Romeo & Juliet Flashcards
Romeo - Changeable [Romeo]
Romeo: “Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now”
After Mercutio is killed, he gets angry.
Romeo - Passionate [Romeo]
Romeo: “With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,”
Climbs orchard wall, risking life.
Juliet - Devoted to Romeo [Juliet]
Juliet: “My bounty is as boundless as the sea
My love as deep. The more I give to you
the more I have as both are infinite”
Can be seen as both strength and weakness.
Juliet - Naive & obedient near start [Juliet]
Juliet: “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move;
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly”
Only looks at Paris when her mum tells her to
Juliet - Rebels after meeting Romeo [Juliet]
Juliet: “Oh bid me leap, rather than marry Paris
From off the battlements of any tower,”
Refuses to marry Paris, as her father wishes.
Destructiveness of love [Prince]
Prince: “See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love”
R&J die, indirectly, because of their love.
Plot Device - Party invitation [Servant / Benvolio]
Servant: “God gi’ god-den. I pray, sir, can you read?”
Benvolio: “Go thither, and with unattainted eye
Compare her face with some that I shall show”
Plot Device - Letter to Romeo [Friar]
Friar J: “I could not send it - here it is again -
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
So fearful were they of infection.”
Travel was harder & risky at the time.
Theme - Age vs Youth [Juliet]
Juliet: “Had she affections and warm youthful blood,
She would be swift in motion as a ball”
Nurse is slow because she is old
Setting [N/A]
Renaissance Verona - Girls marry young, women seen as property, travel difficult.
Theme - Fate [Romeo]
Romeo: “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date”
Romeo predicts his own death early in the play
First Meeting - Realisation [Juliet]
Juliet: “My only love sprung from my only hate,
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!”
Forcefulness of love
Theme - Hate [Tybalt]
Tybalt: “What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee”
Tybalt’s dedication to the feud.
Theme - Death [Tybalt]
Tybalt: “Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.”
Theme - Individual vs society [N/A]
Feud, Patriarchy, Law, Religion all go against R&J
Symbols - Rose [Juliet]
Juliet: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
Usually love, however used to demonstrate effect of name in this play
Prologue [Chorus]
“A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life”
Foreshadowing. seems like spoilers but builds tension between what the audience know will happen and what they want to happen
First meeting [Romeo]
“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”
Rosaline yeeted, important for Romeo’s character. Foreshadows the Friars warning. Also leads to tybalt finding out who he is and ultimately, his banishment.
Youth Vs age - Rosaline [Friar]
“Holy Saint Francis! What a change is here!
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear
So soon forsaken?”
Youth Vs age. Also shows contrast between characters. Says what audience is thinking.
Mercutio’s death [Mercutio]
“Ask for me to-morrow and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o’ both your houses!”
Joking till the end - Characterisation. Foreshadowing, plague suggests death. Turning point of the play.
Tybalt - violent [Tybalt]
“Come hither, covered with an antic face,
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?
Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin”
Tybalt - Foreshadowing [Tybalt]
“Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.
Nurse - Betrayal (Societal Values & Class) [Nurse]
“I think it best you married with the County.
O, he’s a lovely gentleman: Romeo’s a dishclout to him”
3.1 - Setting [Benvolio]
“I pray thee Good Mercutio, Let’s retire
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad”
