Act 1 Flashcards
Act One - a fight and a fancy dress ball
There’s a fight between the Montagues and the Capulets which Prince stops
Romeo tells Benvolio he is unhappy because Rosaline doesn’t love him
Paris asks Capulet if he can marry his daughter Juliet
Capulets throw a ball. Mercutio is invited but Romeo and Benvolio gate crash. Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time. They talk and kiss - find out enemies afterwards
Scene one starts violently
sword fight between the Montagues and Capulets. Prince introduces a threat of violence. Tybalt - you can see is going to be trouble - always wants to fight. starting the play with physical violence makes the audience aware that more fighting could happen
There’s romance in scene one
In scene one Romeo’s upset because he’s in love with Rosaline, who doesn’t love him (unrequited love). The shows that Romeo is romantic and emotional. Romeo says that love is confusing - “a choking gall” (“gall” means bitter) and a “preserving sweet”
Act One Scene 1
trouble on the streets of Verona. 9 am Sunday morning. Public scene
“I will bite my thumb at them” scene 1
sampson-capulet. taunting/insulting image. contextual - law breaking - an insulting gesture at the time - the clicking of the thumbnail against the teeth
Benvolio scene 1
name means peacemaker “put up your swords”
Tybalt scene 1
opposite of Benvolio but same status. when Tybalt enters he forces Benvolio into a fight, so beins the ‘new mutiny’ of the prologue “look upon thy death… talk of peace! I hate the word” - death and violence
Capulet and Lady Capulet enter fight scene 1
“a crutch! a crutch!”-an early idea of Lady Capulet’s sharp tongue- thinks Capulet too ancient to be fighting in the streets-mocking husband. each new entrance symbolises how corrupt their society has become because of the ancient grudge
similarity between Lady Capulet and Lady Montague in scene 1
both try to stop their husband’s from fighting
Prince’s speech to stop violence scene 1
The Prince’s speech is powerful and full of rhetoric and exaggerated language, but it is also very realistic. demonstrates how the conflict between the two families comes from the slightest spark. “beasts… fire of your pernicious rage… bloody hands… mistempered weapons…canker’d hate” repeated imagery of blood, weapons, violence and threat of death- ancient grudge not just an argument but life threatening. “your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace”-power-people to deatj
“underneath the grove of sycamore… stole into the covert of the wood” scene 1
Benvolio telling Romeo’s parents. suggesting Romeo is sick with love and hiding himself away- courtly lover
“makes himself an artificial night… to himself so secret and so close” scene 1
Montague. mood due to his apparent love to Rosaline. the use of the word ‘artificial’ implies that Romeo is indulging himself in this passion. secrecy-narcissistic way of living-self absorbed (sad and self obsessed lover)
“O brawling love! O loving hate!” scene 1
Romeo doesn’t understand love. conflict of oxymorons -in love lies conflict. the over-elaborate style of the language suits Romeo’s present superficial form of romantic love
“Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast… a madness most discreet… a choking gall… a preserving sweet” scene 1
repetition of personal pronoun shows Romeo is self obsessed. audience can compare his love here to his true love. Romeo doesn’t understand. choking gall is a negative image of perceived love. in this speech Romeo continues to play with words and act the conventional part of the courtly lover-classic trope
“do I live dead that live to tell it now” scene 1
Petrarchan hyperbole from Romeo. Romeo continues the idea of the waste of beauty. he is ‘dead’ because his lover has rejected him
In scenes two and three
Paris asks Capulet if he can marry Juliet, and her parents want her to think about it. Juliet’s relationship with Paris shows a different side of love - it is for financial reasons, as she’ll “share all that he doth possess”. These scenes hint that Romeo and Juliet may become lovers - both of them have some experiences of romance, but they’re either unhappy or unenthusiastic about it.
Rosaline is ‘chaste’ (pure)
her character contrasts with Juliet’s passionate behaviour later on
Paris is polite
which contrasts with Romeo’s inappropriate kissing in act 1 scene 5
scene 2
Juliet’s future is in balance. sunday afternoon. private scene at the Capulet’s
scene 2 when Capulet’s and Paris discuss marriage Juliet not there
metaphor for Juliet’s powerlessness. Juliet has no rights - her marriage is being discussed - 14 years old - reminded of her youth and powerlessness, the role of her was one of chattel - father to husband
“she hath not seen the change of fourteen years” scene 2
Capulet. In Shakespeare’s day it would have been normal for girls to marry young but Capulet would prefer his daughter to be a couple of years older
“my will to her consent is but a part” scene 2
Capulet. suggested Juliet has a choice. willing to fall in with Juliet’s own decision
scene 3
mother’s and marriage. later sunday afternoon. private scene. Lady Capulet tries to persuade Juliet she’s old enough for marriage to Paris - Juliet disagrees
“what is your will?” scene 3
Juliet to her mother. presented as deeply dutiful. reinforcing dutiful daughter position
“it is an honour that I dream not of” scene 3
Juliet. dutiful response. reminds us of youth and naivete
“well, think of marriage now… the valliant Paris seeks you for his love…can you love the gentlemen?” scene 3
Lady Capulet to Juliet. women of good stock. duty to marry richest man possible. modal verb ‘‘can’’ shows Juliet has a choice?
“shall you share all that he doth possess, by having him making yourself no less” scene 3
loveless marriage. wealth overtly what marriage is about
“can you like of Paris’ love?” “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move” scene 3
all in rhyming couplets - sounds formal and shows formality of Juliet and Lady Capulet’s relationship. dutiful child
“seek happy nights to happy days” scene 3
Nurse. bawdy side of love - sexual side of passion. the Nurse’s thoughts run to the pleasures of lovers in bed
scene 4
dreams and misgiving. intro of Mercutio. sunday evening. semi private scene. Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio are on the way to the Capulet party. Mercutio does queen Mob. Romeo worries about a dream
scene 4 Capulet’s having a fancy dress ball
Romeo and Benvolio shouldn’t go to Capulet party because they’re Montagues. this creates suspense - the audience can see it is a bad idea
scene 4 the tension increases when Romeo says he’s had a dream that makes him afraid to go to the party
Shakespeare is using foreshadowing - hinting about a future event to the audience. Romeo worries about the party foreshadow that something bad will happen
scene 4 Mercutio makes a speech about Queen Mab, who brings dreams to sleepers
this gives the scene a spooky atmosphere because the imagery is magical
scene 4 Romeo believes his dream was warning him about his fate. But Mercutio says that we are responsible for our own dreams - lovers “dream of love”
there are lots of times where Romeo gets warnings of terrible events through dreams or visions. This is the first
Mercutio
mercury, mercurial character, witty
“I will bear the light” scene 4
foreshadowing of Romeo’s total change of mood/personality when he sees Juliet
“prick love for pricking, and you beat love down” scene 4
Mercutio. bawdy imagery. Romeo and Juliet surrounded by rude sexual images but their love is pure
“a torch for me… a candle-holder” scene 4
light and purity. metaphor for enlightenment Romeo is about to have
“I dreamt a dream tonight” “and so did I” scene 4
fate - Romeo. stichomythia between Romeo and Mercutio shows the closeness of their friendship
“I see Queen Mab hath been with you” scene 4
Mercutio. monologue. speech about sexual desire shows us character of Mercutio - humour, wit, creativity - audience meant to fall in love with Mercutio’s character which makes it tragic when he dies. contrast this to Romeo’s response to Juliet - Romeo and Juliet’s love is equal
“hanging in the stars, shall bitterly begin his fearful date… by some vile forfeit of untimely death” scene 4
Romeo’s dream linked to fate. Romeo believes thathis fate is hanging over him and that it is determined by the influence of the stars. negative foreboding language
scene 5
Romeo and Juliet meet. later sunday evening. busy private scene. Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight at the party then they discover they’re from rival families
“what lady’s that which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?” scene 5
first sight of Juliet. Romantic love
“she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” scene 5
Romeo. light = beauty = truth. light imagery contrast throughout their love story
“make blessed my rude hand” scene 5
Romeo. Christian imagery - sees her as a saint. Romantic love
“did my heart love til now? Forswear it, sight; for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” scene 5
rhyming couplet - undying love. use of true = true love - Juliet is true. Romantic love
“to strike him dead I hold it not a sin” scene 5
Tybalt - hatred and death - hot headed and dangerous. just after Romeo seen Juliet - juxtaposition illustrates the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet meet they share a sonnet scene 5
Romeo has 1st quatrain. Juliet has 2nd quatrain. absolute antithesis of Petrarchan love. Rosaline shows change in Romeo. Both 1st quatrains end with a kiss - foreshadows kiss at end. pilgrim - nickname to show intimacy
“this holy shrine… my lips, two blushing pilgrims… a tender kiss” scene 5
Romeo. ‘shrine’ - pure virtuous. ‘pilgrims’ metaphorical journey - Petrarchan sonnet - formality of beauty - all point to true love. boyhood to manhood - found his spiritual home - antithesis to Rosaline - Juliet is going to purify him - her hand - someone to worship - doesn’t feel worthy
“saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss” scene 5
Juliet. mutual love - Juliet is accepting love by developing Romeo’s conceit - encouraging Romeo
“saints do not move, though grant for prayer’s sake” “then move not while my prayer’s effect I take” scene 5
Romeo and Juliet share final rhyming couplet before they kiss - union of perfect souls - form and structure amplify their love
“you kiss by th’ book” scene 5
Juliet’s approval or wants more passion
“my life is my foes debt” “my grave is like to be my wedding bed… too early seen unknown, and known too late!” scene 5
Romeo. Juliet. once they find out enemies. fear. foreshadowing - dies in wedding dress. regretting it - power and instant nature of feelings
