Soliloquy – personal speech that reveals his thoughts
Irony – opposite of actual meaning
Farce – light comedy; satirical in nature
Pun – play on words
Blank verse – unrhymed verse; it has a basic metrical
pattern
 Iambic pentameter – each unit, or foot, contains an iamb; an
unaccented syllable followed by an accented syllable
which is repeated five times to make a pentameter
 Masque – quickly change scenes and tableaux with
emphasis upon elaborate costumes and scenery,
representative of mythological or pastoral elements. Dance
and music are essential





 Qualities found in comedies
 Contrasts are a constant element of the comedies





age vs. youth
city vs. country
wisdom vs. ignorance
justice vs. injustice
love vs. obedience
 Comedies are romantic; they tell of the trials and the
ultimate success in the love of the young, usually
aristocratic people
 Idea that love has the power to conquer and transform all
 Seven Common Features of all Shakespearean Comedies
 Atmosphere of optimism
 Festive endings – usually a wedding or a feast or both
 Practical jokes – without feelings of regret
 Predominance of young lovers and of marriage; contain
old elements of country romance
 MAJOR THEMES
 Love – many types of love are shown throughout this
play. There are four main couples, each commenting on
a different type of love
 City life vs. country life – the conflicts in the city are
unnatural and dangerous. It is in the country where lives
and loves are sorted out