Romeo key Flaschards Flashcards
” O brawling love O loving hate…. feather of lead , a bright smoke, cold fire , sick health”
The oxymoron mixes the joys of love with the emotional desolation of unrequited love. One could argue that the repetition of the ecphonesis “ O” phonetically mimics the anguish Romeo feels, and when coupled with the paradoxical “ loving hate”, it stresses the seemingly inescapable inner turmoil that consumes Romeo
” peace ? I hate the word, As i hate hell, all Montagues and thee” - Tybalt
- The ANAPHORA “ hate” amplifies Tybalt’s aggressive nature, reinforcing his deep-seated feud-driven ideology.
- The interrogative “peace?” followed by a dismissive response demonstrates his outright rejection of reconciliation
-The religious imagery of “ hell” equates Montagues with eternal damnation, showing the extremity of his enmity. -
- The Tricolon of “ hell, all Montagues, and thee” creates a rhetorical crescendo, emphasising the intensity of his animosity.
-Tybalt’s violent rhetoric establishes him as the embodiment of conflict, setting up the inevitable clash that propels tragedy. Shakespeare crafts tybalt as a character who personifies the play’s central theme of destructive hate
” A plague o’ both your houses!”
Close Analysis: The metaphorical “plague” symbolises the destructive consequences of the feud, cursing both families equally. The forceful monosyllabic words increase the impact of his dying words.
Literary Techniques: The exclamation conveys intense emotion and foreshadows the impending tragedies caused by the conflict. The motif of disease suggests that the feud is an infectious, spreading force of destruction.
Shakespeare’s Craft: As Mercutio is a neutral character, his dying words highlight the senselessness of the feud, offering a powerful critique of blind hatred. His curse becomes prophetic, as the feud ultimately leads to the lovers’ deaths
“It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; / Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be / Ere one can say ‘It lightens.’” - juliet
Close Word Analysis:
The repetition of “too” emphasizes Juliet’s concern over the haste of their love. “Rash,” “unadvised,” and “sudden” suggest that Juliet feels their love is premature and reckless, lacking careful consideration. “Like the lightning” conveys the idea that their love, though intense, is short-lived and potentially dangerous.
Literary Techniques:
Anaphora: The repetition of “too” at the beginning of each phrase serves to emphasize Juliet’s growing anxiety about the speed of their relationship. This technique builds a rhythmic tension, mirroring Juliet’s inner turmoil.
Simile: “Like the lightning” compares their love to a flash of lightning, which is both sudden and transient. Lightning, while powerful and beautiful, is often destructive and brief, suggesting that their love could burn brightly and then fade away.
Writer’s Craft & Intentions:
Shakespeare uses anaphora to convey Juliet’s unease and hesitation. The repetition of “too” conveys the urgency of her concerns, while also building a rhythm that underscores her anxiety. The simile of lightning highlights the fleeting nature of their love, reinforcing Juliet’s fear that it may end as quickly as it began. Shakespeare’s intention is to show that while Juliet is deeply in love, she is also intelligent and wary of rushing into something so intense without considering the consequences.
“An eagle, madam, / Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye / As Paris hath.” -NURSE
Close Word Analysis:
The metaphor of an eagle’s “eye” emphasizes Paris’s physical beauty and power. The adjective “green” suggests vitality and youth, while “quick” conveys sharpness and intelligence. “Fair” conveys Paris’s attractiveness, making him seem an ideal match in the Nurse’s eyes.
Literary Techniques:
Metaphor: By comparing Paris to an eagle, the Nurse elevates his physical beauty, linking him to qualities of nobility, sharp vision, and strength. This metaphor underscores the Nurse’s focus on Paris’s outward qualities.
Fricative Sounds: The “s” sound in “so sharp, so fair” creates a smooth, fluid rhythm that reflects the sensual admiration the Nurse holds for Paris.
Writer’s Craft & Intentions:
Shakespeare uses the eagle metaphor to illustrate the Nurse’s pragmatic approach to love. She values Paris’s physical traits and social standing over emotional connection. The fricative sounds contribute to the smoothness of the Nurse’s language, giving the impression of her being completely taken by Paris’s charm. Shakespeare’s intention is to highlight the Nurse’s practical view of love, which contrasts sharply with Juliet’s emotional and impulsive connection with Romeo.
“These violent delights have violent ends.”
Close Word Analysis:
“Violent delights” juxtaposes the passion and intensity of Romeo and Juliet’s love with the inevitable consequences of their reckless actions. The word “violent” suggests both intensity and destruction, foreshadowing the tragic outcome of their relationship.
Literary Techniques:
Alliteration: The repetition of the “v” sound in “violent delights” and “violent ends” creates a rhythm that emphasizes the destructive nature of intense emotions.
Juxtaposition: The pairing of “delights” with “ends” creates an ironic contrast, highlighting the contradiction between the joy of love and the inevitable destructive consequences that follow.
Writer’s Craft & Intentions:
Shakespeare uses alliteration to draw attention to the intensity of the emotions involved in Romeo and Juliet’s love. The repetition of the “v” sound enhances the sense of violence and urgency in their relationship. The juxtaposition of “delights” and “ends” suggests that the joy they experience will be short-lived, giving the audience a sense of impending doom. Shakespeare’s intention is to show that love, when pursued recklessly, can be just as destructive as hate, a theme central to the play’s tragic arc.
“I am fortune’s fool!”
Close Word Analysis:
“Fortune’s fool” is a phrase that conveys Romeo’s sense of powerlessness. The word “fool” suggests he is at the mercy of external forces and mocks his earlier self-confidence. The possessive “fortune’s” implies that fate or destiny controls him, turning him into a passive, hapless character.
Literary Techniques:
Metaphor: The phrase “fortune’s fool” is a metaphor where Romeo compares himself to a fool controlled by fate, highlighting how he has no agency in his life. This reflects the theme of fate as a dominating force.
Fricative Sounds: The “f” sound in “fortune’s fool” has a soft, almost resigned quality, mirroring Romeo’s frustration with his lack of control over his life. The repetition of this sound emphasizes his sense of helplessness and adds to the tragic tone of his realization.
Writer’s Craft & Intentions:
Shakespeare uses this metaphor to emphasize the theme of fate in the play. By portraying Romeo as “fortune’s fool”, he suggests that the character’s impulsive actions, compounded by fate, have led him to this moment of self-awareness. The use of fricative sounds subtly enhances the resignation in Romeo’s voice, highlighting his helplessness. Shakespeare’s intention is to show that, despite all his emotions and efforts, Romeo is doomed by forces beyond his control, making his eventual demise inevitable.
“My only love sprung from my only hate!” - Juliet
Language Techniques:
Oxymoron: The phrase “only love sprung from my only hate” is an oxymoron, juxtaposing two contradictory emotions. Juliet’s love for Romeo arises from her family’s hatred for the Montagues, creating a powerful and tragic contradiction.
Metaphor: “Sprung” metaphorically conveys that love is like a plant, growing unexpectedly and uncontrollably, symbolizing the way Juliet’s emotions have developed against the odds.
Repetition: The repetition of “only” highlights the uniqueness and the exclusivity of Juliet’s feelings, reinforcing the tension between love and hate that she feels.
Deeper Word Analysis:
“Only”: The word “only” emphasizes the exclusivity of Juliet’s emotions. Her love for Romeo is singular, contrasting sharply with the hate that has defined her family’s relationship with the Montagues. This repetition of “only” heightens the tension of the moment: Juliet is caught between two contradictory forces
“Sprung”: The verb “sprung” evokes a sense of suddenness and uncontrollability, suggesting that Juliet’s love has erupted or blossomed quickly, This emphasizes the paradoxical nature of her emotions—her love is pure and beautiful, but it has emerged from hatred, complicating her feelings and foreshadowing the tragic consequences.
Symbolism & Intentions:
Juliet’s words symbolise the uncontrollable and paradoxical nature of love. “Only” highlights her isolation from both her family and the Montagues, while “sprung” suggests how love can unexpectedly grow, even in hostile circumstances. Shakespeare’s intention here is to show the tragic irony of love in this context: it is pure and genuine but born out of an impossible situation, setting the stage for the conflict and ultimate tragedy in the play.
