Examples Of Figurative Language In Romeo And Juliet

(HOOK) Did you know that beautiful birds, fragrant flowers, and the brightness of the sun are not only found in nature, but in famous literary works as well? (CI) In William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” he uses many examples of figurative language. (GS1) Many authors compare individuals to celestial bodies. (GS2) Some authors compare men and women to aviary communities. (GS3) Other authors use similes to compare people to floral references. (THESIS STATEMENT) Shakespeare used figurative language in the Balcony Scene by comparing Romeo and Juliet to (I) celestial bodies, (II) flowers, and (III) birds.
(TOPIC SENTENCE) Shakespeare uses (Thesis I) celestial bodies in “Romeo and Juliet” to make comparisons of Juliet’s (MA) beauty and (MB)

What light through yonder window breaks? / It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!” (2.2.2-3) (m1 for MA) Romeo said this quote when he was hiding in the Capulet Orchard the night after the party. Juliet opens her balcony window and Romeo, in awe of her beauty, describes her as a great light as brilliant as the sun. Romeo compares her to the rising sun in the east. This is only the second time Romeo has ever seen Juliet and he is already falling immensely in love with her. (m2 for MA) Juliet is compared to the sun by Romeo to further explain her beauty. Juliet is glowing and radiant in the darkness as only the sun can be at night. Her dazzling beauty is as luminous as the sun. Romeo sees Juliet as a sunlit beauty, who opens the gateway for a new love. (REWORDING OF MB) Romeo also makes a celestial comparison to Juliet’s eyes in the quote,

(REWORDING OF MA) Juliet uses a simile to compare love in the quote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet.” (2.2.43-44) (m1 for MA) Before knowing that Romeo is listening to her in the Capulet Orchard, Juliet talks to herself about Romeo. Juliet is extremely sad that Romeo is a Montague, the enemy of her family. She wishes that Romeo could be the same person, but just have a different last name. He is like a flower that would be just as sweet and perfect for her only if he had a different last name. (m2 for MA) Juliet makes the comparison that Romeo is like a sweet-smelling rose. She continues having the internal struggle of accepting Romeo as a lover because of his name. She uses a flower comparison to overcome her struggle with Romeo’s name. She knows Romeo is perfect like a rose. Eventually, Juliet has to accept that the name of Romeo, like the fragrance of a rose, will not change depending on the rose. (REWORDING OF MB) Juliet compares love to the bud of a flower in the quote, “This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, / May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.” (2.2.121-122) (m1 for MB) In the balcony scene, Juliet describes her love with Romeo as new and maturing like a bud of a flower. Excited to continue their new found love, Juliet