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Mercutio – Favourite Character
I personally like Mercutio because he is courageous and loyal. He himself has a character of his own. Mercutio is the Prince’s relative and best friend to Romeo. He understands Romeo more than anyone else. Mercutio is a foil character – a secondary character that contrast with the protagonist – Romeo. His way of expressing his view-point is bald and right to the point. His view of love contrast with Romeo’s view – where romantic love and its sickness takes place.
Mercutio is funny and used a great deal of words in the play. He introduced us to puns that he is not afraid to use. He mocks Romeo’s point of love and make people laugh. Mercutio loves to talk and his uses of words is smart. He is a joker to everyone, which essentially is the reason for his friends to mistaken the seriousness of the wound Tybalt gave him. He says if they ask for him tomorrow, they will find him in his grave – another pun. He is brave and an honorable man. He fights Tybalt when Romeo does nothing but telling how much he loves Tybalt. Mercutio is not weakened by love, and he has always try to end the two families fued.
Act V
Act V
Vocabulary: define the following words and understand them when they appear in the play.
ambiguity
peruse
remnants
haughty
Literary devices: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the play.
motivation:
theme:
Example:
Scene 1
1. Who is Balthasar?
Romeo’s servant.
2. Lines 1-9 are an example of irony and foreshadowing. Explain.
He dreams that Juliet found him dead. Irony is that he will finds her dead and kill himself with poison. Juliet then will kiss him. Foreshadow their deaths and reunited in the afterlife. Also, when Juliet kisses him at the end to kill herself with the poison left on his lips.
3. Which news does Romeo expect?
That Juliet is doing well without him. Also of his father and some news from Friar.
# Which news does Balthasar bring?
Juliet’s death and her funeral in the family tomb.
4. Explain the term “apothecary.”
A pharmacist, makes drugs from herbs.
5. Was there a law in Mantua which controlled the sale of certain drugs? Quote the line which is proof.
Yes, there was. Immediate death.
“Mantua’s law
Is death to any he that utters them.”
6. What does Romeo mean in lines 80-81?
“There is thy gold, worse poison to men’s souls,
Doing more murder in this loathsome world,
Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell.”
He means money is a worse poison to men’s soul, killed more than this poor posions that you’re not allowed to sell.
Scene 2
1. Why was Friar John detained? Quote the line which supports your answer.
Because there is a plague in Mantua.
“So fearful were they of infection.”
2. Did Friar John deliver the letter to Romeo?
No.
3. Which two things will Friar Laurence do?
He will write another letter to Mantua and go to the tomb where Juliet lies fake death, awake in three hours. He will take Juliet to his cell until Romeo comes.
Scene 3
1. Define the words:
obsequies (line 16): Funeral, ceremony for the death.
inauspicious stars (line 111): bad luck, bad fate.
discern (line 126): see, perceive
sepulchre (line 140): a burial chamber, a chamber for graves.
2. Explain:
“A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;
And Paris too. Come, I’ll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns.” (Lines 153-157)
A greater power has changed the their plan. Juliet’s husband – Romeo – lies dead in her arms, and Paris too. The Friar tells Juliet to come with him and he will make her a holy nun.
3. List in point form all the events which take place in Scene 3.
- Paris comes to mourn Juliet’s death and leave flowers.
- Romeo comes, leave a letter to his father to Balthasar.
- Paris thinks Romeo has come to trash the tomb.
- Paris insists on a fight.
- Romeo kills Paris.
- Paris wants to lie next to Juliet and Romeo realises this is Juliet’s betrothed husband.
- Romeo sees Juliet and drinks his poison.
- Friar Lawrence arrives just to tell Juliet when she wakes up, both Romeo and Paris are dead.
- Juliet kills herself with a dart.
- The two families join and burry their dead children.
4. Why is Paris at Juliet’s tomb?
Paris comes to visit Capulets’ tomb – to see Juliet and bring her flowers. A ritual he plans to do every night because Juliet is betrothed to him by her parents. At the same time, Romeo comes to kill himself.
5. Romeo gives Balthasar two reasons for entering the Capulet’s tomb. What are those two reasons?
To see Juliet – his lover – face and to remove a precious ring from her finger.
6. Why does Paris think that Romeo has come to the tomb?
He thinks that Romeo has come to trash the tomb.
7. Explain:
- “We see the ground whereon these woes do lie,
- But the true ground of all these piteous woes
- We cannot without circumstance descry.” (Lines 179-181)
The watchman says he see the bodies here, but can’t explain their tragic end.
- What is Friar Laurence proposing in lines 266-269?
“…and if aught in this Miscarried by my fault, let my old life
Be sacrificed, some hour before his time,
Unto the rigor of severest law.”
He wants to give his old life up for sacrifice of their deaths and let him suffers the most severe punishment.
- What does the Prince mean?
“…Capulet, Montague,
See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.” (Lines 291-293)
The Prince says that the results of the two families hate is this. Heaven punished them, killing their joys with love of their children.
- What does Capulet realize when he says: “Poor sacrifices of our enmity.” (Line 304)
He realised that their children are the poor and sad sacrifices for their hate, their rivalry, their enmity.
Act IV
Scene 1
1. Why is Friar Laurence reluctant to marry Paris to Juliet?
Because he was the one to join Romeo and Juliet’s marriage. It is also too quickly and Paris doesn’t know how Juliet feels.
2. How does Paris explain the sudden haste of the marriage plans?
He says that it will stop Juliet’s grieving over her cousin – Tybalt. If she has someone beside her, she will stop crying.
3. What is ironic about the conversation between Juliet and Paris?
Paris talks about his love and asks whether Juliet loves him. Juliet replies she does not, in the while referring her love to Romeo, but Paris thinks Juliet is referring to him.
4. If Friar Laurence cannot help her, what does Juliet threaten to do?
She threatens to kill herself.
5. Why does Friar Laurence think that Juliet will accept his plan?
Because if Juliet dies, she will never be able to unite with Romeo. For such she is alive, rather than dead.
6. Describe the friar’s plan for Juliet.
The plan is to have Juliet drink a potion that will cause her to appear dead in a day. When Paris comes to marry Juliet, he will thinks she is dead. He will send Romeo a letter telling him about the plan for Juliet and Romeo to unite.
Scene 2
1. Capulet calls his own daughter: ” peevish self-willed harlotry” (Line 14). This means what?
An annoying, disobedience and stubborn brat.
# Capulet says: “I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning.” (Line 24). What day is Juliet to get married? What day had originally been chosen?
She is getting married on early Wednesday, the original was Thursday.
2. Explain Capulet’s state of mind in the following lines:
“My heart is wondrous light,
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaimed.” (Line 46-47)
Capulet is thrilled with happiness because Juliet has come to her senses and ready to obey his order of the marriage.
Scene 3
1. In this scene what does Juliet do?
She dismissed her Nurse to go with her Mother, and drinks the potion that Friar gave her.
# Which lines show Juliet’s apprehension before carrying out the Friar’s plan?
“What if this mixture do not work at all?
Shall I be married then tomorrow morning?”
2. Which four things does Juliet fear? Quote the lines which support your answers.
“What if this mixture do not work at all?” (21)
-That the potion will not work.
“What if it be a poison which the Friar
Subtly hat mistered to have me death,”(25)
-That Friar gave poison to kill her.
“How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me?” (30)
-That she will wake up early before Romeo comes, and suffocate in the family tomb with Tybalt rotting by her.
“So early waking, what with loathsome smells
And shrieks like mandrakes torn out of the earth,
That living mortals, hearing them run mad-” (46-48)
-That she will so scared of the smell of death and the sound of ghosts if she wakes early.
# Quote the line which shows Juliet’s devotion to Romeo.
“Romeo, I come! This do I drink to thee.”
3. How does Juliet show her maturity and independence in this scene?
Juliet is no longer a young 14 years-old who is afraid of her father. She isolated herself from the Nurse who usually gives her advice. She comes to make decision on her own, to be faithful to her husband and act alone without fear to save her love. She was alone doing the hardest thing she knows how. She made the decision on an adult, at a young age to not give in to marrying Paris, and be obedient to her father.
Scene 4
1. Explain the term “cot-queen” (Line 6) Who is called thus, and by whom?
The Nurse jokes call Lord Capulet house-husband because he is taking care of the details in Juliet’s wedding. She says he is married to he house.
# In one sentence, summarize this scene.
Lord Capulet is getting everything ready for the wedding, from food to drink, all discussed with he servants. This scene is funny and gives the play much relief from all the seriousness actions.
Scene 5
1. Describe the imagery Shakespeare uses in describing Juliet’s “death”?
Irony. Cold, her blood has settled and her joints are stiffed. She’s dead, like a beautiful flower, killed by an unseasonable frost.
2. Who first finds Juliet? Describe Juliet’s condition.
The Nurse finds Juliet, all dressed and dead.
# What does Capulet mean in lines 38-39?
“Death is my son-in-law, death is my heir;
My daughter he hath wedded.”
His daughter is dead, married death, death is his son-in-law.
3. What does Lady Capulet grieve over in the lines:
“But one, poor one, one poor and loving child,
But one thing to rejoice and solace in,
And cruel Death hath catched it from my sight.” (Lines 46-48)
Poor child, the only one child to make her happy, and now death has taken Juliet away from her.
4. How does the Friar try to comfort Juliet’s parents? Summarize briefly his arguments in lines 65-83.
The Friar tells the Capulets that they should be pleased because she is in heaven and has the highest position ever, like they has wished for her marriage.
5. What does the Friar mean in lines 94-95?
“The heavens do low’r upon you for some ill; Move them no more by crossing their high will.”
He tells Paris and Juliet’s parents that they are punished for something they have done by her death. Now they have to do what they are supposed to and take her body to her grave.
6. At the end of Act IV what event takes place?
Juliet’s funeral is preparing with the mourning of the Capulets.
Act III
Vocabulary: Define the following words:
banishment
dexterity
idolatry
reconcile
exile
fickle
gallant
Scene 1
1. What do the following lines foreshadow?
“I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,
And, if we meet, we shall not ‘scape a brawl,
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.” (Lines 1-4)
This following line the fight they are going to be involve in later in Act 3. There will be bloodshed and there will be anger.
2. What does Mercutio tell us about Benvolio in the lines 15-29? Explain.
3. What does Romeo remind Mercutio and Tybalt about in the following lines:
“Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath
Forbid this bandying in Verona streets.” (Lines 86-87)
The prince has ordered, it is forbidden and banned for them to fight on Verona streets.
4. Explain “a grave man”. (Line 96) What figure of speech is used? What is the meaning?
Mercutio is saying he will die tomorrow if he can’t get to the doctor soon enough. Tomorrow if they want to find him, they will only know that he is dead and burry in a grave.
5. Why does Mercutio keep repeating, “A plague o’ both your houses”?
He is angry with the two houses, keep fighting and keep hating each other. He is mad of how that led to his death. “Damn both your houses!”
6. What does Romeo say that Juliet’s love has done to him?
Juliet’s love has made him a weaker man, distracted and softened.
7. Why does Romeo call himself “fortune’s fool”?
His luck has turned around since he fell in love with Juliet. He shouldn’t have fall in love with her. He shouldn’t have come to the Capulet’s party. He shouldn’t have let his dearest friend die.
8. Explain the following lines:
“This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally,
My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt
In my behalf – my reputation stained
With Tybalt’s slander – Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my cousin. O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
And in my temper soft’ned valor’s steel!” (Lines 107-113)
Romeo talks about Mercutio, who’s a close relative of the Prince and his closet friend, has been hurt on his behalf. Tybalt slanders him. Tybalt, who has become his cousin just an hour ago. Juliet sweetheart, her beauty has made him weaker, softer than steel..
9. What do the following lines foreshadow?
“Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are us, and Tybalt slain.
Stand not amazed. The prince will doom thee death
If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!” (Lines 130-134)
Who says these lines?
Benvolio says these. Foreshadow Romeo’s banishment. He needs to run far away from here. But later on, we also know, that the Prince ordered Romeo’s banishment.
10. What does the Prince mean in the lines which state:
“But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine.”
He will fine them so badly that they will regret having this brawl that killed the Prince’s relative.
11. What is the Prince’s loss?
Mercutio is his relative.
12. What does the Prince promise to do if Romeo is found?
He will have his life.
13. What does this line mean?
“Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.”
Murders, cannot forgive those that are killers, because to forgive is to encourage.
Scene 2
1. Explain the classical allusions in lines 2 and 3.
Juliet mentions Greece’s sun god – Phaeton – who pull the sun up and down everyday.
2. Explain the words:
- cockatrice (line 47): is a mythical monster hatched by a reptile from a cock’s egg, able to kill with only a glance, its eyes.
- bier (line 60): is a stand on which the corpse or a coffin is placed before the funeral.
- serpent (line 73): is a limbless scaly elongate reptile, snake
3. What is Juliet’s first reaction when learning of Tybalt’s death?
She is worried if Romeo is dead as well.
4. What does Nurse think of men in general? Quote the lines which support your answer.
“There’s no trust,
No faith, no honesty in men. Al perjured,
All forsworn , all naught, all dissemblers.” (lines 85 -87)
Nurse thinks men can’t be trusted. They are not faithful or honest or loyal.
5. What is Juliet’s reaction when Nurse curses Romeo? Quote.
“Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?”
She could not bring her heart to curse her dear husband – Romeo.
6. Where is Romeo hiding?
To Friar Lawrence’s cell.
Scene 3
1. Explain Romeo’s statement:
“Tis torture, and not mercy.” (Line 29)
This is torture not mercy. He is saying the Prince let him lives to torture him. Death is too easy.
2. Which solution to his despair is Romeo contemplating? Quote the lines which support your answer.
He wants to die. “No sudden mean of death, though ne’er so mean,
But ‘banished’ to kill me? ‘Banished’?”
3. The Friar proposes to give Romeo “Adversity’s sweet milk” (Line 55). What is it? It is an antidote for Romeo’s pain and trouble right then – Philosphy. But Romeo does not want to listen. The Friar makes the statement that mad men have no ears (Line 61) Romeo reports that so does wise men have no eyes (line 62)
“A pack of blessings light upon thy back;” (Line 141) List the 3 blessings.
First blessing is that his wife – Juliet – still alive. Second, Tybalt failed to kill him, but he killed Tybalt and he is alive. Third, the sentence on him is banishment, not death.
Scene 4
1. Explain what is decided in this short scene.
Juliet’s marriage to Paris early Thursday.
Scene 5
1. Explain the line: “I must be gone and live, or stay and die.” (Line 11)
He must go and be alive, or stay and be dead.
2. In Greek mythology what is “Cynthia”?
People who were from Mount Cynthus. Artemis – the moon goddess were sometimes called Cynthia because she was believed to be born on Mount Cynthus.
3. Explain the meaning of “affray”.
Noisy quarrel
4. Juliet has a vision. Who does she see and what does she see?
She sees Romeo is going to die. She has a vision of his death.
5. What does Lady Capulet mean in the following:
“Some grief shows much of love;
But much of grief shows still some want of wit.” (Lines 73-74)
Grief little shows lots of love, but too much grief makes you look stupid.
6. What is Lady Capulet actually wishing in the line:
“I would the fool were married to her grave!? (Line 141)
She wishes Juliet is dead and marry her own grave.
7. What is a “hurdle“? (Line 156)
A wooden medieval sledge – a fence panelling
8. What are Capulet’s feelings towards his daughter when she refuses to take Paris for a husband? Quote the lines which support your answer.
He was furious and disappointed.
“Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought
So worthy a gentleman to be her bride?” (141-145)
9. What is Capulet’s threat in lines 190-196?
If Juliet doesn’t behave like his daughter, he will let her to beg, starve, hang and die on the streets. He will not leave her anything in his will nor will he take his word back.
10. Is Lady Capulet willing to intercede (to speak in favor of Juliet)? Quote.
No, she was also against her daughter decision.
“Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word.
Do as though wilt, for I have done with thee.” (203-204)
11. At the end of Act III, Scene 5, where does Juliet go?
She will go to Friar Lawrence, hoping for some answers.
12. If the Friar is not able to help, what does she plan to do? Quote lines in support.
She plans to kill herself.
“If all else fail, myself have power to die.” (242)
Act II
Act II
I. VOCABULARY:
cunning:
vile
predominant
unwieldy
Scene 1
1. Briefly sum up what takes place in this scene.
Romeo speaks of his new love, Juliet and jumps over the Capulet’s wall to see her. Benvolio and Mercutio call for Romeo. Benvolio mocks Romeo’s feeling for Rosaline, poking fun at him. After a while, they go look for him.
2.What does Mercutio say about “blind love”?
He says “If love is blind, love cannot hit the mark.” In my opinion, Mercutio is expressing his perspective that if love is blind then the lover can’t truly be happy. Romeo is so blinded by his love with Rosaline that all the could think about is that she is the only one he can or could ever love.
Scene 2
1. What time is it when Juliet appears at her window? Quote the lines which support your answer.
Right at the beginning or scene 2, after Romeo climbs in and listens to his friends mocking him for his blind love with Rosaline.
“He justs at scars that never felt a wound.
[Enter Juliet above]
But soft, what light through wonder window breaks?”
2. When Juliet appears on her balcony, what does Romeo compare her to?
To the sun.
3. What does Juliet deplore in the following line?
“O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?”
means why must Romeo be Romeo Montague.
What does she wish Romeo to do in this line?
“Deny thy father and refuse thy name.”
She wishes that Romeo rejects his family name or swear his love to her and she will no longer be a Capulet.
4. Who says the following? What is meant? Give the numbers of the lines.
- “O that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek.” (Lines 23)
Romeo said this, means he wish he could be Juliet’s glove to feel her cheek.
* “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
- By any other name would smell as sweet.” (Lines 44)
Juliet said this, means what does a name mean anything, rose if given any other names would smell as sweet.
- “…Look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.” (Lines 73)
Romeo said this, means just look at him sweetly, and he will be invincible against anything.
* “I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning…” (Lines 117)
Juliet said this, means she can’t take promises right now because they’re rushing to fast in the relationship. Let’s make it simple and let love settles itself.
Scene 3
1. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says to Romeo, “Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes?
Friar Laurence means that young men don’t love women for their heart and their personality but of their look, their beauty. He thinks Romeo doesn’t trully love Juliet as he himself thought.
2. Friar Laurence agrees to perform the marriage ceremony for Romeo and Juliet for what reason?
Friar Laurence perform the marriage in hope for the two households to forget their hate for each other, love each other as a happy family.
3. What is the meaning of the following passages? Paraphrase in modern English.
“With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No.
I have forgot that name and that name’s woe.” (Lines 46-46)
-With Rosaline, Father? No. I have forgotten that name and the pain it caused me.
“Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (Lines 67-68)
-Young men loves with their eyes, not with their heart trully.
“Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.” (Line 94)
– Wisely and slow. Those who run, fall/trip.
Scene 4
1. What is the letter that Tybalt sent to Romeo’s father?
Tybalt challenge Romeo on a fight.
2. How does Benvolio mean that Romeo will answer the letter?
Benvolio meant that Romeo will answer it as a yes, taking the challenge.
3. What does Mercutio mean when he says, “Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead!”
Mercutio is refering to Rosaline, the one Romeo has been love sick about. He says that, Romeo’s already dead in his love.
4. List the traits which Mercutio attributes to Tybalt in his description to Benvolio.
A great fighter, perfect timing, movement, pace and rhythm.
5. According to Romeo, what sort of youth is Mercutio? Quote the lines which support your answer.
Explain:
“…to lead into a fool’s paradise.”
Which message does Romeo give the nurse in the following lines:
“Bid her devise
Some means to come to shrift this afternoon,
And there she shall at Friar Laurence’ cell
Be shrived and married.” (Lines 169-172)
-Tell Juliet to come this afternoon to confession. There at Friar Laurence’s cell she shall confess and be married.
Scene 5
1. What time of day is it?
12 pm, afternoon.
2. How long has the Nurse been gone on her errand to Romeo?
3 hours.
3. Quote the lines which show Juliet’s impatience.
“But old folks – many feign as they were dead,
Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.”
Scene 6
What does Friar Laurence mean,
“So smile the heavens upon this holy act
That after-hours with sorrow chide us not!” (Lines 1-2)
He says “May heaven smile upon this holy ceremony, and that after sorrow will not come and punish us.
2. Is Romeo fearful of the future? Explain the following lines:
“Then love-devouring death do what he dare
It is enough I may but call her mine.” (Lines 7-8)
He is not even afraid that he might ended up death. All he wants is to be married and have Juliet belonged to him.
3. What is the Friar’s warning in the lines:
“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.” (Lines 9-10)
4. What is the Friar’s advice to Romeo in the following lines?
“Therefore love moderately: long love doth so:
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.” (Lines 14-15)
To not rush into his love for Juliet, love her bit by bit. It will endure for a much longer time. The fast and slow lover arrive at the same time anyway.
II. LITERARY TERMS: Define each term and find an example in Act II
analogy:
imagery:
irony:
I. dramatic irony
II. situational irony
III. verbal irony:
monologue:
oxymoron:
personification:
soliloquy:
Act I
Scene i
1, Between the Montagues and Capulets the feud exist.
2. The Capulet’s servants – Gregory & Samson and the Montague’s servant – Abraham fights at the beginning of the first scene.
3. Benvolio tries to break up the fighting.
4. After the street brawl, the Prince ordered if they ever make a scene because their hate for each other again, he will punish severely.
5. Benvolio and Montague says that Romeo has been very distracting, love sick of someone and has become very depressed.
6. Romeo is in love with Rosaline – a girl who wants to be a nun and keep her virginity. He tries to persuade her and take her heart but she has sworn to never marry. She will serves God.
7. Benvolio gives Romeo an advice about Rosaline: to forget her and open his eyes to look for other more beautiful girls.
8. The series of anthesis (anthesis – a contrast of ideas expressed by parallelism of strongly contrasted words) in the following lines:
“Here is much to do with hate, but more with love,
Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,
Of anything, of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness, serious vanity,
Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms,
Feather of lead, bright-smoke; cold fire, sick health,
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.”
-Shakespeare wants to express the far and close of love and hate. The differences of it, that love exist even in hate and that love should not be about fighting and conflict.
Scene ii
- “My child is yet a stranger in the world,
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.
Let two more summers wither in their pride
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.”
Capulet is telling Paris that he doesn’t want this precious Juliet to be married so young. She is still innocent and immature and that she hasn’t seen much out of her fourteen years of life. Juliet should be at least 16 then he will consider giving her away to be a bride.
2. “Younger than she are happy mothers made.” Paris argument is that others at Juliet’s age are already married and have children.
3. “And too soon marred are those so early made.” Capulet is stating that Juliet will grow up too fast if she gets married. He mights also be referring to his own wife – Lady Capulet
4. “At my poor house look to behold tonight
Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light…” means at my house tonight, you can expect to see bright stars (beautiful girls) light up the ground.
5. “Such comfort as do lusty young men feel
When well-apparelled April on the heel
Of limping Winter treads…” means he will be happy to see many young women as beautiful as spring flowers.
6.”…and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine.” means if you’re not a Montague then come and enjoy the party.
Scene iii
- Juliet is 14.
- Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about marriage, Juliet says she wants to see him first and will try to like him, but at the end of the day, she will do what Lady Capulet wants.
- Following Juliet’s answer, Lady Capulet then tells Juliet she will leave it to her and then tell Juliet to come see the count.
Scene iv
1. What do the following lines show about Romeo’s state of mind?
“I fear, too early, for my mind misgives Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin, his fearful date
With this night’s revels and expire term
Of a despised life, closed in my breast,
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.”
This is an example of dramatic irony because he somewhat foreseen the consequences of the night. He fears it. His fate will be of him in young death.
2. These lines show about Romeo’s belief in fate:
“But he that has the steerage of my course
Direct my sail.“
He is saying, it’s God who decides his destiny. He really believes that he can’t change his fate.
Scene v
1. This scene takes place in Capulet’s house.
2. Romeo talking about Juliet in lines 46-55? The irony is he is not meant to fall in love with Juliet.
3. Tybalt become so upset because he saw a Montague. He certainly did not like the appearance of Romeo. Capulet says Romeo, the young boy of Montague is a well behaved and dignified known well in Verona. He wouldn’t for all the wealth of Verona insults Romeo. Tybalt must ignores this and be nice at the feast.
4. Who is speaking the lines below and to whom do these lines refer? What do the speakers mean?
a) “…Verona brags him
To be a virtuous and well-governed youth.
I would not for the wealth of all this town
Here in my house do him disparagement.” (Lines _)
Capulet refers to Romeo, He meant that Romeo is known through out Verona as a well-behave and dignify young man. Even if everyone gives him money, he can’t be impolite to Romeo in his house.
- b) “…If he be married,
- My grave is like to be my wedding bed.” (Lines )
Juliet refers to Romeo. She is saying if he is married she will never be a bride and the only wedding she have is on her grave.
- c) “My only love, sprung from my only hate!
- Too early seen unknown, and known too late!”
Juliet refers to Romeo. She falls in love with Romeo, not knowing he is a Montague. Now that she knows, it is too late and she is already in love.
Famous Love Stories
What are some of the great love stories of modern times, from different cultures and from past times?
- Titanic
- If Tomorrow Comes – Sidney Sheldon
- The Notebook
- Gone With The Wind
- Durian story
- Beauty and the Beast
- Cleopatra and Mark Antony
- Aladdin
- Pocahontas
- If Only It Were True – Marc Levy – Just Like Heaven
- Roman Holiday
. Consider: Who are the main characters in love stories?
Titanic: Rose, the girl from a high noble family and Jack, an illegal poor passenger that lost all his money through gambling.
Pocahontas: Pocahontas, princess of a tribe and John Smith, a general of the British Army.
The Notebook: Duke and Allie are lovers at a young age, because of Duke’s poor family, Allie was forced to leave, that’s when she met Lon, but at the end she comes back and marry Duke.
What are the problems or complications that these characters deal with? Family, Society, Different status, Money, Health, Leaving
How do the love stories usually end? Happily Ever After or Death or Separated.
A Short Guide to Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare’s most beloved tragedy from Elizabethan time. Romeo and Juliet are archetycal lover, and Romeo was once a noun meaning lover. The play has been transformed to operas and ballets.
Shakespeare plays are not meant to be read, they are to be heard and to be seen. The film by Baz Lurhmann is not exactly like the original play and you need to read the play in order to see the differences.
Arthur Brooke’s The Tragicall Histoty of Romeus and Juliet – an old Italian tale that influence Shakespear to write. Thus it italian setting, language, attitude, customs are English. Shakespeare lowered Juliet age from sixteen to under fourteen and the reason was because back then, boys played female role in Shakespeare’s theatre. They are more conving as young girls than mature women.
The love affair was young and hastiness. Marriage of fifteen were not shocking at this time. Julliet was given beautiful lines and most notable for her courage and wit. Northern European fitted more with the story and prejudices about hot-blooded-early matureing Southerners.
Italian were known for may long, lasting and deadly feuds between families. Elizabeth within her power has tired to suppress the dueling and feuding. Shakespeare contributed to Elizabethan’s campaigne to SAY NO to feuds.
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