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    Allusions Essay

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    This document analyzes Shakespeare's use of allusions in Romeo and Juliet. It discusses how Shakespeare uses allusions to historical events and tragedies to enhance comprehension of the plot and foreshadow the tragic ending. Specifically, it examines allusions to the stories of Thisbe and Pyramus, Cleopatra and Marc Anthony, Dido and Aeneas, Helen of Troy, and Hero and Leander - all involving forbidden love that ends in the deaths of both lovers. These allusions connect to the central tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and establish a sense of impending doom. The document argues Shakespeare's allusions create deeper emotion and understanding of the characters' fates.

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    Allusions Essay

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    api-298988218
    383 views3 pages
    This document analyzes Shakespeare's use of allusions in Romeo and Juliet. It discusses how Shakespeare uses allusions to historical events and tragedies to enhance comprehension of the plot and foreshadow the tragic ending. Specifically, it examines allusions to the stories of Thisbe and Pyramus, Cleopatra and Marc Anthony, Dido and Aeneas, Helen of Troy, and Hero and Leander - all involving forbidden love that ends in the deaths of both lovers. These allusions connect to the central tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and establish a sense of impending doom. The document argues Shakespeare's allusions create deeper emotion and understanding of the characters' fates.

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    This document analyzes Shakespeare's use of allusions in Romeo and Juliet. It discusses how Shakespeare uses allusions to historical events and tragedies to enhance comprehension of the plot and foreshadow the tragic ending. Specifically, it examines allusions to the stories of Thisbe and Pyramus, Cleopatra and Marc Anthony, Dido and Aeneas, Helen of Troy, and Hero and Leander - all involving forbidden love that ends in the deaths of both lovers. These allusions connect to the central tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and establish a sense of impending doom. The document argues Shakespeare's allusions create deeper emotion and understanding of the characters' fates.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    383 views3 pages

    Allusions Essay

    Uploaded by

    api-298988218
    This document analyzes Shakespeare's use of allusions in Romeo and Juliet. It discusses how Shakespeare uses allusions to historical events and tragedies to enhance comprehension of the plot and foreshadow the tragic ending. Specifically, it examines allusions to the stories of Thisbe and Pyramus, Cleopatra and Marc Anthony, Dido and Aeneas, Helen of Troy, and Hero and Leander - all involving forbidden love that ends in the deaths of both lovers. These allusions connect to the central tragedy of Romeo and Juliet and establish a sense of impending doom. The document argues Shakespeare's allusions create deeper emotion and understanding of the characters' fates.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    Pierce 1

    Kaitlyn Pierce
    Mrs. Hope
    Honors World Literature and Writers Workshop
    15 January 2016
    Allusions in Romeo and Juliet Essay

    In William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, the author embraces his ability to skillfully
    utilize figurative language, specifically allusions. Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeares
    writing enhances the literature in numerous ways. His usage of allusions, especially ones related
    to historical events, create an understanding of the interesting and suspenseful plot line that
    improves the readers comprehension of the theater. He also alludes to the numerous tragedies in
    Romeo and Juliet with the use of these allusions. Through the use of mythological allusions,
    Shakespeare relates the characters in Romeo and Juliet to historical figures in order to
    foreshadow upcoming tragedies.
    Although there are many allusions exploited in Romeo and Juliet, the ones relating to
    historical misfortunes truly foretell the future tragedies for Romeo and Juliet. For instance, in the
    text it states, Thisbe a gray eye or so (2.4.44). The tragedy of Thisbe and Pyramus centers
    around forbidden love. One night, the two lovers sneaked out to meet up with each other. Thisbe
    got to the location first, but ran to hide when she saw a lion with a bloody mouth. When Pyramus
    arrived and saw the blood on the ground, he figured she was dead, so decided to nobly kill
    himself. When Thisbe returned to find her lover dead, she in turn killed herself. Another use of
    an allusion in the text is Cleopatra, a gypsy (2.4.43). Cleopatra and Marc Anthonys story
    revolves around how Cleopatra pretended to fake her death, but Marc Anthony, unaware of the

    Pierce 2
    plan, killed himself in grief. When Cleopatra found out about her lovers suicide, she decided to
    take her own life as well. Both of these allusions depict a tragedy similar to what occurs in
    Romeo and Juliet, in which one lover believes their partner is dead, so decides to kill himself as a
    result. Then, when the other lover, who is really not dead, discovers of the death, chooses to kill
    herself as well. Another example of an allusion relating to history is Dido, a dowdy (2.4.43).
    The story of Dido and her lover, Aeneas, focuses on how Aeneas is tricked into leaving Dido to
    follow his destiny by an evil sorceress, in which he ends up dying on his journey to complete
    his fate. This results in Dido taking her life out of betrayal of Aeneas leaving her and depression
    since he ended up perishing. Additionally, in the text, it states, Helen and Hero hildings and
    harlots (2.4.44). This refers to Helen of Troy and Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite. Helen of Troy
    had numerous suitors that were star struck by her beauty, however Menelaus ended up winning
    her hand in marriage. Yet, this did not prevent Paris of Troy from seducing Helen to run away
    with him to Troy, leaving her husband behind and causing the Trojan War. Eventually, Paris was
    killed and Helen returned with her destined love. On the other hand, Hero and Leanders story
    focused on how Leander swam across a strait every night to be with Hero in her tower. However,
    one stormy night, Leander drowned in the water, never making it across. After seeing Leanders
    dead body, Hero threw herself out of her towers window, ending her life as well. These three
    references all connect to different romantic tragedies in history, in which a forbidden love ends
    with the death of the two lovers.
    Ultimately, Shakespeares utilization of allusions adds to the overall plot in Romeo and
    Juliet by creating a sense of hesitancy, yet at the same time an understanding. They help create a
    deeper level of emotion not only in the characters, but in the audience as well. Through the use

    Pierce 3
    of mythological allusions, Shakespeare relates the characters in Romeo and Juliet to historical
    figures in order to foreshadow upcoming tragedies.

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