Romeo and Juliet structure Flashcards
why does it begin with a prologue?
proleptic irony (foregrounds key themes)
breaks the fourth wall
apologetic for missing stuff out with a promise for more to come in the play itself ( people still want to watch)
reveals tragedy first possible so the ladies don’t get to upset or faint- Aristotle did this (dramatic irony)
it is conscious theatricality
why do we dive into a cast of thousands?
starts with lesser characters (servants and citizens) and builds up until aristocracy- he doesn’t have control
as it builds it shows everyone is effected.
fast progression of conflict sets tone for novel
shows extent of rivalry- everyone is involved
why do we see the violence come in ‘waves’?
builds tension
conflict is almost its own character out of control for everyone-unstoppable force.
why do we wait so long to introduce the titular characters?
romeo isnt mentioned until the end of act1 scene 1 after the violence. this is the beginning of a pattern where love and violence go back and forth.
romeo is a lover not a fighter and comes after the violence.
what does introducing violence then love show?
shows how codependent and complicated the two themes are, interwoven in a way that violence provides a backdrop for love. its a constant threat that they try to fight against but its impossible.
how does the language of the lesser characters and the aristocratic people differ and why?
lesser characters use prose (ordinary speech with no rhyme or rhythm) whereas the aristocrats use the blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) which elevates them above lesser characters and marks when the audience should listen intently. they use rhyming couplets to show not only love but finality at the end of the scene.
why dont montague and benvolio realise romeo is in love hen he couldnt be more of a courtly lover?
shakespeare leaves 200 lines before benvolio finally gets romeo to tell him who it is he loves (rosaline).
‘she’ is repeated 6 times and ‘her’ twice. she is a nameless women for quite some time. shakespeare does this to mock courtly love - real love isnt like this. it contrasts romeo and juliet as they have sexual love not courtly love.
how does the transition between romeo then juliet highlight their similarities?
we jumpcut from romeo to juliet before they even meet. this gives us clear viewpoints and perspectives from both sides but highlights the smilarites between the domestic scenes. both characters have a problem R loves rosaline who doesnt love him back and J doesnt love paris who loves her.
what does the transition between caps and monts show about the parents similarities?
they mirror each other- both join in the fray on the streets of verona; both speak with their children; both are concerned with their children’s welfare;both dont understand their children.
how is lord cap presented in the beginning compared to the end?
capulet insists juliet must like paris for him to marry herin the beginningand almost encourages paris to look elsewhere (a test? comparing her to others will help paris see her true worth-no buyers remorse) but quickly switches. this may be because lineage is very important and once tablet dies there was no one for the estate to pass to. it is imperative for Juliet to marry and have sons to pass on the family lineage. he is putting on a facade of freedom as when she disobeys him his honour is at stake- she may do other things so best to marry her off.
how is the masked ball used as a plot device?
without the masks theres no way for benvolio and Romeo to go to the party and meet Juliet. in Shakespeares comedies disguise is used for humour but in this play it moves the plot forward.
why does capulet warn tybalt to not harm Romeo and what does this lead to?
it was dishonourable and embarrassing to have fights at your own party. Romeo wasn’t causing chaos so he left him alone but ironically this is what allowed R+J to meet. this leads to the turning point and shows tybalt as a tyrant and antagonist representing conflict.
why is there a pressure to get married so quickly?
in arostotle’s tragic form everything happens in just a few days. the conventions of courtly love and the time meant a woman’s reputation was easily ruined and as she’s falling in love it may lead to her losing her virginity/getting pregnant which she could be killed or disowned for as she is his property.
how is it shown that Juliet dominates the scene talking about marriage?
after romeo reveals himself Juliet speaks 91 lines whereas Romeo speaks 49. she leads the scene “thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow” shows she tells him what to do and takes action whereas Romeo is all talk.
how is friar Lawrence seen as a catalyst of the play and unconventional?
if the friar refused to marry them the play wouldn’t go further but he tried to unconventionally bring the families together. His first speech is full of foreshadowing and opposites such as: day and night, clouds and light, graves and wombs. he isn’t a man obsessed with gods and laws, justice, heaven or divinity but immersed in the earth and nature. if he was obsessed with law he would have stopped the marriage as the families wouldn’t want this.
