Romeo and Juliet key ideas Flashcards
How does Shakespeare negatively present love?
It causes irrational behaviour
People make sacrifices for it
Can corrupt an individual
How does Shakespeare present love positively?
By showing it to be caring and protecting
What does Shakespeare link love to in the play?
Religion
Shows extreme devotion
What does Shakespeare make the audience question?
If love is worth it as negative effects come with it eg. Romeo being sad over Rosaline, Romeo and Juliet dying
How does Shakespeare use dramatic irony? What does it link with?
We know from start R&J are going to die from prologue, links in with fate. Shakespeare is setting the characters the fate they all believe in
How is inner conflict portrayed through Juliet?
She battles with sense of loyalty as Romeo kills Tybalt
What is the effect of shakespeare showing fighting over very little eg. “airy word”
To mock how defensive men are about honour
To emphasis how pathetic family feud is
How is conflict presented as damaging lives?
Mercuito, Tybalt, Juliet, Romeo, Paris and Lady Montague die
How is the death of Romeo and Juliet presented as a worthy sacrifice?
Stopped the family’s ancient grudge and stopped more deaths because of it
How is the death of Romeo and Juliet presented as a tragic waste?
They were young, hadn’t known each other long
How is death presented in the play?
Foreshadowed in prologue and throughout the play
What is death linked with?
Marriage
How is light imagery used in the play?
To show Romeo’s happiness
How is dark imagery used in the play?(2)
To show when Romeo is depressed
To show secretiveness of their relationship as it only takes place during the night, implies they don’t exist in daytime/light because of societies strict rules
How is Juliet seen to go against impulsive nature of love?
“Too rash, too sudden, too unadvised, too like the lighting”
How is Juliet seen as innocent?
“Saint lips”
How is Romeo shown to have a positive attitude towards love?
“With love’s light wings did I o-perch these walls”
How is Romeo shown to be physical towards love?
“Nor ope her lap to saint seducing gold”
Rosaline didn’t want to be paid for sex
How is Juliet shown to be devoted to Romeo?
“Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself”
Mercuito’s attitude towards love?
“If love be rough with you, be rough with love”
How is Juliet’s inner conflict shown?
“O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face”
How is Juliet shown to be strong when she kills herself instead of marrying Paris?
“O happy dagger, this is thy sheath. There rust and let me die”
How are the families shown to be to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death?
Family feud
Lord capulet forces Juliet to marry Paris
Capulets brought Juliet’s wedding day forward
How are the families shown NOT to be to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death?
Fate is to blame
“Some consequences yet hanging in the stars… some vile forfeit of untimely death”
How does Shakespeare present themes and ideas in the prologue?
"Star crossed lovers" - Fate, Love "Fatal loins" - Fate "Ancient grudge" - Shows family feud "Misadventur'd" - R&J are unlucky "Piteous overthrows" - Their deaths which deserves pity
How is conflict shown in the beginning of the play?
“You beasts, that quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple foundations issuing from your veins”
