Literary Devices in Coriolanus
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
The play is set around 491 B.C.E., when Rome is in the early stages of being a Republic. King Tarquin has just been overthrown and replaced by a government run by elected officials.Rome may be well...
Genre
The Tragedy of Coriolanus is, you guessed it, a tragedy. Shock! But what does that mean, exactly? Let's break it down:What Makes it a (Shakespearean) Tragedy?Dramatic work: Check. Coriolanus is a...
Tone
This play has a bad attitude. Think about it: Coriolanus tells us that, in order to be a successful politician, you you have to be a big phony who's willing to pander for votes. The play's most su...
Writing Style
Coriolanus has a reputation for harsh and abrasive language, especially when it comes to Coriolanus' style. Check out the first thing he says: What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,That, rubbi...
What's Up With the Title?
Shakespeare isn't being mysterious here. The play is called the Tragedy of Coriolanus, and indeed it's a tragedy about a dude named Coriolanus. Actually, his given name is "Caius Martius" but he...
Tough-o-Meter
If you're new to Shakespeare, the language will take some getting used to. The good news is that the plot is pretty straightforward, so the storyline should be easy to follow. One of the biggest fa...
Plot Analysis
Hungry, But Not For LoveYou think we've got problems: the play opens in the middle of a food riot. See, the lower class plebeians think the upper class patricians are hoarding all the grain and sta...
Booker's Seven Basic Plots Analysis
Booker writes that in this stage, "the hero is in some way incomplete and unfulfilled and his thoughts are turned towards the future in hope of some unusual gratification. Some object of desire o...
Three-Act Plot Analysis
Man of the HourCoriolanus is an aristocratic snob who hates the lower classes and thinks they shouldn't have any say in political matters because they're idiots and cowards. Problem is, he needs th...
Trivia
The character "President Coriolanus Snow" (the ruthless dictator in The Hunger Games) is a shout-out to the same ancient Roman leader in Shakespeare's play. That would be Coriolanus, who is often...
Steaminess Rating
Look. This is a political play so there's no time for a bunch of love scenes. Go read Romeo and Juliet or 50 Shades of Grey if that's what you're after. That said, there is a whole lot of steamy...
Allusions
Sir Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Lives of the Greeks and Romans, 1579. William Camden's Remains, 1605.English Food Riots of 1607 (1.1)Fires built on the frozen River Thames in January...