Honors English Finals- Chapter titles (Romeo and Juliet)

A pair of star-crossed lovers

Microcosm: The chorus starts off the book with a sonnet that spoils the play. It claims that two “start crossed” lovers will fall in love and end up taking their own lives. This will be because of their families.

Macrocosm: This line of this sonnet displays fate vs. free will because the question is if it is fate that they die or if it is by free will that they take their own lives.

You know not what to do

Microcosm: In the streets of Verona the servants of the Capulet household and Montague household are fighting. Benvolio tries to break up the fight, but Tybalt calls him a coward and tries to get him to fight.

Macrocosm: This scene displays the sociology of the town by showing the familial power structure and the sense of upholding and fighting for you honor and family name.

The forfeit of the peace

Microcosm: The prince enters and breaks up the fight between the servants. He threatens them by saying that if this happens again the punishment will be death. This is a major foreshadow of what will happen later in the book.

Macrocosm: This scene displays sociology by showing the rules of law and public order that Verona has in place and the power the price has to enforce them. It also displays Shakespeare’s tragic pattern.

Get her heart

Microcosm: Paris is trying to convince Capulet to let him marry his daughter Juliet. Capulet is hesitant because Juliet is so young. He then tells Paris that if he can woo her, he can marry her. He invites Paris to a party to woo Juliet.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love by showing that Paris does not even know Juliet yet he wants to marry her and that marriage and who you marry is up to your father. It also shows sociology by showing how Capulet makes the decision for Juliet on who she is going to marry even though they have not met yet.

I’ll go along

Microcosm: A Capulet servant unknowingly invites Romeo to the Capulet party not knowing that he is a Montague. Benvolio thinks they should go and crash the party to see the other girls and prove to Romeo that there are other girls in the world. Romeo only agrees to go that he can see Rosaline.

Macrocosm: This scene displays the nature of love because Rome's love for Rosaline real or just infatuation. It also shows Shakespeare’s tragic pattern as Romeo has entered the stage of misreading the signs.

An honor I dream not of

Microcosm: Lady Capulet asks Juliet what she thinks about marrying Paris and Juliet respectfully declines the offer. Lady Capulet tells her that she will meet him at the ball. She asks Juliet to at least meet him and try to get to know him.

Macrocosm: The scene shows the nature of love by displaying that women did not have a choice of who they married, but instead the person was chosen for them. It also show sociology because marriage gave success, stature, and security to women.

Hanging in the stars… direct my suit

Microcosm: Romeo and his friends are on their way to the Capulet party when Romeo starts talking about a strange dream he had. Mercutio thinks that it means nothing, but Romeo feels like something bad is going to happen as a result of the party. He decides to brush off the feeling and go anyways.

Macrocosm: This scene shows fate vs. free will because if something does go bad was it fate and it was bound to happen or was it free will because Romeo decided to go to the party despite his bad feelings. It also shows Shakespeare’s tragic pattern as Romeo continues to misread the signs.

A virtuous and well-governed youth

Microcosm: At the party Tybalt spots Romeo among the guests and immediately wants to fight him. He goes and tell Capulet about it and Capulet’s response is to leave him alone. He says Romeo is a good kid and that he did not want to disturb the party.

Macrocosm: This scene shows sociology by showing that Tybalt wants to maintain and uphold the Capulet’s honor by fighting and getting Romeo out of the party. It also shows law and public order because Capulet does not want to disturb the party or cause a scene.

My only love sprung from my only hate!

Microcosm: Romeo and Juliet meet at the party. Not long after they share a kiss. The nurse then interrupts them and Romeo leaves. Juliet asks the nurse for his name and the nurse reveals that his is a Montague.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love by posing the question what is love and if love at first sight is really a thing. It also shows fate vs. free will as they are called star-crossed loves and if it is fate they are together or free will that will end bad because of fate.

Too like the lightning

Microcosm: Romeo is outside Juliet’s room in the iconic balcony scene and they are confessing their love for each other. Juliet is also voicing her concerns that this is all happening to fast.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because is this really love or is it just infatuation. It also shows Juliet’s anxiety as a women who is in love. It also shows Shakespeare’s tragic pattern as Romeo is oblivious and continues to misread the signs.

By the hour of nine

Microcosm: Romeo is still outside Juliet’s room during the balcony scene and they decide to get married. Juliet tells Romeo that she will send for him by the hour of nine.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because is this real love or just infatuation, and are they taking this too fast without thinking it through and considering all the consequences. It is also shows Shakespeare's tragic pattern as Romeo still continues to misread the signs.

Your households’ rancor to pure love

Microcosm: Romeo goes to Friar Laurence and asks him to marry him and Juliet. Friar Lawrence asks Romeo about Rosaline and thinks that Romeo is moving on too fast. The Friar eventually decides to marry them anyway in hope of bringing the two families together.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because Romeo and Juliet are so in love that they are deciding to get married already. It also shows sociology by displaying the laws and public order that as soon as Romeo and Juliet get married that they are basically bond for life.

Be shrived and married

Microcosm: The nurse and Romeo meet in town and the nurse asked Romeo if he truly loves Juliet. Romeo insists that he does and tells the nurse to make an excuse for Juliet to come to confession. Romeo and Juliet are actually going to get married.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because is Romeo and Juliet’s love actually real or just rushed. It also shows Shakespeare’s tragic pattern as Romeo continues to misread the signs.

These violent deaths have violent endings

Microcosm: Romeo and Juliet meet in Friar Laurence’s cell to get married. Friar Laurence is warning them to take it slow because strong emotions have strong endings. Romeo and Juliet get married. This is foreshadowing that something will go wrong between Romeo and Juliet’s love.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because they have to truly love each other to get married and they do get married. It also shows Shakspeare’s tragic pattern as Romeo continues to misread the signs.

A plague o’ both your houses!

Microcosm: Benvolio and Mercutio are out in the streets and run into the Capulets. Romeo joins them and starts trying to tell Tybalt that he loves him. Tybalt thinks Romeo is mocking him and Mercutio and Tybalt end up in a fight. Romeo tries to break it up, but Tybalt ends up stabbing Mercutio under Romeos arm.

Macrocosm: This scene shows fate vs. free will because Romeo’s choices ended up leading to Mercutio’s death, so was it bound to happen or did Romeo cause it. It also shows Shakespeare’s tragic pattern at the stage of death/ violence/ and alienation.

I am Fortune’s fool!

Microcosm: Romeo hears that Mercutio is dead and when Tybalt returns he kills him. Benvolio remembers the prince's words and tells Romeo that he needs to run or he will be killed.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because Romeo makes rash decisions because he is blinded by his love for Mercutio. It also shows fate vs. free will because Romeo is claiming that this is fates fault and not his own free will.

We do exile him hence

Microcosm: The prince finds out that Mercutio and Tybalt both died. Benvolio tries to explain that Romeo was trying to break up the fight, and that he killed Tybalt because Tybalt killed Mercutio. The price compromises and decides to only exile Romeo.

Macrocosm: This scene shows sociology because it displays the prince's power over the laws kept in the town. It also shows Shakespeare’s tragic pattern because Romeo has entered the step of the exile and alienation of the hero.

Tell me, that I may sack the hateful mansion

Microcosm: The Friar tells Romeo that he has been banished and Romeo takes it poorly. The Friar tells him to be grateful that it was not death, and the nurse tells him to get up and be a man. Romeo asks the Friar where his name is so he can stab it, but he eventually calms down. The plan is for him to visit Juliet for the last time.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love and how people of youth vs. people of old age view it. It also shows Shakspeare’s tragic pattern as Romeo has been exiled because of his tragic flaw.

It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate!

Microcosm: Juliet and her mom are talking about her marrying Paris. Juliet says that she would rather marry someone she hates but knows like Romeo that someone she doesn’t know at all.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because Juliet is struggling and showing what true love actually is. It also shows sociology because her dad is the head of the household and he is forcing her to marry Paris. Juliet being a girl has no choice but to obey her father.

This bloody knife shall play the umpire

Microcosm: Juliet goes to Friar Laurence at the church and she runs into Paris. She pretends to agree to the marriage. Once Paris leaves, Juliet asks the Friar for help because she plans to end her life otherwise.

Macrocosm: This scene shows fate vs. free will because it is Juliet’s choices vs. her fate and what is bound to happen to her. It also shows sociology because it highlights the familial power structure and how Juliet’s choices are fewer as a women and she is expected to play a certain role as a woman.

I’ll give thee remedy

Microcosm: The Friar gives Juliet a vial with a sleeping potion that will make her sleep for 42 hours. The potion will also make her seem dead. The Capulet’s will take her to the burial chamber, and Romeo will be there when she wakes up. The Friar assures her that this will make everything okay.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because of Juliet’s love for Romeo and not wanting to marry anyone else because in the eyes of society her and Romeo are bound together for life.

I’ll send a Friar with speed to Mantua

Microcosm: The Friar proposes his plan to Juliet with the sleeping potion. He plans to send a Friar to Romeo in Mantua to catch him up to speed.

Macrocosm: This line is very important because this is how Romeo will know to be there when Juliet wakes up and to know that she is not actually dead. It shows fate vs. free will because this determines if the news makes it to Romeo or not.

Her body sleeps in Capel’s monument

Microcosm: Romeo is in Mantua in exile when Balthasar, his servant, comes to him with the news that Juliet is dead. Romeo freaks out and buys poison from an apothecary and heads back to Verona.

Macrocosm: This scene is full of situational irony because the audience knows that Juliet is not dead but Romeo and the rest of the people don’t. It also shows the nature of love because of Romeos deep love for Juliet leads him to make reckless decisions. This also highlights Shakespeare’s tragic pattern because we see Romeo’s tragic flaw and his last stand.

I could not send it—- here it is again- -

Microcosm: Friar John comes to visit Friar Laurence and tells him there was a pestilence that stopped Friar John from delivering the letter to Romeo. Friar Laurence then rushes to the tomb to let Juliet out.

Macrocosm: This scene shows a lot of fate vs. free will because the plague was like a act of god, and made it fate that Romeo did not get the letter because him and Juliet were star crossed lovers.

O true Apothecary, thy drugs are quick

Microcosm: Romeo goes to see Juliet in her tomb, but runs into Paris. Paris thinks that Romeo is there to cause trouble, so they fight and Paris dies. Romeo brings Paris’s body into the tomb and finds Juliet “dead”. He spends a moment reflecting and then takes the poison and dies.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because Juliet and Paris are together in death now. It also shows many steps of Shakespeare’s tragic pattern because Romeo’s flaw is seen again, the audience realizes the potential of what could have been, and then Romeo dies.

O, happy dagger. This is thy sheath.

Microcosm: Juliet wakes up and Friar Laurence is there. Paris, Romeo, and Tybalt are all dead in the tomb with her. The Friar runs away because he is afraid that he will get in trouble, and Juliet stabs herself and dies to be with Romeo.

Macrocosm: This scene shows the nature of love because Romeo and Juliet both died for each other when if they had patience they could have lived together. It also shows Shakespeare’s tragic pattern because Juliet is now dead along with Romeo.

Poor sacrifices of our enmity

Microcosm: The Capulet’s, the Montague’s, and the prince all come to the tomb to find Romeo, Juliet, Paris, and Tybalt all dead. The price tells them that this is the result of their feud. Montague promises to put up a statue of Juliet in honor of her and Capulet agrees. The feud is now resolved and over.

Macrocosm: This scene shows Shakespeare’s tragic pattern because balance is restored, but it was at the cost of their own children’s death.