romeo Flashcards
Montague: “locks fair daylight
out,/And makes himself an
artificial night:”
The action of making “himself” an “artificial night” implies
self-inflicted isolation.
The dichotomy set up between “daylight” and “night”,
reflects Romeo’s conflicting emotions.
O
brawling love, O loving
hate
Use of oxymorons in this section highlights the ineffable
quality of love: it is full of contradictions and does not make
sense.
: “O, she is rich in
beauty, only poor/ That
when she dies, with beauty
dies her store”.
Caesura interjects the line, much like how death interrupts her
“beauty”. The repetition of the verb “dies”, emphasises the
indomitable transience of her “beauty” and “store”, which
are semantically linked to the body. Use of adjectives
concerning wealth “rich” and “poor” implies that women are
commodities measured by their beauty and fertility.
“Some
consequence yet hanging in the stars…But He hath the
steerage of my course.”
Shakespeare continues to form his image of Romeo as
someone who is lacking control of his own life. “…the stars”,
indicate the heavens, and the idea that life on earth is dictated by that macrocosm. This, additionally, foreshadows fate’s
interference in the text. In line 112, Shakespeare allegorically
represents Romeo as a ship and God as the captain- “…He
hath steerage of [Romeo’s] course”. Thus, signifying lack of
self-autonomy and the character’s passivity to higher power.
Juliet is metaphorically portrayed as transcendental in this
extract, as she “teaches the torches,” is a “snowy dove”
amongst “crows”, and her beauty is “for earth too dear”.
Shakespeare establishes the lexically cohesive conflict
between light and dark in this extract. This alludes to the
“artificial night” in scene 1, which emphasises the weight of
Juliet’s presence in the character’s narrative arc.
Shakespeare also portrays the objectification of Juliet, with
the metaphor “As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear-”.
“But Soft, what light through yonder window breaks?/ It is the east and Juliet is the sun./ Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon.”
liet being described metaphorically as the “fair sun”,
illustrates Romeo’s growing obsession and infatuation, as the
sun is the source of all life; Juliet vitalises Romeo. Modern
interpretation may allude to the helio-centric model of the
solar system, thus Juliet becomes the centre of Romeo’s world.
Antithesis constructed between the “sun” and “moon”. The
“moon” refers to Diana, the patroness of virgins, which Romeo
wishes to “kill”, suggesting his carnal desires to have Juliet.
With love’s light
wings did I o’erperch these
walls,/ For stony limits
cannot hold love out”.
Dichotomy between the abstract noun “love” with concrete
nouns such as “walls” and “stony limits”.
Highlights that love transcends borders, with the allegory of
flying over the walls with “love’s light wings”. Use of
alliterative sounds “Love” “light” “walls” “limits”, draw
attention to the word “love”, which is repeated twice.
Demonstrates a form of enlightenment achieved through love,
as Romeo figuratively overcomes physical boundaries.
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee/ Doth much excuse the appertaining rage/ To such a greeting.”
Shakespeare contrasts fighting with Romeo’s newfound love for
Tybalt. This effectively detaches Romeo emotionally from his
contemporary crowd, highlighting his character development;
the idea that love transcends societal conventions and
expectations.
For exile hath more terror
in his look,/ Much more than
death. Do not say
‘banishment’!
Shakespeare personifies “exile” to accentuate Romeo’s fear.
Half internal rhymes “more” and “terror” draws attention to
these words to signify fear.
Imperative “Do not say…” shows Romeo’s violent reaction to
his punishment.
There is no world
without Verona walls,/ But
purgatory, torture, hell
itself:”
Shakespeare shows Romeo’s hyperbolic manner of thought
and over exaggerated view of the world as he says, “there is
no world without Verona walls”.
“…purgatory, torture, hell…” is an auxesis, as the words
ascend in intensity.
The religious semantic field illustrates how Romeo views the
external world as biblical damnation.
“Purgatory”, quickly escalates into “torture” then “hell” which
implies that banishment does not mean atonement but rather
eternal punishment.
“I must be gone and live, or
stay and die”.
Monosyllabic phrasing which is not for Romeo. This shows
character development, as it signifies a new maturity and
understanding, unlike oxymoronic turmoil.
Compound patterning of “gone and live”, and “stay and
die”, emphasise the conflict that Romeo is faced with.
Internal rhyme between first person pronoun “I” and “die”,
foreshadows Romeo’s death. The self represented by “I” is
inextricably linked to death. Shown by the verb “die”.
Iambic pentameter effectively stresses the key words of the
line, “must”, “gone”, “live”, “stay” and “die”.
“Is it e’en so? Then I defy
you, stars!”
Monosyllabic phrasing which is not for Romeo. This shows
character development, as it signifies a new maturity and
understanding, unlike oxymoronic turmoil.
Compound patterning of “gone and live”, and “stay and
die”, emphasise the conflict that Romeo is faced with.
Internal rhyme between first person pronoun “I” and “die”,
foreshadows Romeo’s death. The self represented by “I” is
inextricably linked to death. Shown by the verb “die”.
Iambic pentameter effectively stresses the key words of the
line, “must”, “gone”, “live”, “stay” and “die”.
