Friar Lawrence

Question 1

Context reference: Catholic friars traditionally portrayed

Answer 1

Typically, Catholic friars were portrayed as either fools, or as sinister due to the Spanish armada. Shakespeare may have chosen not to do this due to having many Catholic relatives.

Question 2

Context reference: Francis of Assisi’s tradition of the friars

Answer 2

• Provide redemption (making bad things good): Friar Lawrence does this by marrying Romeo and Juliet
• Providing fraternal care

Question 3

2.6: Warning Romeo not to love so impulsively, foreshadows the deaths of Romeo and Juliet

Answer 3

“These violent delights have violent ends”

Question 4

2.6: Gunpowder metaphor, foreshadows the deaths of Romeo and Juliet

Answer 4

“And in their triumph die, like fire and powder / Which as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey”
Friar Lawrence says loving too recklessly will lead them to their deaths (foreshadows)

Foreshadows Romeo buying poison in 5.1 (“As violently as hasty powder fired Doth hurry from the fatal cannon’s womb”)

Question 5

2.6: Love makes you light

Answer 5

“A lover may bestride the gossamer”

Links to “With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls (2.2)

Question 6

2.2: Love must overcome obstacles

Answer 6

“Deny thy father and refuse thy name; / Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love / And I’ll no longer be a Capulet”

Question 7

2.2: Love must overcome obstacles

Answer 7

“Deny thy father and refuse thy name; / Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love / And I’ll no longer be a Capulet”

Question 8

2.3: Evil is just good intentions misapplied

Answer 8

“Poison hath residence and medicine power”