Pun

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Created and Edited by Anderson, Clarke, and Talbott


===A pun is a humorous use of a word or phrase to emphasize different meanings or application of the word. Shakespeare uses puns to lighten up the mood in his plays. Characters in Shakespeare's plays use puns to discuss love and their emotions. One of the first conversation in the play involves many crude puns spoken by the two servants, Sampson and Gregory.===


=**Examples **: (I.i.1-30)= = = GREGORY : No, for then we should be colliers. SAMPSON : I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw. GREGORY : Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar. SAMPSON : I strike quickly, being moved. GREGORY : But thou art not quickly moved to strike. <span style="color: rgb(14, 216, 20)">SAMPSON : <span style="color: rgb(223, 17, 205)">A dog of the house of Montague moves me. <span style="color: rgb(208, 11, 11)">GREGORY : <span style="color: rgb(16, 17, 173)">To move is to stir; and to be valiant move me to stand: <span style="color: rgb(208, 11, 11)"><span style="color: rgb(16, 17, 173)">therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away. <span style="color: rgb(14, 216, 20)">SAMPSON: <span style="color: rgb(244, 98, 228)">A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's. GREGORY:<span style="color: rgb(16, 17, 173)">That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall. <span style="color: rgb(14, 216, 20)">SAMPSON  : <span style="color: rgb(223, 17, 205)">True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids <span style="color: rgb(223, 17, 205)"> to the wall. <span style="color: rgb(223, 17, 205)"><span style="color: rgb(208, 11, 11)">GREGORY : <span style="color: rgb(16, 17, 173)">The quarrel is between our masters and us their men. <span style="color: rgb(14, 216, 20)">SAMPSON : <span style="color: rgb(223, 17, 205)">'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids, and cut off their heads. <span style="color: rgb(208, 11, 11)">GREGORY : <span style="color: rgb(16, 17, 173)">The heads of the maids? <span style="color: rgb(14, 216, 20)">SAMPSON : <span style="color: rgb(223, 17, 205)">Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt. <span style="color: rgb(208, 11, 11)">GREGORY : <span style="color: rgb(16, 17, 173)">They must take it in sense that feel it. <span style="color: rgb(14, 216, 20)">SAMPSON : <span style="color: rgb(223, 17, 205)">Me they shall feel while I am able to stand: and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh. <span style="color: rgb(208, 11, 11)">GREGORY : <span style="color: rgb(16, 17, 173)">'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou <span style="color: rgb(16, 17, 173)">hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool! here comes two of the house of the Montagues. <span style="color: rgb(14, 216, 20)">SAMPSON : <span style="color: rgb(223, 17, 205)">My naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee.<span style="color: rgb(1, 0, 16)"> <span style="color: rgb(241, 34, 34)"> In this opening speech, Sampson and Gregory use the words colliers, collar, choler, and carry coals to point out the different meaning of the same word. Therefore these two are using puns in their conversation. Carry coals means to submit insults, colliers are workers in coal, in choler means to be angry, and a collar is a hangman's noose. Also, a pun is made with maidenheads, which is used as thee heads of maidens and virginity. Naked weapon refers to an unsheathed sword and a male reproductive organ. To the wall refers to a sexual term as well its literal meaning. In this way Gregory and Sampson say the same word multiple times, but are using it in different contexts and with different meanings.

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> Another example of a pun is in Act one Scene four when Romeo is talking to Mercutio. (I.iv.13-15)

<span style="color: rgb(231, 144, 29)"> MERCUTIO: <span style="color: rgb(149, 0, 255)">Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance <span style="color: rgb(14, 31, 134)"> ROMEO: <span style="color: rgb(39, 125, 12)">Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead…

Romeo used the word sole to refer to the bottom of Mercutio's shoe and then uses the word to refer to his own soul.

Mercutio uses several other puns throughout the play. I.iv.11-12 Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy, I will bear the light.

This is a play on the word light because uses the meanings of not heavy and not dark. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(241, 34, 34)"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 28, 255)">** Links ** <span style="color: rgb(0, 28, 255)">[|Puns of the Day] [|Pun Liners] <span style="color: rgb(241, 34, 34)">[|Foreign Puns] <span style="color: rgb(183, 36, 114)"> **Pictures**