Jacobean Period: Refers to the period during the reign of King James I, between 1603-1625. Shakespeare wrote his later works in the Jacobean period.

jargon: Potentially confusing words and phrases used in an occupation, trade, or field of study. We might speak of medical jargon, sports jargon, pedagogic jargon etc

jig: A bawdy song and dance in Renaissance drama that was performed by a clown, or other actors, at the end of a play.

Jonson, Ben: An English poet and dramatist (1572 -16370). He was a contemporary of Shakespeare's. many of his plays were satires.

journal: See diary.

juvenilia: Writing produced by a writer in his/her youth.

juxtaposition: The assembly of two or more ideas, characters, actions, settings, phrases, or words side-by-side or in similar narrative moments for the purpose of comparison, contrast, rhetorical effect, suspense, or character development.