Nominal Jests in Shakespeare's Plays

Abstract

In lieu of an abstract, this is the first paragraph of the article. Nominal jests were very popular among the literati of the English Renaissance. The plays and poems of the period are studded with name-play, and Shakespeare, with his lively mind, excelled at the game. 1 Much has been written of his jests on his own name in the Sonnets 2 and on his name usage in the plays. 3 Although much name-play may at times seem trivial or obvious, when it appears in a consistent pattern linked to the play's function we may gain insight into Shakespeare's method and purposes. My first two examples are of name duplication which serve as foreshadowing devices.