Question

In this example from ​The Tempest​, Act IV, Scene i, Shakespeare is referencing the Globe Theater: "The solemn temples, the great globe itself." What literary device is being used here?

a) Parallelism
b) Allusion
c) Satire
d) Mood

Answer 1

Shakespeare's reference to 'the great globe itself' in The Tempest is an allusion to the Globe Theater, which signifies both the physical theater and the world of theater at large.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the passage from The Tempest, Act IV, Scene i, where Shakespeare refers to 'The solemn temples, the great globe itself,' he is using a literary device known as an allusion. An allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. In this case, 'the great globe itself' is believed to be an allusion to the Globe Theater, where Shakespeare's plays were performed. The mention of the Globe not only references the physical theater but also subtly acknowledges the world of theater and the audience's participation in it. This creates a meta-theatrical moment, where the play comments on the nature of theater itself.