Imagery Usage in Shakespeare´s Julius Caesar - 760 Words

What comes to mind when one thinks of â€Å"Romans†? Power, dominion, or even greatness could describe these noble people. The Romans were arguably one of the most powerful civilizations in history, so how could a people of such greatness come to such ruin? Power is a dangerous privilege for any worldly nation to possess, and when mixed with a scandalous concoction of greed and corruption, could spell the end of an entire civilization. Julius Caesar showcases Shakespeare’s own interpretation concerning the demise of Rome’s most famous leader. This play spotlights various examples of imagery to help the audience understand the author’s interpretation of this historical tragedy. Imagery is a kind of figurative language used to help the reader†¦show more content†¦It could be that Caesar has become barren, not Calpurnia, which could create problems if Ceasar were to assume a throne; he would be unable to produce an heir. So what could one see under t his new perspective? Perhaps Julius Caesar’s actions were directed to make himself king after all, and thus making him seem like a more power-hungry figure in the story. If Caesar was indeed seeking the throne as the conspirators claimed, wouldn’t it be important to him that he would have a successor? Perhaps William Shakespeare was trying to convey the image that Caesar is not the flawless leader he seems to think he is. In this situation, barrenness becomes an important piece of imagery to help the reader view Julius Caesar in the underlying image possibly understood by Shakespeare. This perspective on Caesar indeed makes achieving the crown of Rome seem to be his top ambition, which brings the next imagery device used in the play forward; a crown. William Shakespeare uses the device of a royal crown to portray Caesar’s quest for ambition through false humility. In the middle of Act One, it states that Julius Caesar was offered a crown â€Å"thrice† by Mark Antony and that â€Å"he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting-by mine honest neighbors shouted.† (I, ii, 228-230) This could make Caesar appear to be a humble man, who feelsShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Devices3007 Words   |  13 Pagesare important generators and qualifiers of meaning and effect. This is particularly the case in poetry. Especially the analysis of the use of imagery is important for any kind of literary text. (For further details see Analysing a Metaphor and Symbol). Figures of speech in classical rhetoric were defined as â€Å"a form of speech artfully varied from common usage† (Quintilian, Inst. Orat. IX.i.2). The forms of figurative languages are divided into two main groups: schemes (or figures) and tropes. RhetoricalRead MoreStudy Guide Literary Terms7657 Words   |  31 Pagesrepetition of the initial sounds of several words in a group. The following line from Robert Frosts poem Acquainted with the Night provides us with an example of alliteration,: I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet. The repetition of the s sound creates a sense of quiet, reinforcing the meaning of the line 3. allegory – Where every aspect of a story is representative, usually symbolic, of something else, usually a larger abstract concept or important historical/geopolitical eventRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 PagesChristian utopia Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · sermons, diaries personal narratives captivity narratives jeremiads written in plain style Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · instructive reinforces authority of the Bible and church Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · a person s fate is determined by God all people are corrupt and must be saved by Christ Rationalism / Age of Enlightenment period of American Literature - 1750-1800 Content: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · national mission and American character democratic utopia use of reasonRead MorePoems with Theme with Life and Death and Their Analysis8446 Words   |  34 Pagescalled the lyre. Lyric poems, the most common type in English, are shorter than narrative and dramatic works. They express the poets thoughts or feelings on a single subject. The sonnet is one of the best forms of lyric poetry, a field in which Shakespeare was an expert. Among other types of lyric poetry, two forms stand out: the ode and the elegy. Odes were originally meant to be sung or chanted like the choral odes in Greek drama. Odes are usually addressed to a person, thing