Romeo and Juliet key quotes Flashcards
“A pair of star crossed lovers take their life”
From the prologue
Fate/love
“Death marked love”
From the prologue
Foreshadows their death
“Peace. I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee”
Tybalt in Act 1 Scene 1
He compares Montagues to hell and presents him as the antagonist right from the beginning.
“If you ever disturb the quiet of our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace!”
Prince in Act 1 Scene 1
Foreshadows their death and suggests future conflict. Contrasts to their societal expectations as they were upper class so shouldn’t have been fighting
“It is an honour I dream not of”
Juliet in Act 1 Scene 3
Ironic as she will get married in the very near future.
“Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars”
Romeo in Act 1 Scene 4
Foreshadows their death and suggests it is fate, links to the prologue.
“Did my heart love till now?… For I never saw true beauty till this night”
Romeo in Act 1 Scene 5
He is so caught up in love that he has forgotten about Rosaline, shows how he is fake and gets easily distracted by love.
“This intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall”
Tybalt Act 1 Scene 5
Shows him once again as the antagonist looking for conflict however he is trying to defend his family pride.
“It is the east, and Juliet is the sun”
Romeo in Act 2 Scene 2
Metaphor describing Juliet as the “sun” shows how madly in love Romeo is and he can’t see anything beyond Juliet. Connotations of “the sun” infers Juliet’s beauty and innocence.
“For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love”
Friar Lawrence in Act 2 Scene 3
He believes that their marriage may turn their feud to love and unite the families.
“Wise and slow. They stumble that run fast”
Friar Lawrence In Act 2 Scene 3
Suggests that their love is immature and that they are moving too fast. Foreshadows that something will go wrong as “they stumble who run fast”
“A plague on both your houses”
Mercutio in Act 3 Scene 1
Links to the plague that was spreading around England at the time it was first performed and the theatre houses had just opened from the plague shutting them. Mercutio uses aggressive language speaking in prose showing how his character has broken down.
“O sweet Juliet-thy beauty hath made me effeminate”
Romeo in Act 3 Scene 3
He has been made weak from his live for Juliet, and can’t even fight to defend his honour.
“Henceforward I am ever ruled by you”
Juliet in Act 4 Scene 2
Links to men being dominant over females in society at the time and the females being as the men’s property to do with as they will.
“O happy dagger”
Juliet in Act 5 Scene 3
She is glad to be dying with Romeo. The contrast between “happy” and “dagger” suggests that their love was happy but it has come to a cruel violent end.
