Themes in Romeo and Juliet and Black Boy Flashcards
What are the common themes in Romeo and Juliet and Black Boy?
- The Individual vs Society
- Coming of Age
- Hope and faith
- Violence and death
- Pride
- Home
- Religion
- Family conflict
- Social class
What are quotes for the Individual vs Society in Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo
Act 3 Scene 1: O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
And in my temper softened valor’s steel
Tybalt
Act 1 Scene 5: Now, by the stock and honor of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin
Capulet
Act 3 Scene 5: Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what: get thee to church o’ Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face
What are quotes for the Individual vs Society in Black Boy?
Chapter 14
The white South said that I had a place in ‘life’
Chapter 7
I dreamed of going north and writing books, novels. The North symbolized to me all that I had not felt and seen
Chapter 6
it was a simple, urgent matter of public pride, a matter of how much I had in common with other people
What are quotes for Coming of Age in R & J
Juliet’s mother
Act 1 Scene 2: My child is yet a stranger in this world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years
Juliet
Act 3 Scene 2: An impatient child that hath new robes and may not wear them
The Nurse
Act 1 Scene 3: Come Lammas Eve, at night shall she be fourteen
What are quotes for Coming of Age in BB?
Chapter 3
At the age of twelve I had an attitude toward life that was to (…) make me skeptical of everything while seeking everything
Chapter 13
Now it surged up again and I hungered for books, new ways of looking and seeing
Chapter 3 My mother (...) spoke (...) of how ardently she wanted to see us grow up before she died
What are quotes for hope and faith in R &J?
Hope
Act 2 Scene 2 - Juliet
Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name
Act 2 Scene 3 - Friar Lawrence
For this alliance may so happy prove
To turn your households’ rancour to pure love
Faith Act 2 Scene 3 - Romeo That though consent to marry us today Act 4 Scene 3 - Juliet Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here's drink: I drink to thee.
What are quotes for hope and faith in BB?
Hope
Chapter 10: I understood the pain that had accompanied crime and I hoped that I would never have to feel it again.
Chapter 7: I dreamed of going north and writing books, novels.
Faith
Chapter 14: I headed north, full of a hazy notion that life could be lived with dignity.
Chapter 5: Grannie and Aunt Addie changed toward me, giving me up for lost
What are quotes for violence and death in R & J?
Death Benvolio Act 3 Scene 1 O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead! Romeo Act 5 Scene 3: Oh true Apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
Violence
Tybalt
Act 1 Scene 5: Now, by the stock and honor of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin
Friar Lawrence
Act 2 Scene 6
These violent delights have violent ends (extreme romantic emotions, like Romeo’s, often end in disaster)
What are quotes for violence and death in BB?
Death
Chapter 1: He had said to kill the kitten and I would kill it (Death as a means of protesting against authority)
Chapter 2: Mr. Hoskins…he done been shot (…) Mrs. Hoskins, he dead.
Violence
Chapter 9: They got out and half dragged and half kicked the woman into the store
Chapter 1: I was lashed so hard and long that I lost consciousness.
What are quotes for pride in R & J?
Tybalt
Act 1 Scene 1: What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. (familial pride)
Capulet
Act 3 Scene 5: Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what: get thee to church o’ Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face (social pride)
Mercution
Act 3 Scene 1: Oh calm, dishonourable, vile submission! (masculine pride, since Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt)
What are quotes for pride in BB?
Chapter 6
it was a simple, urgent matter of public pride, a matter of how much I had in common with other people
Chapter 9
Ain’t you learned to say sir to a white man yet?
Chapter 2 Bloody Christ killers Never trust a Jew Bloody Christ killers What won't a Jew do?
