🖤R+J🖤structure

Question 1

Prologue-Chorus

Answer 1

‘Chorus’- device that was first used by Ancient Greek playwrights to guide the audience’s response. Prologue is used to foreshadow the events of the play.
Shakespeare is using the device to let us know the audience know they’re going to watch a story of pain, conflict and death- implicitly involved in the couple’s doomed relationship from the outset

Question 2

Opposites and contrasts

Answer 2

Oxymorons/ antithesis to show the conflicting passions of love “O brawling love! O loving hate!” Love brings extreme joy and pain.
Shakespeare shows us how love can reconcile opposing forces (purpose for Friar’s intentions for involvement in marrying R + J). Theme of contrast is constantly revisited throughout the play: light v dark/ love v hate/ peace v violence

Question 3

Dramatic Irony

Answer 3

Shakespeare is a master at using it to keep the audience engaged and ramp up the tension. Act 3- Tybalt calls Romeo a ‘villain’–> Romeo responds sensibly and peacefully saying “there is a reason I have to love thee” (wedding)- Tybalt doesn’t know this and sees Romeo’s words as mockery- escalates-fight. Dramatic irony ensues the audience understand the complete senselessness of the situation- feels the pain and desperation of Romeo as he tries to stop the fight

Question 4

Pace

Answer 4

Action of the whole play is condensed into 4 days- pressure that time placed on characters= desperate and foolish decisions. Romeo’s impetuous decision -making gives him no time to reconsider or seek out more information=suicide. Function of speed: allows audience to suspend their disbelief- do not step back to question the realism= instead they are fully engrossed and swept away by the rapid pace of events

Question 5

Catharsis & Resolution

Answer 5

Shakespeare uses the classic five act play structure of the scientific Greeks and ended with resolution. Play ends as predicted by the prologue in the beginning- R+J fate(death)=families- reunite. Their deaths are not pointless- prince pronounces that ‘all are punished’-laying blame for death. Closure- lessons learnt by their deaths. Audience feels a sense of catharsis- purging or release of strong emotions=> peace restored in Veronax