Romeo analysis

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

• the self-conscious sufferer, driven by his unrequited love for Rosaline.
• causes him to isolate himself from his family, relatives and friends
• His meeting with Juliet Capulet ignites a major shift in both the trajectory of the play as well as Romeo’s narrative.
• his hamartia (fatal flaw) is the inability to think rationally, choosing instead to make quick impulsive decisions, which results in his downfall.

Question 2

Petrarchan love

Answer 2

• poet in Italy where the Sonnet form originated
• Romeo often objectifies Rosaline and Juliet as Sonnet poems did
• The poems also present men as tormented lovers, as Romeo is at the beginning of the play.

Question 3

Elizabethan Society

Answer 3

• The character is unable to fit into the rules and customs of this society: Romeo breaks the law returns from exile, and abandons the expected behaviours of a man
  by denying Tybalt in a duel. It was common practice in England for men to duel one another
• struggles to fit into society
• isn’t the typical masculine male of Elizabethan society

Question 4

Loving

Answer 4

• encourages the audience to explore different types of love and question the effect love can have on a person.
• Juliet, who is the personification of real and tangible love, causes Romeo to transcend boundaries and societal expectations

Question 5

Isolation

Answer 5

• isolated in many scenes
• could highlight a detachment from the world and his individual “self”.

Question 6

Masculine

Answer 6

• hugely contrasted with the “masculine” characters of the play like Mercutio who is violent and uses humour to make fun of love.

Question 7

Violent

Answer 7

• Violence is hindered by love, as Romeo refuses Tybalt due to his new maturity brought upon by his relationship with Juliet
• After Juliet “dies”, Romeo reverts to the typical masculine
  behaviour, by indulging in violent acts, such as killing Paris

Question 8

Relationship to Juliet

Answer 8

• their relationship develops quickly which makes it incredibly passionate.
  The first interaction is incredibly flirtatious- juxtaposes the tension and destruction it goes on to cause
• Their love for each other is the reason for their deaths

Question 9

rs to Rosaline

Answer 9

• offstage charcter
• serves to show the audience the difference between lust and love.

Question 10

rs to lord montague
rs to lady montague

Answer 10

• romoes father
• clearly has a lot of love and respect for his son.
• Lady Montague also has a lot of love and affection for her son; upon finding out about his death, she eventually dies from grief.

Question 11

rs to mercutio

Answer 11

• romeos best friend
• foil to romeo
• Romeo is an emotional romantic, Mercutio is a cynical man focused on the physical parts of love.

Question 12

Rs to friar

Answer 12

• acts as a father figure to Romeo
• his wish to end the conflict leads to the young lover’s death