Romeo and Juliet Final

What are the ways Shakespeare grabs the audiences’ attention?

Starts with fight, pun usage, and sex jokes.

What are the ways Shakespeare keeps the audiences’ attention?

We don’t meet Juliet until third scene of Act 1, Romeo is initially in love with Rosaline, the two title characters don’t meet until the end of Act 1.

Soliloquy

A long speech given to one’s self, speaking thoughts aloud

Monologue

A long speech given to other characters on stage

Aside

A remark intended to be heard by the audience, but not the other characters on stage

Juxtaposition

Two things placed next to each other for contrasting effect

Character Foil

Two characters who highlight the other’s personality

Dynamic Character

A character who changes throughout the play

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something the characters don’t

Situational Irony

When a character or the audience expects one thing to happen, but something else happens.

Puns

Words that sound the same but have different meanings

Bawdy

Inappropriate Humor

Dichotomy

Two halves that make a whole

Tragedy

A drama in which the main characters meet with great misfortune

Tragic Hero

A character whose downfall evokes pity from the audience. The downfall is usually caused by fate, a serious character flaw or a combo of the two.

Foreshadow

An indication of or to give clues to a future event

Sonnet

Composed of 3 quatrains and a terminal couplet

Who shows masculine honor and when?

Tybalt during the party at the Capulet’s.

What plans do R&J make in Act 2 Scene 2?

Romeo and Juliet make a plan to marry each other the next day with the help of Friar

What fault does Friar Lawrence find in Romeo in Act 3 Scene 3?

The Friar is really surprised that Romeo wants to marry Juliet and how he moved on so fast. He is saying that Romeo is being very impulsive making his decisions and how he needs to think it through.

Why does Mercutio doubt that Romeo can fight Tybalt?

Because he has been acting very mopey the past few days, so he isn't in the right headspace to fight him. Tybalt is also very good at fighting, so if Romeo fights him, he will probably lose and die.

What part does the Nurse play in R&J’s schemes? 

The Nurse acts as a messenger.

Though this act is the happiest act, Shakespeare reminds us that this is a tragedy from time to time. Point out two moments that foreshadow the trouble ahead. 

Tybalt’s letter that talks about having a duel with Romeo, and Friar Laurence telling him to stop being impulsive and really think his decision through about marrying a Capulet.

How does Romeo explain the difference between his relationship with Rosaline and with Juliet? 

His relationship with Rosaline is one-sided because he liked her but she didn't like him, while Juliet actually loves him back.

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.”

The Friar is saying that quick and intense passions, like Romeo and Juliet’s sudden love, can lead to disaster if not handled carefully.

What is Act III in every Shakespeare play?

Act 3 is the turning point of the play. 

Who does Mercutio blame for his death? Who/What does Romeo blame? 

Mercutio blames Romeo and the feud between both of the houses for his death, while Romeo blames Juliet and fate for Tybalt’s death.

We know from the Prologue that this play will end in the deaths of R&J. Where can you point out the instances in Act 3 that highlights their willingness to do harm to themselves when things don’t go their way?

When Romeo attempts to stab himself when he realizes that he made Juliet sad and is banished from Verona, and when Juliet says she would kill herself if the Friar didn’t help her.

How does the Nurse offend Juliet in Act 3 and cease to be her ally?

The Nurse offends Juliet when she says Juliet should forget about Romeo, and marry Paris instead because he is a better match. Juliet feels betrayed. 

Provide two examples of Situational Irony

Romeo kills Tybalt and gets banished, and Capulet thinks that forcing Juliet to marry Paris will make her happy.

Provide two examples of Dramatic Irony

Juliet agrees to marry Paris, and Juliet’s parents think she is crying over Tybalt’s death.

How does Shakespeare show us that Romeo and Juliet’s love is pure and divine at the end of Act 1?

By using a religious sonnet/religious words during their first interaction.

In Act 3, what is the Friar’s plan for Romeo after he is banished?

Romeo will go comfort Juliet but leaves before dawn, Romeo will leave Verona, go to Mantua and do absolutely nothing there, then the Friar will try to pardon Romeo so he can return to Verona.

What are the three reasons the Friar gave to Romeo in the “There Art Thou Happy Speech”?

He (Romeo) is alive (Tybalt didn’t kill him), Juliet is still alive, and he was only banished and not killed.

In which act does suicidal impulse become apparent?

Act 3

In Act 4, why does the Friar provide a plan to Juliet?

To help her reunite with Romeo and avoid marrying Paris

What is the Friar’s plan for Juliet?

Juliet agrees to marry Paris, on the night before the wedding, Juliet will be alone in her room and drink a potion that will fake her death for 42 hours, the Friar will alert Romeo that Juliet faked her death, and Romeo will go save Juliet and they can run away together.

What are Juliet’s six fears?

Potion doesn’t work (she will stab herself with a dagger), Potion is poison (rules out because Friar is a man of God), Suffocation in the tomb, Waking up surrounded by ghosts, Going insane, Tybalt’s ghost will kill Romeo

What separates the Capulet family from the audience and why?

Repetition so the audience doesn’t become attached

Why did the message about Juliet faking her death not get sent to Romeo?

Friar John was quarantined due to the plague, and was unable to tell him.

Who does Romeo hear from that Juliet “died”?

Balthasar

How is the Queen Mab speech a dichotomy?

Through content and delivery

What does the lighting in the balcony scene represent?

Romeo coming out of the dark and into the light of Juliet’s porch, representing Romeo leaving behind his lustful past, and moving into a true relationship with Juliet.