Summary sheets | 'Antony and Cleopatra' by Shakespeare | Includes key quotes and analysis, context and critics
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Course
Unit 2 - drama
Institution
WJEC
These are summary sheets for 'Antony and Cleopatra' by William Shakespeare. They include key quotes and a concise analysis, relevant contexts and critical quotes.
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA - QUOTES
Quote Brief analysis
‘This dotage of our General’s o’erflows the - Double meaning: growing senile, overly affectionate.
measure.’ - Metaphor: Egyptian excess, drinking.
‘Glowed like plated Mars’ - Godlike imagery: Mars the military god of war.
- Simile: illustrates his admirable strength and power.
‘The triple pillar of the world transform’d into a - Metaphor: demonstrates loss of power, derogatory terms.
strumpet’s fool.’
‘Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch of - Hyperbolic imagery: Antony’s values changing: indulgence and pleasure,
the ranged empire fall!’ neglecting Rome.
‘Eternity was in our lips and eyes, bliss in our - Sibilance and soft plosives: rhythm reflects their sensuality and intimacy.
brows’ bent.’
‘He fishes, drinks and wastes the lamps of - Rule of three: dishonourable behaviour.
the night in revel.’
‘It is not amiss to tumble of the bed of - Plosives: reflect the playful intimacy of their relationship but also
Ptolemy; to give a kingdom for a mirth.’ Caesar’s contempt for it.
‘O happy horse, to bear the weight of - Sexual innuendo: expresses her sexuality freely, Egyptian values of
Antony!’ pleasure. Comedic effect.
‘A morsel for a monarch’ - Food metaphor: women as consumption for men.
‘The barge she sat in, like a burnish’d throne, - Soft plosives: rhythmic movement of the barge.
burnt on the water.’ - Water imagery: sensuality, femininity.
- Juxtaposition of elements: Cleopatra’s variety, power.
‘On each side her stood pretty dimpled boys, - Reversal of gender roles: boys catering to a female monarch, luxury of
like smiling Cupids.’ Egypt.
- Cupids: connotes irresistibility of Cleopatra.
‘Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her - Hyperbolic language: admiration for Cleopatra.
infinite variety.’
‘I’ll spurn thine eyes’, ‘I’ll unhair thy head!’ - Verbification: her physical and verbal violence.
‘Our graver business frowns at this levity.’ - Personification: shows the seriousness of matters.
‘If I lose mine honour, I lose myself.’ - Polyptoton: his honour is who he is.
‘On a tribunal silvered, Cleopatra and himself - Semantic field of royalty: silver, gold, enthroned. Egyptian values of
in chairs of gold were publicly enthroned.’ excess. Publicity, celebrity.
‘The dust should have ascended to the rood - Hyperbolic image: uncharacteristic of Caesar. Shows his care for
of heaven, raised by your populous troops.; Octavia.
‘As president of my kingdom will appear there - Imperatives: directing Enobarbus, who is not her own follower - displays
for a man.’ her dominance over men.
- Reflects Elizabeth I’s Tilbury speech.
‘By sea, by sea’ - Repetition: almost childish stubbornness.
‘Strike not by land; keep whole.’ - Imperatives, simple diction: clear, calculated instructions. Governed by
logic, not emotions, contrasting Antony.
‘Like a doting mallard leaving the fight in - Simile, bird imagery: dishonour and shame, coming from his own
height, flies after her.’ follower.
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