Author: Enes Agolli J

My Assessment

Draft 1

In the prologue Shakespeare uses fate by using a language device called Iambic Pentameter. An Iambic Pentameter is a melodic rhythm which consists of 10 syllables. For the Iambic Pentameter Shakespeare says, “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;” In this quote Shakespeare uses personification to symbolise stars being Romeo and Juliet. Also Shakespeare uses a phrase in this quote, “A pair of star-cross’d lover” describing Romeo and Juliet’s love life being thwarted by God, which then consisted of both of them taking their lives because it was  God’s decision. In this era of the play, Italy was quite religious and respected the value of God so they depeneded on God’s decisions to decide their fate, so fate was mainly up to God for the both of them.

Analyse

“A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;”

Star crossed is a reference to whom people that fighting against fate which was written within the stars of God. This also refers to destiny as well because it’s explaining how two helpless stars cross their path together, heavily suggesting bad fortune which obviously lead to the death of both of the ‘stars’.

The iambic pentameter has a rhythm which isn’t quite moderate but fast. In this play the flow of time is quite speedy like the iambic pentameter, and with fate you can’t stop it like iambic pentameter in the play. Also it hints anxety of their parents because the melody represents their heart rates fearing for bothing of them.

 

Devise a Lesson Task

[Starter]

Pair up the definitions with the Language Devices on your left (To clarify none of them are paired) ;

Onomatopoeia           Figure of speech associated by being symbolic whilst using a preposition

Metaphor                   The occurrence of the same letter or sound

Iambic Pentameter    Words used to create sound

Personification           Directed to someone’s emotions

Emotive Language     A language device which consists of 10 syllables creating a sound

Alliteration                 Giving human aspects to items which aren’t human

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Examples

“Groan! Why, no. But sadly, tell me who.” Benvolio, Act 1, Scene 1

Translation – Groan? No. But tell me seriously who it is.

As we can see from this quotation Benvolio uses the word ‘Groan’ to give a language device of onomatopoeia to explain that there’s no need to groan. Also if we analyse the word ‘Groan’ it means a sound conveying pain, despair or displeasure, which is also associated with Emotive language. So realistically Benvolio has used onomatopoeia to explain that Romeo shouldn’t be in pain to explain who he loves.

[Activity]

What language device has Shakespeare used in these two quotations?

“A pair of star cross’d lovers take their life;”

“An hour before the worshiped sun peered forth”