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GCSE English Literature · key term
Language with an indirect sexual meaning, often used for comedy.
Used by Edexcel and Eduqas
Paper 1
Revise: Act 2Benvolio tries to find him, while Mercutio calls out mockingly and uses sexual innuendo about Rosaline. This creates dramatic irony: the audience knows Romeo loves Juliet, but his friends still assume he is pursuing Rosaline. Romeo’s physical separation from them also signals an emotional separation.
Component 1
Language that suggests a sexual meaning without stating it directly.
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The aggressive verbs “Prick” and “beat” connect love with physical struggle, while “Prick” also carries sexual innuendo. Mercutio brings Romeo’s elevated language down to the level of bodily desire and action.
