ABSTRACT
The chapter looks at work done in Shakespearean rhetoric, and his use of figures of speech, particularly since the middle of the twentieth century. A brief history of rhetoric is given, after which attention is focused on the Ciceronian style in Shakespeare. The characteristics of this style are described. Alternative styles which appear particularly in Shakespeare’s later works, are then covered – particularly the so-called ‘curt’ and ‘loose’ styles. Shakespearean examples of these two styles are given. The second half of the chapter deals with figures of speech. The figure of hendiays is explored in detail. English Renaissance handbooks of rhetoric are discussed, as well as specific studies of the figures of speech used by Shakespeare. The development in Shakespeare’s use of rhetoric over his writing career is also considered. In the final section, stylistic characteristic associated with different genres are observed, along with the idiolectic styles of specific individuals such as Pistol.
