,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Act 1
Scene 1 Fighting breaks out between Capulets and Montagues and the Prince intervenes to stop them. Romeo’s
parents worry about his strange behaviour, and Romeo tells Benvolio about his love for Rosaline.
Scene 2 Paris is eager to marry Juliet and is invited to meet her at a family ball.
Scene 3 Lady Capulet tells Juliet and Nurse about Paris’s proposal.
Scene 4 Benvolio and Mercutio persuade Romeo to join them in a masquerade.
Scene 5 Romeo sees Juliet experiencing love at first sight. Tybalt recognises Romeo, but Capulet refuses Tybalt to
intervene.
Act 2
Scene 1 Romeo hides from his friends, who mock his love for Rosaline.
Scene 2 Juliet sighs out for her new love, unaware Romeo is listening. When he reveals himself, they arrange for the
Nurse to act as their messenger.
Scene 3 Friar Lawrence is persuaded to marry Romeo and Juliet.
Scene 4 Romeo and Mercutio discuss Tybalt’s challenge, and Nurse comes to find Romeo.
Scene 5 The Nurse tells Juliet about Romeo’s arrangements for their marriage.
Scene 6 Romeo and Juliet are married by Friar Lawrence.
Act 3
Scene 1 Mercutio, outraged when Romeo refuses Tybalt’s challenge, draws his own sword resulting in the death of
Mercutio & Tybalt. Romeo is banished from Verona.
Scene 2 Juliet is eagerly waiting from Romeo, but the Nurse brings bad news.
Scene 3 Friar tries to console Romeo and find a solution.
Scene 4 Juliet’s father makes plans for Juliet to marry Paris.
Scene 5 R must leave J, and their parting is interrupted by Nurse when LC brings news of the arranged marriage.
Act 4
Scene 1 Friar Lawrence has a plan to save the situation.
Scene 2 The Capulets are preparing for the wedding. Juliet assures her father that she will obey him, but the wedding
day is changed. She rebels against her parents who threaten to disown her.
Scene 3 Although she is frightened, Juliet takes the Friar’s drug which put her into a deep sleep.
Scene 4 The Capulet household prepares for the wedding and the Nurse goes to wake Juliet.
Scene 5 Juliet cannot be woken; the whole family join to lament. A funeral ceremony is carried out and Juliet is buried
in the Capulet vault. Friar Lawrence had sent a letter to Romeo, who is in Mantua, about the plan.
Act 5
Scene 1 In Mantua, Romeo hears news of Juliet’s death, from his servant Balthasar, who had seen Juliet’s ‘dead’ body.
Romeo is overcome with utter distress as he makes his way back to Verona, to see his dear Juliet.
Scene 2 Friar Lawrence learns that Romeo has not received his letter and hurries to the Capulet Vault.
Scene 3 Paris, praying at Juliet’s tomb, encounters Romeo; they fight, and Paris is killed. Friar Lawrence
is too late to save Romeo, who swallows the poison he bought. When Juliet sees Romeo’s body, she kills herself with
a dagger. At the end, Friar Lawrence confesses everything to both grieving families. This ends the feud, but at the cost
of the two star-cross’d lovers taking their lives.
Page 2 By Meet Shah (11.11)
,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Act 1 – Key Quotes
Act 1 Scene 1 Authoritative
Ox figure
Any more fighting will
Prince If you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. result in death.
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Montague … private in his chamber pens himself, Shut up his windows, locks fair daylight out, …
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Romeo O brawling love, O loving hate, O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Feather of lead, bright smoke,
cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep
Oxymorons to show Oxextreme sadness.
Love is a smoke
Upset and distraught Romeo is in utter despair and distresses
I have lost myself… from ‘unrequited’ love – Rosaline, his
love, doesn’t love him back.
She’ll not be hit With Cupid’s arrow
O, she is rich in beauty, only poor That when she dies, with beauty dies her store.
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Benvolio suggests that Romeo
Benvolio Be rul’d by me, forget to think of her … Examine other beauties
forgets Rosaline and moves on.
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Act 1 Scene 2
Capulet My child is yet a stranger in the world, She hath not seen the change of fourteen years…
My will to her consent is but a part… Shakespeare uses ‘my’ and ‘will’ to show Capulet’s controlling attitude.
Shakespeare uses ‘stranger’ showing that Juliet is naïve and innocent, perhaps as she was brought up restricted.
Act 1 Scene 3
Close relationship, a ectionate attitude
Nurse What, lamb! What, ladybird! God forbid, where’s this girl? of Nurse, Juliet is precious to Nurse,
clear contrast to her parents.
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Formality, royal English,
Lady Capulet Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your dispositions to be married? concerned about reputation
& honour, lack of love and
Juliet It is an honour that I dream not of. Juliet refuses marriage. a ection in the relationship
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Nurse Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.
Mercutio Mock’s Romeo’s feelings and sadness for
unrequited love. Romeo expresses his hatred towards
Act 1 Scene 4 A ectionate, caring motherly figure
love, where Shakespeare uses ‘too’ repeatedly.
Mercutio advises Romeo to fight love back.
Sunday evening. Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio…
Mercutio You area lover, borrow Cupid’s wings, and soar them above a common bound.
Romeo I am too sore enpierced … burden … Simile to express how love is painful to Romeo.
Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boist’rous, and it pricks like thorn.
Mercutio If love be rough with you, be rough with love: prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.
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Romeo I fear too early, for my mind misgives. Some consequence yet hanging in the stars. Shall bitterly
begin his fearful date
Mood changes as Romeo feels uneasy, perhaps
By some vile forfeit of untimely death… this is Shakespeare foreshadowing the future.
‘stars’ suggests the power of fate.
Page 3 By Meet Shah (11.11)
,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Act 1 Scene 5 Love at first sight, light to represent a spark
of hope in Romeo’s sadness. He expresses
Sunday night: Capulet’s house. And Servingmen come forth with napkins. his beauty, and Shakespeare uses a variety
of similes and metaphors. She has bright
Romeo O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! looks and extraordinary beauty.
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear. Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear:
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows To Romeo, Juliet stands out from the rest.
Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
Tybalt Fetch me my rapier, boy. He has not seen anyone more beautiful than Juliet.
What dares the slave come hither… Arrogance, hatred, Montagues are inferior, brave? Foolish?
Now by the stock & honour of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin. Dishonoured, Romeo
has stained his honour
Tybalt Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe: A villain that is hither come in spite… and Capulet reputation.
’Tis he, that villain Romeo. Strong emotions, dramatic irony
takes e ect as the audience
Tybalt It fits when such a villain is a guest: I’ll not endure him.
knows that Romeo is Tybalt’s kin.
Capulet He shall be endur’d. Sympathy for Romeo.
Am I the master here, or you? Go to!
Worried about reputation, controlling and overruling
You’ll make a mutiny among my guests! Tybalt, audience might see Lord Capulet as cowardly
for using reputation as an excuse. He scolds Tybalt,
Capulet You must contrary me! though might be seen as fearful by the audience.
Tybalt Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall …
convert to bitt’rest gall. Foreshadowing the fight & brawl
Extreme rage and anger at Romeo
Feels humiliated
Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting
Romeo This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, Religious Imagery shows commitment and faithfulness
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. Journey
of Love
Juliet Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this,
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
Romantic words, religious language to show devotion
Romeo Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? in each the relationship. ‘saint’ – Juliet is pure.
Juliet Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. Juliet is reluctant, hesitant and reserved. Mature, or naïve?
Romeo O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do: They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
Juliet Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
Romeo Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purg’d.
Kissing her They share a passionate and persistent kiss,
showing a strong bond, unbreakable even by God.
Juliet Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
Romeo Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg’d! Give me my sin again.
Kissing her again Their first meeting is
Romeo is a good kisser. Maybe Juliet is too structured as a sonnet,
innocent to know what a kiss feels like.
Juliet You kiss by th’ book. like a love poem, showing
their strong love and
Continues on the next page devotion for each other.
Page 4 By Meet Shah (11.11)
,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting (continued – disturbed by the Nurse)
Nurse Madam, your mother craves a word with you. Lady Capulet is of high authority and reputation.
Romeo What is her mother?
Struck by fate, overcome with sadness and
Nurse Her mother is the lady of the house… utter distress. The exclamation mark and
rhetorical questions emphasises Romeo
Romeo Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt. being unable to believe the Nurse and
hatred towards the feud.
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Juliet What’s he that follows here, that would not dance? Her devotion and
unconditional love is
Nurse I know not. expressed as she will
die without Romeo.
Juliet Go ask his name.–If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed. Perhaps, it fore-
shadows the future.
Nurse His name is Romeo, and a Montague, the only son of your great enemy.
‘must’ showing She loves Romeo, despite
Juliet My only love sprung from my only hate! extreme love. the hatred and ancient
‘loathed’ emphasising
Too early seen unknown, and known too late! the useless feud.
feud, similar to Romeo. The
exclamations emphasise
Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy. strong shock/surprise.
Act 2 – Key Quotes
Act 2 Scene 1
Late Sunday night: outside Capulet’s orchard. Enter Romeo alone
Mercutio sees the love as being fake, and unreal.
Mercutio If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
Mercutio light-heartedly jokes,
As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone. O Romeo, that she were,
and makes sexual references of
O that she were an open-arse, thou a pop’rin pear! Romeo’s unrequited love.
Benvolio Go then, for ’tis in vain. To seek him here that means not to be found. (Romeo stays hidden)
Act 2 Scene 2
Very late Sunday night/early Monday morning: Capulet’s orchard. Romeo advances
Romeo But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon… Juliet is referred to as light, bringing hope and happiness in
Romeo’s life. She also brings warmth, and comfort, as
Juliet appears aloft as at a window does the sun and light.
Romeo Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven … To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp, her eyes in heaven.
stream so bright that birds would sing and think it were not night. Romeo is passionate from being madly
in love, describing Juliet as if she an
angel. Flattered, awestruck by beauty.
Juliet Ay me!
Romeo O speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
She is ready to
As is a winged messenger of heaven… be disown her
family and to be
Juliet O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; with Romeo,
showing her
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet. extreme
devotion in love.
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,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Juliet What’s in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other word would smell as sweet…
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Romeo By a name, I know not how to tell thee who I am. My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself.
Because it is an enemy to thee; Had I it written, I would tear the word. Romeo hates his name
and status in society
Juliet Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? Like Juliet, Romeo is ready to get
as a Montague, all
rid of his ‘name’, if Juliet doesn’t
because it is opposed
Romeo Neither, fair maid, if thee dislike. like it. The verb ‘tear’ portrays his
to by his love, Juliet.
extreme hatred.
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Romeo With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out, Romeo’s love
for Juliet is
And what love can do, that dares love attempt: therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me. unstoppable.
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Juliet If they do see thee, they will murder thee. He is willing to die for Juliet. Foreshadowing the future? Power of fate?
Romeo I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes, and but thou love me, let them find me here;
My life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
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Juliet Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Ay’; and I will take thy word; yet if thou swear’st,
Thou mayst prove false: at lover’s prejuries, they say Jove laughs. If thou dost love, pronounce it
faithfully. Juliet wants true love and commitment. Presents her as mature? Or innocent?
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Fears
Juliet O swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circl’d orb. heart
break
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Juliet My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; more I give to thee … for both are infinite.
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Her love is immeasurable, impulsive
character, immense love for Romeo.
Juliet Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow… Simile used by Shakespeare (AO2)
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Serious about a relationship.
Juliet Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
Romeo Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Saying goodbye to his love breaks his heart, he
wants to be with Juliet forever. Audience might see
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! him as reckless and impulsive.
Hence I will to my ghostly sire’s close cell, his help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.
Act 2 Scene 3
Monday morning: Friar Lawrence’s cell.
Friar … grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night … eastern clouds with streaks of light …
Lawrence fleckled darkness … day to cheer and night’s dank … Oxymorons foreshadowing darkness and gloom.
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Friar … Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight.
Romeo That last is true…
Friar God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline?
Page 6 By Meet Shah (11.11)
,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Romeo With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; I have forgot that name, and that name’s woe.
I have been feasting with mine enemy
Romeo My heart’s dear love is set on the fair daughter of rich Capulet…
But this I pray, that thou consent to marry us today. Asking Friar to marry him to Juliet.
Friar Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here! Friar is shocked and surprised, as Romeo went from sad to delighted.
Friar For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love.
Friar Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast… Friar hopes that the Feud ends from this marriage.
Act 2 Scene 4 Friar is warning Romeo and Juliet to be careful, possibly foreshadowing the power of fate and what happens later on.
Verona: a street. Enter Benvolio and Mercutio Insults Rosaline for breaking Romeo’s heart.
Mercutio Why, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline, torments him so, that he will sure run mad.
Benvolio Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet, hath sent a letter to his father’s house.
Mercutio A challenge, on my life. Tybalt has challenged Romeo to a fight, as a way to punish Romeo for
going to the Capulet party. Mercutio is angered by this.
Benvolio Romeo will answer it.
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Mercutio Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead, stabbed with a white wench’s black eye, run through the ear
with a love-song, the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy’s butt-shaft, and he is a man
to encounter Tybalt? Romeo is too upset, metaphor of the song used, to show Romeo is too lovesick.
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Enter Romeo
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Enter Nurse and her man Peter
Nurse My fan, Peter. Making herself seem of higher class/status by making the servant fan her.
Mercutio Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s the fairer face.
Insulting the nurse, fan is prettier, being cheeky.
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Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio Nurse and Romeo
mock Mercutio’s
Nurse I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this that was so full of his ropery? attitude.
Romeo A gentleman, Nurse, that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will
stand to in a month.
Nurse … But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her in a fool’s paradise, as they say, it were a very gross
kind of behaviour, as they say; for the gentlewoman is young; therefore, if you should deal double
with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.
Romeo Nurse, commend to thy lady and mistress… Nurse is protective and
caring, contrasting Lady
Romeo And there she shall at Friar Lawrence’s cell be shriv’d and married. Capulet, as she warns
Romeo not to play with
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Juliet’s emotions, for she
Romeo informs the Nurse, to let Juliet know that they will is young and naïve.
get married by Friar Lawrence.
Page 7 By Meet Shah (11.11)
, GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Act 2 Scene 5
Capulet’s house: Enter Juliet
Juliet The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse;
In half an hour she promis’d to return. Juliet is extremely impatient to get an answer
Perchance she cannot meet him: that’s not so. from Romeo, that she calls the Nurse lame.
O, she is lame! Love’s heralds should be thoughts, Audience might see her as impulsive,
Which ten times faster glides than the sun’s beams, innocent, naïve, and ‘head-over-heels in love’.
Driving back shadows over low’ring hills;
Therefore, do nimble-pinoin’d doves draw Love,
And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.
Now is the sun upon the highmost hill Imagery of love and passion to
Of this day’s journey and from nine till twelve show her devoted feelings to
Is three long hours, yet she is not come. Romeo. Doves and cupid
Had she affections and warm youthful blood, wings are a symbol of love.
She would be as swift in motion as a ball;
My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
And his to me.
But old folks, many feign as they were dead,
Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.
Juliet uses a ectionate words
Enter Nurse with Peter towards Nurse, to get the
O God, she comes! O honey Nurse, what news? news out of her. Suggesting a
Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away. close, strong, relationship.
Audience might see her as
Juliet Now, good sweet Nurse – O Lord, why look’st thou sad? crazy and madly in love.
Nurse I am a-weary, give me leave a while.
Fie, how my bones ache! What a jaunce have I! Nurse is amusing, and doesn’t
Nurse Do you not see that I am out of breath? give in to Juliet immediately.
Their relationship is close and
Juliet Is thy news good or bad? Answer to that. playful.
Let me be satisfied, is’t good or bad?
Nurse Yet his leg excels all men’s, and for a hand a foot and a body, though they be not to be talked on, yet
they are past compare.
Juliet What says he of our marriage, what of that? Juliet freely speaks to the
Nurse Lord, how my head aches! My back, my back! Nurse, and shares everything
with her; contrasting her
Juliet Sweet, sweet, sweet Nurse, tell me, what says my love? relationship with Lady
Capulet, who should be the
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motherly figure that the
Nurse Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ cell, Nurse is.
There stays a husband to make you a wife.
To fetch a ladder, by the which your love must climb a bird’s nest soon when it is dark.
Romeo is waiting to make you his wife.
Page 8 By Meet Shah (11.11)
Act 1
Scene 1 Fighting breaks out between Capulets and Montagues and the Prince intervenes to stop them. Romeo’s
parents worry about his strange behaviour, and Romeo tells Benvolio about his love for Rosaline.
Scene 2 Paris is eager to marry Juliet and is invited to meet her at a family ball.
Scene 3 Lady Capulet tells Juliet and Nurse about Paris’s proposal.
Scene 4 Benvolio and Mercutio persuade Romeo to join them in a masquerade.
Scene 5 Romeo sees Juliet experiencing love at first sight. Tybalt recognises Romeo, but Capulet refuses Tybalt to
intervene.
Act 2
Scene 1 Romeo hides from his friends, who mock his love for Rosaline.
Scene 2 Juliet sighs out for her new love, unaware Romeo is listening. When he reveals himself, they arrange for the
Nurse to act as their messenger.
Scene 3 Friar Lawrence is persuaded to marry Romeo and Juliet.
Scene 4 Romeo and Mercutio discuss Tybalt’s challenge, and Nurse comes to find Romeo.
Scene 5 The Nurse tells Juliet about Romeo’s arrangements for their marriage.
Scene 6 Romeo and Juliet are married by Friar Lawrence.
Act 3
Scene 1 Mercutio, outraged when Romeo refuses Tybalt’s challenge, draws his own sword resulting in the death of
Mercutio & Tybalt. Romeo is banished from Verona.
Scene 2 Juliet is eagerly waiting from Romeo, but the Nurse brings bad news.
Scene 3 Friar tries to console Romeo and find a solution.
Scene 4 Juliet’s father makes plans for Juliet to marry Paris.
Scene 5 R must leave J, and their parting is interrupted by Nurse when LC brings news of the arranged marriage.
Act 4
Scene 1 Friar Lawrence has a plan to save the situation.
Scene 2 The Capulets are preparing for the wedding. Juliet assures her father that she will obey him, but the wedding
day is changed. She rebels against her parents who threaten to disown her.
Scene 3 Although she is frightened, Juliet takes the Friar’s drug which put her into a deep sleep.
Scene 4 The Capulet household prepares for the wedding and the Nurse goes to wake Juliet.
Scene 5 Juliet cannot be woken; the whole family join to lament. A funeral ceremony is carried out and Juliet is buried
in the Capulet vault. Friar Lawrence had sent a letter to Romeo, who is in Mantua, about the plan.
Act 5
Scene 1 In Mantua, Romeo hears news of Juliet’s death, from his servant Balthasar, who had seen Juliet’s ‘dead’ body.
Romeo is overcome with utter distress as he makes his way back to Verona, to see his dear Juliet.
Scene 2 Friar Lawrence learns that Romeo has not received his letter and hurries to the Capulet Vault.
Scene 3 Paris, praying at Juliet’s tomb, encounters Romeo; they fight, and Paris is killed. Friar Lawrence
is too late to save Romeo, who swallows the poison he bought. When Juliet sees Romeo’s body, she kills herself with
a dagger. At the end, Friar Lawrence confesses everything to both grieving families. This ends the feud, but at the cost
of the two star-cross’d lovers taking their lives.
Page 2 By Meet Shah (11.11)
,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Act 1 – Key Quotes
Act 1 Scene 1 Authoritative
Ox figure
Any more fighting will
Prince If you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. result in death.
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Montague … private in his chamber pens himself, Shut up his windows, locks fair daylight out, …
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Romeo O brawling love, O loving hate, O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Feather of lead, bright smoke,
cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep
Oxymorons to show Oxextreme sadness.
Love is a smoke
Upset and distraught Romeo is in utter despair and distresses
I have lost myself… from ‘unrequited’ love – Rosaline, his
love, doesn’t love him back.
She’ll not be hit With Cupid’s arrow
O, she is rich in beauty, only poor That when she dies, with beauty dies her store.
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Benvolio suggests that Romeo
Benvolio Be rul’d by me, forget to think of her … Examine other beauties
forgets Rosaline and moves on.
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Act 1 Scene 2
Capulet My child is yet a stranger in the world, She hath not seen the change of fourteen years…
My will to her consent is but a part… Shakespeare uses ‘my’ and ‘will’ to show Capulet’s controlling attitude.
Shakespeare uses ‘stranger’ showing that Juliet is naïve and innocent, perhaps as she was brought up restricted.
Act 1 Scene 3
Close relationship, a ectionate attitude
Nurse What, lamb! What, ladybird! God forbid, where’s this girl? of Nurse, Juliet is precious to Nurse,
clear contrast to her parents.
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Formality, royal English,
Lady Capulet Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your dispositions to be married? concerned about reputation
& honour, lack of love and
Juliet It is an honour that I dream not of. Juliet refuses marriage. a ection in the relationship
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Nurse Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.
Mercutio Mock’s Romeo’s feelings and sadness for
unrequited love. Romeo expresses his hatred towards
Act 1 Scene 4 A ectionate, caring motherly figure
love, where Shakespeare uses ‘too’ repeatedly.
Mercutio advises Romeo to fight love back.
Sunday evening. Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio…
Mercutio You area lover, borrow Cupid’s wings, and soar them above a common bound.
Romeo I am too sore enpierced … burden … Simile to express how love is painful to Romeo.
Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boist’rous, and it pricks like thorn.
Mercutio If love be rough with you, be rough with love: prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.
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Romeo I fear too early, for my mind misgives. Some consequence yet hanging in the stars. Shall bitterly
begin his fearful date
Mood changes as Romeo feels uneasy, perhaps
By some vile forfeit of untimely death… this is Shakespeare foreshadowing the future.
‘stars’ suggests the power of fate.
Page 3 By Meet Shah (11.11)
,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Act 1 Scene 5 Love at first sight, light to represent a spark
of hope in Romeo’s sadness. He expresses
Sunday night: Capulet’s house. And Servingmen come forth with napkins. his beauty, and Shakespeare uses a variety
of similes and metaphors. She has bright
Romeo O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! looks and extraordinary beauty.
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear. Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear:
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows To Romeo, Juliet stands out from the rest.
Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
Tybalt Fetch me my rapier, boy. He has not seen anyone more beautiful than Juliet.
What dares the slave come hither… Arrogance, hatred, Montagues are inferior, brave? Foolish?
Now by the stock & honour of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin. Dishonoured, Romeo
has stained his honour
Tybalt Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe: A villain that is hither come in spite… and Capulet reputation.
’Tis he, that villain Romeo. Strong emotions, dramatic irony
takes e ect as the audience
Tybalt It fits when such a villain is a guest: I’ll not endure him.
knows that Romeo is Tybalt’s kin.
Capulet He shall be endur’d. Sympathy for Romeo.
Am I the master here, or you? Go to!
Worried about reputation, controlling and overruling
You’ll make a mutiny among my guests! Tybalt, audience might see Lord Capulet as cowardly
for using reputation as an excuse. He scolds Tybalt,
Capulet You must contrary me! though might be seen as fearful by the audience.
Tybalt Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall …
convert to bitt’rest gall. Foreshadowing the fight & brawl
Extreme rage and anger at Romeo
Feels humiliated
Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting
Romeo This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, Religious Imagery shows commitment and faithfulness
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. Journey
of Love
Juliet Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this,
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
Romantic words, religious language to show devotion
Romeo Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? in each the relationship. ‘saint’ – Juliet is pure.
Juliet Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. Juliet is reluctant, hesitant and reserved. Mature, or naïve?
Romeo O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do: They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
Juliet Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
Romeo Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purg’d.
Kissing her They share a passionate and persistent kiss,
showing a strong bond, unbreakable even by God.
Juliet Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
Romeo Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg’d! Give me my sin again.
Kissing her again Their first meeting is
Romeo is a good kisser. Maybe Juliet is too structured as a sonnet,
innocent to know what a kiss feels like.
Juliet You kiss by th’ book. like a love poem, showing
their strong love and
Continues on the next page devotion for each other.
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,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting (continued – disturbed by the Nurse)
Nurse Madam, your mother craves a word with you. Lady Capulet is of high authority and reputation.
Romeo What is her mother?
Struck by fate, overcome with sadness and
Nurse Her mother is the lady of the house… utter distress. The exclamation mark and
rhetorical questions emphasises Romeo
Romeo Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt. being unable to believe the Nurse and
hatred towards the feud.
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Juliet What’s he that follows here, that would not dance? Her devotion and
unconditional love is
Nurse I know not. expressed as she will
die without Romeo.
Juliet Go ask his name.–If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed. Perhaps, it fore-
shadows the future.
Nurse His name is Romeo, and a Montague, the only son of your great enemy.
‘must’ showing She loves Romeo, despite
Juliet My only love sprung from my only hate! extreme love. the hatred and ancient
‘loathed’ emphasising
Too early seen unknown, and known too late! the useless feud.
feud, similar to Romeo. The
exclamations emphasise
Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy. strong shock/surprise.
Act 2 – Key Quotes
Act 2 Scene 1
Late Sunday night: outside Capulet’s orchard. Enter Romeo alone
Mercutio sees the love as being fake, and unreal.
Mercutio If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
Mercutio light-heartedly jokes,
As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone. O Romeo, that she were,
and makes sexual references of
O that she were an open-arse, thou a pop’rin pear! Romeo’s unrequited love.
Benvolio Go then, for ’tis in vain. To seek him here that means not to be found. (Romeo stays hidden)
Act 2 Scene 2
Very late Sunday night/early Monday morning: Capulet’s orchard. Romeo advances
Romeo But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon… Juliet is referred to as light, bringing hope and happiness in
Romeo’s life. She also brings warmth, and comfort, as
Juliet appears aloft as at a window does the sun and light.
Romeo Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven … To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp, her eyes in heaven.
stream so bright that birds would sing and think it were not night. Romeo is passionate from being madly
in love, describing Juliet as if she an
angel. Flattered, awestruck by beauty.
Juliet Ay me!
Romeo O speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
She is ready to
As is a winged messenger of heaven… be disown her
family and to be
Juliet O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; with Romeo,
showing her
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet. extreme
devotion in love.
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,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Juliet What’s in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other word would smell as sweet…
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Romeo By a name, I know not how to tell thee who I am. My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself.
Because it is an enemy to thee; Had I it written, I would tear the word. Romeo hates his name
and status in society
Juliet Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? Like Juliet, Romeo is ready to get
as a Montague, all
rid of his ‘name’, if Juliet doesn’t
because it is opposed
Romeo Neither, fair maid, if thee dislike. like it. The verb ‘tear’ portrays his
to by his love, Juliet.
extreme hatred.
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Romeo With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out, Romeo’s love
for Juliet is
And what love can do, that dares love attempt: therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me. unstoppable.
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Juliet If they do see thee, they will murder thee. He is willing to die for Juliet. Foreshadowing the future? Power of fate?
Romeo I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes, and but thou love me, let them find me here;
My life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
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Juliet Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Ay’; and I will take thy word; yet if thou swear’st,
Thou mayst prove false: at lover’s prejuries, they say Jove laughs. If thou dost love, pronounce it
faithfully. Juliet wants true love and commitment. Presents her as mature? Or innocent?
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Fears
Juliet O swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circl’d orb. heart
break
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Juliet My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; more I give to thee … for both are infinite.
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Her love is immeasurable, impulsive
character, immense love for Romeo.
Juliet Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow… Simile used by Shakespeare (AO2)
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Serious about a relationship.
Juliet Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
Romeo Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Saying goodbye to his love breaks his heart, he
wants to be with Juliet forever. Audience might see
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! him as reckless and impulsive.
Hence I will to my ghostly sire’s close cell, his help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.
Act 2 Scene 3
Monday morning: Friar Lawrence’s cell.
Friar … grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night … eastern clouds with streaks of light …
Lawrence fleckled darkness … day to cheer and night’s dank … Oxymorons foreshadowing darkness and gloom.
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Friar … Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight.
Romeo That last is true…
Friar God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline?
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,GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Romeo With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; I have forgot that name, and that name’s woe.
I have been feasting with mine enemy
Romeo My heart’s dear love is set on the fair daughter of rich Capulet…
But this I pray, that thou consent to marry us today. Asking Friar to marry him to Juliet.
Friar Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here! Friar is shocked and surprised, as Romeo went from sad to delighted.
Friar For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love.
Friar Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast… Friar hopes that the Feud ends from this marriage.
Act 2 Scene 4 Friar is warning Romeo and Juliet to be careful, possibly foreshadowing the power of fate and what happens later on.
Verona: a street. Enter Benvolio and Mercutio Insults Rosaline for breaking Romeo’s heart.
Mercutio Why, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline, torments him so, that he will sure run mad.
Benvolio Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet, hath sent a letter to his father’s house.
Mercutio A challenge, on my life. Tybalt has challenged Romeo to a fight, as a way to punish Romeo for
going to the Capulet party. Mercutio is angered by this.
Benvolio Romeo will answer it.
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Mercutio Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead, stabbed with a white wench’s black eye, run through the ear
with a love-song, the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy’s butt-shaft, and he is a man
to encounter Tybalt? Romeo is too upset, metaphor of the song used, to show Romeo is too lovesick.
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Enter Romeo
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Enter Nurse and her man Peter
Nurse My fan, Peter. Making herself seem of higher class/status by making the servant fan her.
Mercutio Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s the fairer face.
Insulting the nurse, fan is prettier, being cheeky.
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Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio Nurse and Romeo
mock Mercutio’s
Nurse I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this that was so full of his ropery? attitude.
Romeo A gentleman, Nurse, that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will
stand to in a month.
Nurse … But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her in a fool’s paradise, as they say, it were a very gross
kind of behaviour, as they say; for the gentlewoman is young; therefore, if you should deal double
with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.
Romeo Nurse, commend to thy lady and mistress… Nurse is protective and
caring, contrasting Lady
Romeo And there she shall at Friar Lawrence’s cell be shriv’d and married. Capulet, as she warns
Romeo not to play with
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Juliet’s emotions, for she
Romeo informs the Nurse, to let Juliet know that they will is young and naïve.
get married by Friar Lawrence.
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, GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare
Act 2 Scene 5
Capulet’s house: Enter Juliet
Juliet The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse;
In half an hour she promis’d to return. Juliet is extremely impatient to get an answer
Perchance she cannot meet him: that’s not so. from Romeo, that she calls the Nurse lame.
O, she is lame! Love’s heralds should be thoughts, Audience might see her as impulsive,
Which ten times faster glides than the sun’s beams, innocent, naïve, and ‘head-over-heels in love’.
Driving back shadows over low’ring hills;
Therefore, do nimble-pinoin’d doves draw Love,
And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.
Now is the sun upon the highmost hill Imagery of love and passion to
Of this day’s journey and from nine till twelve show her devoted feelings to
Is three long hours, yet she is not come. Romeo. Doves and cupid
Had she affections and warm youthful blood, wings are a symbol of love.
She would be as swift in motion as a ball;
My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
And his to me.
But old folks, many feign as they were dead,
Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.
Juliet uses a ectionate words
Enter Nurse with Peter towards Nurse, to get the
O God, she comes! O honey Nurse, what news? news out of her. Suggesting a
Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away. close, strong, relationship.
Audience might see her as
Juliet Now, good sweet Nurse – O Lord, why look’st thou sad? crazy and madly in love.
Nurse I am a-weary, give me leave a while.
Fie, how my bones ache! What a jaunce have I! Nurse is amusing, and doesn’t
Nurse Do you not see that I am out of breath? give in to Juliet immediately.
Their relationship is close and
Juliet Is thy news good or bad? Answer to that. playful.
Let me be satisfied, is’t good or bad?
Nurse Yet his leg excels all men’s, and for a hand a foot and a body, though they be not to be talked on, yet
they are past compare.
Juliet What says he of our marriage, what of that? Juliet freely speaks to the
Nurse Lord, how my head aches! My back, my back! Nurse, and shares everything
with her; contrasting her
Juliet Sweet, sweet, sweet Nurse, tell me, what says my love? relationship with Lady
Capulet, who should be the
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motherly figure that the
Nurse Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ cell, Nurse is.
There stays a husband to make you a wife.
To fetch a ladder, by the which your love must climb a bird’s nest soon when it is dark.
Romeo is waiting to make you his wife.
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