romeo Flashcards
Act1 : I T D S Y?
“is the day so young?”
romeo has become so absorbed in the ill-effects of unrequited love that he is unable to respond to benvolios greeting. He appears to lost track of time altogether, indication the transformative effects of love and its ability to warp something as fundamental as the passing of time.
act 1 O B L O L H
‘O brawling love, o loving hate’
repetition of ‘O’ indicates that romeo embodies the conventions of a Petrarchan lover as he is overwhelmed by the effects of unrequited love. The use of oxymoronic language demonstrates that love has the ability to change and warp minds as he cannot express himself clearly.
- (A1S2) K W M F
Kept without my food’ (I.ii.55)
• Use of hyperbolic language, Romeo positions himself as a victim of unrequited love.
• Use of the verb “food” is significant as it is vital for a human to live, however he is deprived of this, which indicates that he desires such love in order to function and live. ‘Food’ could also indicate women are used as objects for pleasure - the Renaissance audience may agree with this whereas the contemporary audience may find this highly insulting and degrading.
- (A2S1) C I G F W M H I H
Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth and find thy centre out.’ (II.i.1-2)
• Romeo describes himself as being almost incapacitated by his interest in Juliet, having only just encountered her at Capulet’s party. He feels unable to move forward without her and feels compelled to physically reunite with her.
• Transformative effect of love is made apparent as Romeo suggests that the earth is now ‘dull’ without Juliet’s presence.
- (A2S1) T L M P I T E T T O T S
There lies more peril in thine eyes than twenty of their swords
• He implies love to be a dangerous force, capable of causing more pain than a physical weapon, the hyperbolic language displays his extreme views of love and show him to be hasty in the way he loves as he is willing to get hurt in order to be with juliet, foreshadowing the future pain he encounters.
- (A3S1) O S J T B H M M E
‘O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate’ (III.i.108-110)
• Romeo believes that his inaction is the result of Juliet’s beauty and his love for her which he sees as a weakness. Any hesitation in the face of violence would have been considered unmanly and shameful.
• Again, another demonstration of love as a transformative force as Romeo can no longer act in the same manner as he has done previously.
- (A5S1) T I D Y S!
then I defy you, stars!’ (V.i.24)
• Romeo is in complete disbelief at the revelation of Juliet’s death, as demonstrated by his need to clarify already clear details surrounding her death with a question.
• He rallies against what he believes to be fate. However, this is somewhat ironic given the play’s prologue. Romeo’s reaction was already predetermined albeit he is entirely unaware of
this
- (A5S1) L M H A D O P
Let me have a dram of poison’ (V.i.60)
• Use of the command “let” highlights Romeo’s frantic desire to sacrifice his own life as he cannot be with Juliet.
• Underscores Romeo’s impulsive nature in that his first instinct in these circumstances is to take his own life.
• Shakespeare uses dramatic irony (highlighting the potent nature of fate ) to demonstrate how their hastiness has inadvertently worked against them and ultimately leads to their demise.
- (A5S3) F H L J A H B M T V A F P F O L
‘For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes this vault a feasting presence full of light.’ (V.iii.85-86)
• Even in death, Romeo continues to use light imagery to elevate Juliet which adds to a sense of tragedy.
• The use of ‘full’ indicates an excess of light as Romeo believes that Juliet is the epitome of goodness.
