Romeo and Juliet - Key Themes Flashcards
Name the 4 key themes in Romeo and Juliet
1-Fate
2-Love
3-Conflict
4-Death
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life”
Theme - Fate
The reference of the couple being star crossed makes the reader understand that the Elizabethan era was a very superstitious time as many people believed in the concept destiny written with in stars.
This use of alliteration also foreshadows the death of the characters and relationship, our attention is drawn to the word fatal which in other words is deadly thus creating confusion within the reader
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
O! I’am fortune’s fool” - Romeo
Theme - Fate
Romeo’s dialogue sees the young Montague lament his fate, this is apparent in the “!” and “O” both of which indicate that Romeo is distressed whereas the alternative phase “fortune’s fool” suggest that fate is mocking him and that he is simply a source of entertainment for the god(s).
Additionally, because fortune is a synonym for fate; we can know conclude that Shakespeare creates the impression that fate is both superior too Romeo and that it can be a form of a cruel and remorseless entity.
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“My grave is likely to be my wedding bed” - Juliet (Act 1 Scene 5)
Theme - Fate
This piece of dialogue is a throwaway comment made by Juliet, in which it foreshadows the end of the play as he grave literally becomes her wedding bed for it to be in the capulet’s tomb where her and Romeo are eternally reunited.
Shakespeare also uses this foreshadowing to highlight the pre-determination of fate and how no one can alter it.
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“These violet delights have violent ends” - Friar Lawrence (Act 2 Scene 6)
Theme - fate
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“I would the fool were married to her grave” - Lady Capulet (Act 3 Scene 5)
Theme - fate/conflict
This piece of Dialogue shows how conflicted and bitter Lady Capulet is, not only does what she had said echo what Juliet had said about her grave being her wedding bed; but it sees the capulet’s matriarch foreshadow her daughter’s death. This is apparent when she refers to her “grave”.
What’s more interesting about lady Capulet here is that she uses the modal verb “would” which in this context would mean wish. Thus implying that she wishes for her daughter’s death if she doesn’t marry Paris for sole purpose of improving the reputation and the societal of the family. (use of dramatic irony)
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“Juliet is the sun” - Romeo (Act 2 scene 1)
Theme - Love
Essentially here the writer shows how infatuated Romeo is by Juliet through the use of an extended metaphor, light is a symbol of hope and without it all an all would be lost therefore without Juliet Romeo would be lost, claustrophobic and hopeless.
The symbolic use of the “sun” foreshadows the lack of longevity of Romeo and Juliets relationship, during the day the Sun will only rise for a very limited amount of time to show its beauty before it goes down again leaving whoever mourning for it.
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet” -Romeo ()
Theme - Love
Romeo here uses the analogy of a rose when describing what love is, initially love will attract a person and make them obsessive over one another; however as you get closer to that person you will discover that love is different on the inside, from far away a rose looks stunning however as you get closer you realise that it inherently has thorns that can harm you.
The fact that Romeo used this analogy when describing love may perhaps show that he is in pain from what he had experienced from Rosaline.
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“A plague o’both your houses” - ()
Theme - violence
The writer here is symbolising the 2 lovers as a “plague” as a way to foreshadow the whole entire play, Throughout the play we can see not only do Romeo and Juliet reek havoc upon every location they roam, but they share the consequences with who ever is close thus acting like a plague and infecting/ruining whoever comes in it’s way for it’s own well being.
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“Hang thee, young baggage disobedient wretch!” - Lord Capulet - ()
Theme - violence
The writer here signifies how important and substantial the value of maintaining a good societal status was back during the Victorian era was by showing the transition in the character of lord Capulet, he goes From being a nice to an aggressive man due to his daughter being disobedient, he even goes as far as threatening to disown her
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“Love is heavy and light, bright and dark, hot and cold, sick and healthy, sleep and awake - it’s everything except what it is!” - ()
Theme - Hate
Shakespeare contrasts love with it self to very much symbolise how every relation is during the Elizabethan era, evidently we see that throughout the play characters are influenced to go as far as death when it comes to maintaining a good societal status and thus meaning that you can’t trust even you parents during elizabethan era if you were wealthy; this is established to help readers understand how important societal status was back in the Victorian era.
What theme is the following quote? Consider analysis in your answer
“Deny thy father and refuse thy name” - ()
Theme - love
The two lovers here are shown to give up all they
