Genre
Domestic tragedy
Language
English
Setting and Context
Early 1600s
Narrator and Point of View
The prologue is written by a third-person narrator, followed by dialogue.
Tone and Mood
The mood is sombre and tragic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is the loyal Frankford, while Wendoll is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
There is the major conflict of Anne cheating on her husband Frankford, and also the conflict between Francis and Charles.
Climax
The climax of the play is when Frankford discovers his wife has been cheating on him with Wendoll.
Foreshadowing
The hunting competition between Francis and Charles foreshadows their later competition through the text.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
There reference to self-starvation is an allusion to Medieval views, where fasting women are associated with obedience and purity.
Imagery
The imagery of the wedding between Frankford and Anne suggests that their marriage will be happy and successful.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
The following passage is an example of parallelism:
I am quarrelsome, and not seditious;
I am peaceable, and not contentious;
I am brief, and not compendious.
Personification
Frankford says how his wife's lute would "speak sweetly many a note."
Use of Dramatic Devices
Here is an example of stage directions in the play:
"Enter SIR CHARLES, in prison, with irons, his feet bare, his garments all ragged and torn".
