Figurative Language Expressed in Romeo and Juliet The story “Romeo and Juliet”, written by William Shakespeare, is the most iconic love story in the history of English literature, known worldwide for it’s tragically intense love story. In the play Romeo and Juliet, we see strong examples of many different writing techniques including theme and figurative language. Figurative language refers to when the writer uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. This type of writing can be found within metaphors, similes, personification, Irony, and many other literary terms. The theme of a story is the subject of talk, a piece of writing, a person’s thoughts, or an exhibition. The theme is the point of the story, or the lesson within the story; something the writer is …show more content…
“Personification is the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form,” according to the Google dictionary. Romeo is personifying the moon when he tells the sun to kill the ‘envious’ moon. He is also giving the sun human characteristics by telling it to ‘kill’ the moon and explains that the moon is ‘sick and pale from grief’; another example of Romeo applying personification throughout the play. Irony is yet another way figurative language can be expressed. In Act 1, Scene 5, Juliet says, “My grave is like to be my wedding bed.” “Irony is the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect,” according to the Google dictionary. Thi quote is ironic because after finding out Romeo is dead, she takes her life and both of them die before they are ever able to