Next, there is
hyperbole:



So
Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
retain that dear perfection which he
owes without that title.

Juliet, in her
new love and giddy attraction for Romeo, thinks he's
"perfect."


Of course, every question she asks is a
rhetorical question, as she is talking to no one and not
looking for actual answers.


Finally, the entire speech is
an example of dramatic irony.  The entire time Juliet
speaks to the darkness, admitting her love for Romeo, she believes she is all alone. 
The audience knows, however, that not only is she not alone, but
the very object of her affection is listening to every word she
says.






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