Analysis of Act Two, Scenes 5-6 Flashcards
Why is Juliet anxious at the beginning of act 2, scene 5?
Juliet is anxious because the nurse is taking a long time to return with the news from Romeo.
How does Juliet manage to get her wedding without her parents knowing?
Juliette has “leave to go to shrift”, meaning that her parents have allowed her to go to Friar Lawrence’s cell alone for confession.
Give one piece of advice that Friar Lawrence gives to Romeo in act 2, scene 6.
Friar Lawrence tells Romeo to “love moderately” because when love is more restrained it lasts for a “long” time.
Explain how the Nurse’s behaviour in Act 2, Scene 5 creates humour for the audience.
Humour is created by the Nurse refusing to share her news with Juliet straight away. For example, the Nurse claims that she is too “out of breath” to tell Juliet about the wedding, but seems to have enough “breath” to complain about how out of breath she is. This creates humour because the audience realises that the nurse is teasing Juliet by making her way to find out the news.
Act 2, scene 6 is a very short scene. What effect does this create?
This makes Romeo and Juliet wedding seem rushed. The audience is left feeling as if Romeo and Juliet’s whole relationship is progressing at a dangerously quick pace. The hurried atmosphere is emphasised by Friar Lawrence’s behaviour — he says that they “will make short work” of the ceremony because he doesn’t want the couple to be alone before they are married.
