The valedictorian was asked to interject some old memories and humor into their speech.
An interjection phrase is a brief expression or utterance that conveys emotions or feelings, such as surprise, happiness, or frustration. It is often used to add emotion to a conversation but does not necessarily have a grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence. Examples include "Wow!" "Oh no!" and "Hey!"
In lines 77 and 79 of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," the interjection "O" is used to maintain the iambic pentameter. This interjection allows the rhythm to remain consistent while adding emotional emphasis to the speaker's feelings. By incorporating "O," Shakespeare effectively preserves the meter while enhancing the expressive quality of the lines.