Romeo and Juliet all revision

Prologue, Chorus, Conflict, “civil”

“Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” suggests that the idea of civility has been warped by the hatred of the Montgues and Capulets.

Prologue, Chorus, Love and death, “star”

“Star-cross'd lovers take their lives” prepares the audience for the inevitable end, suggesting that their end is also inevitable. The use of antithesis furthers that R+J’s love is unlikely

Prologue, love and death, “mark'd”

“Death-mark'd love” juxtaposition of death and love shows again, the unlikelihood of R+J's situation

Prologue, 4th wall break, “traffic”

“The 2 hours traffic of our stage” grounds the audience by reminding then that this is fiction

Act 1 Scene 1, setting stage directions, Conflict

“A public place” bitter dispute that cannot be solved in private, and boils into the society of Verona

Act 1 Scene 1, Love, “flesh”

“I am a pretty piece of flesh” the vulgar and phallic imagery in this scene provides some comedic relief, but also suggest that Romeo and Juliet's love is unique for the time in it’s tenderness and affection

Act 1 Scene 1, Conflict, “thumb”

“Do you bite your thumb at us sir?” Firstly, the fight takes place first between the servants, showing that the hatred permeates all layers of the families. Second of all, the levels of stereotypical masculinity Shakespeare presents in this scene are almost scornful, but also emphasise how different Romeo really is

Act 1 scene 1, stage direction, conflict

“They fight” aside from not wishing to describe a fight scene, Shakespeare has done this to indicate that the violence is so commonplace, it need not be described anymore

Act 1, Scene 1, conflict “gown”

“Enter old Capulet in his gown” shows that the conflict between the 2 families even effects their leisure time.

Act 1, Scene 1, Benvolio, conflict, “sword”

“I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword” Benvolio, true to his name acts as a peace keeper, an idea which is unusual among the young men of the play

Act 1, Scene 1, Tybalt, Conflict, “Hate”

“…Peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.” Tybalt acts as a stereotypical hotheaded male, an archetype criticised by Shakespeare throughout the play. Shows how the whole of both families are involved in the feud

Act 1, Scene 1, Prince, conflict, “beasts”

“You men, you beasts” the use of zoomorphism suggests that the Prince believes them to be no better than animals in their quarrels. A view that is perpetuated by the Prince being one of the few characters who remains in the moral right throughout the play.

Act 1, Scene 1, Prince, Conflict + Foreshadowing, “forfeit”

“If you ever disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace” foreshadowing later events, and that's really about it

Act 1, Scene 1, Lady Montague, family, “where”

“O where is Romeo?” seemingly the only one who cares about or for Romeo's wellbeing

Act 1, Scene 1, Montague, Family, “learn”

“I neither know it, nor can I learn of him” shows how Montague is not close with Romeo, and having to ask Benvolio to ask him what is wrong

Act 1, Scene 1, Romeo, Love + conflict, “brawling”

“O brawling love, O loving hate” begins the love in conflict imagery that echoes throughout the play.

Act 1, Scene 1, Romeo, Foreshadowing + Love, “Farewell”

“Farewell my coz” Romeo acts melodramatic suggesting that he might off himself as a result of Rosaline leaving him, which while seemingly a comedic remark, echoes later in the play.

Act 1, Scene 2, Capulet, Family, “Earth”

“The earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she” calls Juliet one of his “hopes” showing affection and caring for her, but also perhaps suggesting his only hope for her is to perpetuate his lineage.

Act 1, Scene 2, Benvolio, Love, “infection”

“Take thou some new infection to thy eye” Benvolio sees love as an “infection” suggesting that it weakens Romeo

Act 1, Scene 2, Capulet, Love, “Marr'd”

“Too soon marr’d are those early made” double entendre of marr’d and married. Doesn't want his to daughter to be ruined by marriage.

Act 1, Scene 3, Juliet, Family, “Madam”

“Madam, I am here, what is your will?” addresses her own mother as madam, a rather formal address for a parent, as well as vocabulary similar to the of a servant to their master

Act 1, Scene 3, Nurse, Family, “prettiest”

“Thou wast the prettiest baby that e’er I nurs'd” shows more affection to Juliet than her mother.

Act 1, Scene 3, Juliet, love, “honour”

“It is an honour I dream not of” Juliet doesn't care for marriage at the moment, until she meets Romeo.

Act 1, Scene 5, Tybalt, Conflict, “villain”

“Tis he, that villain Romeo.” Romeo has done nothing to Tybalt yet he refers to him as a “villain” as a result of the feud.

Act 1, Scene 5, Juliet, love, “palmers’”

“And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss” continues Romeo's wordplay, and rhyming, showing equal willing.

Act 1, Scene 5, Romeo, Love, “grant”

“Grant thou, lest faith turn to despair” Romeo asks for permission from Juliet and suggests an unusual permissive nature to their romance.

Act 1, Scene 5, Juliet, Love, “kiss”

“You kiss by th’ book” Playfully either insults Romeo's kissing or suggests a biblical nature to it, showing she is equally wanting of Romeo's affection

Act 2, Scene 2, Romeo, Love, “sun”

“Juliet is the sun” light imagery used by Romeo to describe his affections, which has passed from Rosaline, to Juliet nearly immediately

Act 1, Scene 5, Juliet, fate, “bed”

“My grave is like to be my wedding bed” foreshadows later in the play.

Act 2, Scene 2, Juliet, Family + Love, “father”

“Deny thy father and refuse thy name” suggests that the only thing she cannot love about Romeo is his family.

Act 2, scene 2, Juliet, Love + Family, “rose”

“That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet” suggests that she thinks Romeo's name should be irrelevant

Act 2, Scene 2, Romeo, Love + Family, “henceforth”

“Henchforth I will never be Romeo” suggests he would be willing to lose his name to be with Juliet, even it it just displeases her.

Act 2, Scene 3, Friar Lawrence, Love, “Rosaline”

“Wast thou with Rosaline?” Still thinks he is still with Rosaline. Emphasises the speed of Romeo's change of heart.

Act 2, Scene 3, Romeo, Love, “forgot”

“I forgot that name, and that name's woe” shows how fickle Romeo really is

Act 2, Scene 3, Friar Lawrence, Love, “eyes”

“Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts but in their eyes” shows that the Friar believes Romeo's love superficial

Act 2, Scene 6, Friar Lawrence, Foreshadowing, “violent”

“These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumphs die” foreshadowing what will happen to R+J, especially unusual considering he is officiating their wedding

Act 3, Scene 1, Benvolio, Foreshadowing, “hot”

“I pray thee good Mercutio, let’s retire: the day is hot and the Capels are abroad” Benvolio almost has a premonition, and tries to protect Mercutio

Act 3, Scene 1, Mercutio, Honour + conflict, “word”

“Make it a word and a blow” Mercutio is reckless, goading Tybalt and looking for a fight, despite not directly being on a side.

Act 3, Scene 1, Tybalt, Conflict + Honour, “injuries”

“Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me” despite him having done nothing to him, Tybalt is convinced Romeo has wronged him

Act 3, scene 1, Romeo, Love + Family, “better”

“Love thee better than thou shalt devise” shows that, because of Juliet, Romeo cares deeply for Tybalt.

Act 3, Scene 1, Mercutio, fate, “plague”

“A plague a’both your houses” cursing them, perhaps causing what is to come.

Act 3, Scene 1, Lady Capulet, Conflict, “affection”

“He is kinsman to the Montague, his affection makes him false” suggests that Benvolio is lying merely because he is a Montague.

Act 3, Scene 2, Juliet, Love, “Night”

“Come Night, come Romeo, come thou day in night” repetition shows desperation to see Romeo, and “day in night” continues the plays light and dark imagery.

Act 3, Scene 2, Juliet, conflict + Love, juxtaposition

“damned saint” “honourable villain” firstly, her concern after Tybalts death lies not with him but with Romeo, but second she sees it as impossible that Romeo could do something so evil

Act 3, Scene 3, Friar Lawrence, Love + Fate, “calamity”

“Thou art wedded to calamity” shows that in a way he knew this could happen.

Act 3, Scene 3, Romeo, love + fate, “merciful”

“Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say ‘death’:” believes he cannot live without Juliet

Act 3, Scene 4, Capulet, Family, “ruled”

“I think she shall be ruled in all aspects by me” indicates that he believes Juliet to be completely subservient to him

Act 3, Scene 5, Juliet, Love, “nightingale”

“It is not yet near day, it was the nightingale, and not the lark” trys to convince Romeo to stay, despite knowing he has to leave.

Act 3, Scene 5, Juliet, Foreshadowing, “tomb”

“Thou art so low as at the bottom of a tomb” foresees her and Romeo's death

Act 3, Scene 5, Capulet, Family, “how”

“How how, how how, chopt logic? What is this?” Confused that Juliet might possibly go against him

Act 3, Scene 5, Capulet, Family, “itch”

“My fingers itch” Capulet is willing to hurt Juliet if it means he gets his way.

Act 3, Scene 5, Juliet, Foreshadowing + Love, “power”

“If all else fail, myself have the power to die.” shows she is willing to kill herself as a last resort

Act 4, Scene 1, Juliet, Foreshadowing, “speak”

“Be not so long to speak, I long to die.” would rather die than marry Paris

Act 4, Scene 3, Juliet, Foreshadowing + change in Juliet “cold”

“I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, that almost freezes up the heat of life” Foreshadowing later events but also showing Juliet’s personal change in her change of language1p

Act 5, Scene 1, Romeo, Love, “Juliet”

“How doth my lady? Is my father well? How doth my Juliet?” Frantic questioning, excitement at being visited

Act 5, Scene 3, Romeo, Fate, “misfortune”

“One writ with me in sour misfortune's book” believes all that has happened was caused by fate, and not his own actions

Act 5, Scene 3, Prince, Conflict, “Punished”

“All are punished”, perhaps a commentary on the nature of conflict, but also showing that everyone has lost something during the play.

Act 5, Scene 3, Capulet + Montague, Conflict, “more”

Capulet: “this is my daughter's jointure, for no more can I demand”

Montague: “but I can give thee more”

Shared Iambic pentameter, signifying the end of the feud

Act 5, Scene 3, Prince, conflict, ending

“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo”