Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare
Literary Devices
Anachronism
an event or detail that is chronologically
out of its proper time in history
 Ex. The sword is an anachronism in
modern warfare.

Conventions

A customary feature of a literary work,
such as the use of a chorus in Greek
tragedy, the inclusion of an explicit moral
in a fable, or iambic pentameter in
Shakespeare’s plays. Conventions are
the defining features of particular literary
genres.
Pun

a humorous play on words, using either
1) two or more different meanings of the
same word OR 2) two or more words
that are spelled and pronounced
somewhat the same but have different
meanings.
Figurative Language
Speech or writing that departs from literal
meaning in order to achieve a special
effect or meaning
 Similes, metaphors, personification, etc.
are all examples of figurative language

Simile
A comparison between two things using
“like” or “as”
 Ex. Dead as a doornail.
 Ex. “I could rap around these other
rappers like a cobra snake.” - Drake

Metaphor
A direct comparison between two things
WITHOUT using “like” or “as”
 Ex. Joey is a beast on the basketball
court.

Personification
Giving human qualities to something that
is non-human
 Ex. My computer has lost its mind!

Apostrophe

addressing something that/someone who
is not present; dead as if living, absent
as if present, inanimate as if animate;
Ex. Oh feet, don’t fail me now.
Pathetic Fallacy

attachment of human feelings and traits
to nature
Aside

private words that a character in a play
speaks to the audience or to another
character, which are not supposed to be
overheard by others on stage.
Soliloquy

a long speech in which a character who
is alone onstage expresses private
thoughts or feelings.