Romeo and Juliet

Question 1

context - “Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright!”

Answer 1

Romeo, Act 1 Scene 5

Question 2

“Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright!”

Answer 2

This hyperbolic image emphasises the intense love and adoration Romeo has for Juliet, as he essentially describes her as perfection. However it also highlights Romeo’s fatal flaw, which is his impulsiveness, as he immediately falls in love with a girl he has never even seen before.

Question 3

Context - “Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight, it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, too like the lightning which doth cease to be.”

Answer 3

Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2

Question 4

“Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight, it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, too like the lightning which doth cease to be.”

Answer 4

Through this accumulation and a simile, Juliet directly voices her concerns that their relationship and promises to love each other are too rash and impetuous. She wants to take her time with Romeo to make sure that their love is true and long-lasting, before making any decisions that they might regret in the future.

Question 5

context - “Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight, it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, too like the lightning which doth cease to be.”

Answer 5

Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2

Question 6

“Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight, it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, too like the lightning which doth cease to be.”

Answer 6

Through this accumulation and a simile, Juliet directly voices her concerns that their relationship and promises to love each other are too rash and impetuous. She wants to take her time with Romeo to make sure that their love is true and long-lasting, before making any decisions that they might regret in the future.

Question 7

context - “If that thy bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow.”

Answer 7

Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2

Question 8

“If that thy bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow.”

Answer 8

Through this dialogue, Juliet clearly communicates her desire to marry Romeo as they plan to be wed the following day, thus highlighting their youthful impetuousness and ignorance. There is no reason for the two to be married so quickly, and should instead, take their time to ensure that their love is true and long-lasting. In addition to this, it is unwise for them to continue pursuing their love when their families are enemies. If their love was revealed, they could be killed. Despite this danger, they impulsively agree to marry in secret, which ultimately marks the beginning of their downfall.

Question 9

context - “Thus with a kiss I die”.

Answer 9

Romeo, Act 5 Scene 3

Question 10

“Thus with a kiss I die”.

Answer 10

This use of dramatic irony emphasises the fact that Romeo is making an incredibly rash decision by committing suicide with no rational thinking. If he waited a little longer, Juliet would’ve woken up and he could’ve avoided both of their deaths, but his passionate love for her blinded his ability to make sensible decisions.

Question 11

Thematic statement for passionate love

Answer 11

Passionate love is an intense feeling of affection for another, and although it can be exhilarating, it can also cause an individual to make rash, impetuous decisions.

Question 12

Thematic statement for fate

Answer 12

Fate is the predetermined development of events beyond human control that is destined to occur, no matter the choices an individual makes.

Question 13

context - “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.”

Answer 13

Prologue

Question 14

“A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.”

Answer 14

Through this metaphor of fate, it is made clear to the audience at the very beginning of the play that Romeo and Juliet are destined to meet, fall in love, and encounter their tragic death. In this way, their fate is already fixed and predetermined, meaning that despite the choices they might make throughout their lives, their future is inescapable, and has already decided that they will always find each other at some point and die together.

Question 15

context - “…for my mind misgives
some consequence yet hanging in the stars…by some vile forfeit of untimely death.”

Answer 15

Romeo, Act 1 Scene 4

Question 16

“…for my mind misgives
some consequence yet hanging in the stars…by some vile forfeit of untimely death.”

Answer 16

This ominous premonition foretells the tragic future that is destined to occur as a result of Romeo meeting Juliet whilst attending the Capulet ball, thus making him not entirely responsible for both of their deaths. In this way, a sense of pity and eeriness is evoked from the audience as they are already made aware that Romeo’s correct prediction about his death is fixed and beyond his control, no matter what further decisions he might make to try avoiding this.

Question 17

context - “O, I am fortune’s fool.”

Answer 17

Romeo, Act 3 Scene 1

Question 18

“O, I am fortune’s fool.”

Answer 18

This metaphor emphasises Romeo’s unfortune and bad luck in his life, as he cannot prevent any of these disasters from occurring. He is essentially being manipulated and mocked by fortune, as he calls himself “fortune’s fool”, highlighting the notion of everything going against him and his fate being beyond his control.

Question 19

context - “I defy you, stars!”

Answer 19

Romeo, Act 5 Scene 1

Question 20

“I defy you, stars!”

Answer 20

This celestial imagery of fate directly links to the metaphor of “star crossed lovers” in the prologue at the start of the play, which foretold Romeo and Juliet’s tragic death. In this scene, Romeo declares himself openly against the fates which have been evolved to occur in Juliet’s death. In this way, he denies their destinies and tries to escape it, but it is predetermined and he lacks the power to change that, thus labelling fate as responsible for both of their deaths.