Romeo Flashcards
Act 1 Scene 1
“…why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O of anything of nothing first create!”
(Romeo)
Use of oxymorons in this section higlights the overwhelming quality of love, it is full of contradicition and doesn’t make sense.
Act 1 Scene 1
“O she is rich in beauty, only poor/ That when she dies, with beauty dies her store.”
(Romeo)
Repetition of the verb “dies” emphasises the invulnerable transience of her “beauty” and “store”.
Use of adjectives concerning wealth “rich” and “poor” implies that women are products measured by their beauty and fertility.
Act 1 Scene 4
“Some consequence yet hanging in the stars…But he hath the steerage of my course”
(Romeo)
Shakespeare continues to form his image of Romeo as someone who is lacking control of his own life. “… the stars” indicates the heavens.
Act 2 Scene 2
“It is the east, and Juliet is the sun./Arise, fair sun, and kill envious moon,…”
(Romeo)
Juliet being described metaphorically as the “fair sun”, illustrates Romeo’s growing obsession and infatuation, as the sun is the source of all life.
Act 3 Scene 1
“Tybalt, the reason that i have to love thee/Doth much excuse the appertaining rage”
(Romeo)
Shakespeare opposes fighting with Romeo’s newfound love for Tybalt. This effectively detaches Romeo emotionally from his present crowd, highlighting his character development.
Act 3 Scene 1
“Away to heaven, respective lenity,/ and fire-ey’d fury be my conduct now!
(Romeo)
Before Romeo vs Tybalt
Shakespeare juxtaposes “heaven” with descriptions of hell, “fire-ey’d fury” to emphasise the conflict between mercy and revenge.
Act 3 Scene 1
“O, I am fortune’s fool.”
(Romeo)
After Romeo vs Tybalt
Expresses Romeo’s frustration with fate and his belief that he is powerless to change his destiny.
“fortune’s fool” is an oxymoron, highlighting the cruel twist of fate that seems to be working against him.
Act 3 Scene 3
“There is no world without these Verona walls,/ But purgatory, torture, hell itself.”
(Romeo)
Hyperbolic manner of thought.
“Purgatory”, quickly escalates to “torture” and “hell” which implies that banishment does not mean atonement but rather eternal punishment.
Act 3 Scene 5
“I must be gone and live, or stay and die.”
(Romeo)
Shows character development, as it signifies a new maturity and understanding.
Compound patterning of “gone and live” and “stay and die’ , emphasises the conflict that Romeo is faced with.
Act 5 Scene 1
“Is it e’en so? Then i defy you, stars!”
(Romeo)
Romeo’s belief that he can “defy the stars”, suggests a self assured arrogance. In Greek mythology this is followed by fate and destruction. This echoes the structure of the play as Romeo’s defiance against the stars, lead to his destruction.
