Literary Device Definitions
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Allegory
The daughter of Shylock
Jessica
How has Bassanio wasted all of his money?
By living above his means
Bang, Splash, Bark
Onomatopoeia
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Metaphor
Borrower of money from Shylock
Antonio
Why is Antonio melancholy (sad) at the start of the play?
He cannot explain it.
War and Peace
Juxtaposition
A joke based on the interplay of homophones — words with the same pronunciation but different meanings
A pun
Portia's lady in waiting
Nerissa
Portia feels that she has none of this
Choice
I am so hungry I could eat a horse
Hyperbole
A character who contrasts with another character, typically, a character who contrasts with the protagonist
Foil
Portia's two suitors (that we meet in the play)
Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon
The amount of money Antonio expects too have once his ships return
9000 ducats [I do expect return / Of thrice three times the value of this bond” (I.iii.157-158)]
I'm Juliet to your Romeo
Allusion
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
Symbolism
Shylock and Bassanio's servant
Launcelot Gobbo
Where are Antonio's ships sailing to?
Tirpolis, Mexico, England, and the Indies
The flowers danced to the wind
Personification