Act 2 Scene 4 Flashcards
Lines 1-35 : Whom does Mercutio blame for the fact that Romeo is behaving oddly?
Mercutio blames Rosaline. He thinks Romeo is still in love with her.
What has Tybalt done? Why?
He has sent a letter in which he challenges Romeo to a duel. Tybalt is still furious that Rome came to a Capulet’s feast.
Why is Mercutio worried about what Tybalt has done?
Tybalt is a very good swordsman and will probably kill Romeo.
What do we learn about the character of Mercutio in this passage?
Mercutio is down-to-earth; a realist. He does not like people who put on a fancy outward appearance.
Lines 36-99: What “great business” does Romeo mean when he makes his excuses for leaving his friends the previous night?
Romeo’s great business is his meeting with Juliet.
Why does Mercutio say to Romeo, “Now art thou Romeo”.
Mercutio means that Romeo is no longer behaving like an idiot because of his supposed love for Rosaline. (Mercutio doesn’t know that Romeo is genuinely in love, but this time with Juliet.)
Lines 100-143: Why does Romeo say” “A sail, a sail”?
The Nurse is a large woman and is wearing clothes that billow in the wind like the sails of a ship.
Why does Mercutio say “Goof Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s the fairer face”?
The fan will hide the ugliness of her face.
What does Romeo mean when he says that he is a man whom “God hath made for himself to mar”?
God created him, but is his own responsibility whether he is good or bad.
Lines 144-212:What does the Nurse warn Romeo not to do?
The Nurse warns Romeo not to deceive Juliet with false promises.
What message does Romeo tell the Nurse to give to Juliet?
Juliet must come to confession at Friar Lawrence’s cell that afternoon, where she and Romeo will be married.
What does Romeo ask the Nurse to do herself?
The Nurse must prepare a rope ladder so that he can come to Juliet secretly that night.
Why must Romeo come to Juliet secretly at night?
Romeo must come secretly so that neither his nor Juliet’s family knows about it.
