Romeo and Juliet Act 2 - Important lines Flashcards
“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,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou her maid art for more fair than she.”
Romeo - Romeo says this the first time he sees Juliet on the balcony. Earlier, Romeo had
compared Rosaline to the moon. Now he compares Juliet to the sun. He says the moon is
“sick and pale” compared to the sun. (This is an example of a metaphor.)
“O that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek.”
Romeo - Romeo is saying that he would like to be a glove on Juliet’s hand. That way, he could
touch her face when she is leaning on her hand.
“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name.
Or, if thou wilt not, be sworn my love
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.”
Juliet - Juliet, unaware of Romeo’s presence below, is on the balcony wondering why Romeo
must be a Montague. If he can forget he is a Montague, she will forget she is a Capulet.
Names do not matter. It is what is in one’s soul that counts.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
Juliet - Juliet is saying a name is nothing. A rose would still smell sweet if it were called
something else.
“O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.”
Juliet to Romeo - Juliet does not want Romeo to swear his love for her on the moon. The moon
always changes, and she does not want his love for her to change.
“I come, anon.-”
Juliet to Nurse - Anon means shortly. Juliet is telling her nurse she will be right there.
“A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.”
Romeo - After Juliet leaves the balcony, Romeo misses the “light” of Juliet’s presence.
“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
that I shall say good night till it be morrow.”
Juliet to Romeo. - She is saying good-night to Romeo. She cannot wait for the next day when
she can see him again. Sweet sorrow is an example of an oxymoron.
“So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.”
Friar Laurence to Romeo. Friar Laurence cannot believe that Romeo has forgotten Rosaline so
quickly and claims to be in love with Juliet. He thinks Romeo changes his mind too fast.
“In one respect I’ll thy assistant be,
For this alliance may so happy prove
To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.”
Friar Laurence to Romeo - Friar Laurence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet later that day,
hoping it will stop the fighting between the two rival families.
“Two, two! A shirt and a smock.”
Benvolio - A shirt means a man. A smock means a woman. Benvolio is saying that he sees a
man and a woman coming closer.
“God ye good-den, fair gentlewoman.”
Mercutio to Nurse - Good den means good afternoon or good evening. Mercutio teases Nurse.
“Doth not rosemary and Romeo both begin with a letter?”
Nurse to Romeo - Rosemary is the “flower of remembrance”. It is used at weddings and
funerals. She is commenting on Romeo and Juliet’s fast-moving relationship.
“Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence’s cell.
There stays a husband to make you a wife.”
Nurse to Juliet - She tells Juliet that Friar Laurence will marry them later that day. Romeo will
be there waiting for her. Hie means hurry.
“These violent delights have violent ends”
Friar Laurence to Romeo. He is warning him of the possible consequences of their quick
marriage. (Example of foreshadowing.)
