Pun

Wordplay that uses different meanings of a word, or words with similar sounds.

Wordplay using different meanings of a word or similar sounds. Mercutio's “grave” means both serious and a burial place.

The prose pun gives “grave” two meanings: serious, and associated with a burial place. It preserves his wit while making death unavoidable. An actor might deliver it with defiant humour or weakening bitterness; either performance makes his familiar joking newly disturbing.

Wordplay that draws on two meanings of a word, or on words with similar sounds.

Link methods to the dramatic moment. Explain how a pun, oxymoron, command or stage action changes the audience's understanding.

Connect methods to meaning: explain how a pun, an imperative, repetition or a sudden change of allegiance shapes the crowd's presentation.

Part (a): analyse language, form and structure in the printed extract. Explain how particular words, puns, changes of tone or dramatic choices present Mercutio; context is not assessed.

A joke or play on words that uses multiple meanings or similar sounds.

Wordplay that exploits different meanings of a word or similarities between the sounds of words.

Wordplay using two or more meanings of a word, or similar-sounding words.

A play on a word’s different meanings, or on words that sound alike.

A word or expression that draws on more than one meaning, often to create humour or connect ideas.

Wordplay using different meanings of a word, or words that sound alike.

Wordplay that uses a word’s different meanings, or words with similar sounds, to connect ideas.

Wordplay that uses similar sounds or different meanings, such as the connection between Hyde’s name and the game of hide-and-seek.

A joke or play on words that uses similar sounds or more than one meaning.

A word or expression used with more than one meaning, often for humour or a disturbing double effect.

The pun preserves his verbal wit, but its meaning is now lethal. His earlier comedy can no longer protect him from the consequences of the feud. His prose here retains the conversational quality of his joking, making the intrusion of death especially disturbing.

Wordplay that uses two meanings of a word, or words with similar sounds.

A play on a word’s different meanings or on words with similar sounds.

Wordplay that exploits more than one meaning of a word, or similarities between words.

A word or phrase that allows more than one meaning, often producing humour.

Wordplay that draws on different meanings of a word or on words with similar sounds.

Wordplay using similar sounds or different meanings, such as the connection between ‘Hyde’, ‘hide’ and ‘Seek’.

The pun links ‘Hyde’ to ‘hide’ and creates a hide-and-seek relationship between the mysterious man and his pursuer. The balanced clauses set concealment against discovery. ‘Shall’ expresses determination: Utterson will actively search rather than simply worry.

A play on a word's different meanings or on similar-sounding words.

Wordplay using a word's different meanings or words with similar sounds.

Wordplay that draws on more than one meaning of a word, or on similar-sounding words.

A word or phrase that carries more than one meaning, often creating humour or connecting different ideas.

A play on a word’s different meanings or on words that sound alike, such as Portia’s use of ‘dear’ to mean both costly and beloved.

Wordplay that exploits different meanings of a word or similarities between the sounds of words.

Romeo exchanges quick puns with Mercutio. The prose repartee contrasts with the elevated verse of the balcony scene and shows Romeo as lively and sociable rather than absorbed in misery. Mercutio welcomes this change with ‘now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo’.

A word or expression that uses more than one meaning, often for a humorous or unsettling effect.

Wordplay that uses more than one meaning of a word, or words with similar sounds.

Wordplay that uses different meanings of a word, or words that sound alike.

A word or phrase that works with two meanings at once.

A joke that exploits different meanings of a word or similarities between the sounds of words.

Wordplay using a word's different meanings or the similarity between the sounds of different words.

A play on a word’s different meanings or on words that sound alike.

A joke that depends on a word having more than one meaning, or on words sounding alike.

Wordplay that draws on different meanings of a word or on words that sound alike.

Wordplay exploiting two meanings of a word or similar-sounding words.

Wordplay using a word’s different meanings or words that sound alike.

Wordplay that draws on more than one meaning of a word.

A word or expression that plays on more than one meaning, or on similar sounds.

Wordplay that exploits different meanings of a word or similarities between the sounds of words.

Wordplay that exploits different meanings of a word or the similarity between the sounds of words.

Wordplay using different meanings of a word or words that sound alike.

Wordplay using two meanings of a word, or words that sound alike.

A joke or play on words involving different meanings or similar sounds.

A joke that exploits more than one meaning of a word, or words that sound alike.

A joke or expression that exploits different meanings of a word or similarities between sounds.

A word or phrase that carries two meanings at once, often creating humour or connecting different ideas.

Wordplay using different meanings of a word or similar sounds, such as Portia's use of 'light' for brightness and sexual unfaithfulness.

Wordplay that draws attention to more than one meaning of a word or phrase.

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

Exam tips

Get more free notes every week

Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352

Eduqas GCSE English Literature · C720

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

Exam tips

Related key terms

Get more free notes every week

Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352

Eduqas GCSE English Literature · C720