Romeo and Juliet
Keeping track questions
Act 2
Scene 1
Where is Romeo when Benvolio and Mercutio are speaking? Can we hear them? How do
we know?
Instead of leaving the party with Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo tries to find Juliet. This is
another social pressure that Romeo must face; his friends.
He thus decides to “go forward” where his heart is, and hence he makes a “turn back” to go
to Juliet. “Here" is Capulet's house, where Juliet is. He doesn’t take time to contemplate and
is quick on deciding to go to his “heart” who is Juliet. He must instead try to find Juliet.
This expresses his immense love for Juliet.
Romeo metaphorically describes himself as dull, heavy earth, or dirt, which falls toward the
centre of the earth by gravity. But in another sense, Romeo is comparing his body to dull
dirt, which is drawn toward its centre of attraction: Juliet. This can be suggested as
foreshadow as this echoes the biblical notion of our bodies returning to the earth upon
death "dust to dust."
,Scene 2
What does Romeo mean when he says, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound”?
Explain how this foreshadows and mirrors what happens later.
This arises as Mercutio begins to ridicule him, claiming that Romeo has been made weak by
love. Romeo says that Mercutio “jests” suggesting he is joking about something which is the
love he never felt or experienced. vAs a way of mocking what he believes is Romeo’s
overwrought love for Rosaline, Mercutio takes the part of Romeo and compares Rosaline to
all the most famous beauties of antiquity, finding Rosaline far superior.
This foreshadows Mercutio’s death later on in the play as he dies because of a wound.
Romeo’s words make this seem ironical
When is the first time in this scene that the lovers speak directly to each other? What is
each talking about at this point?
In this scene, Romeo professes his love for Juliet in a remarkably romantic manner.
Shakespeare uses a form of blason, a form of love poetry particularly popular in the
Elizabethan times where various parts of a woman's body are described using metaphors
generally related to nature.
Shakespeare uses light and dark imagery in this scene to describe the blossoming of Romeo
and Juliet's romance. As Romeo stands in the shadows, he looks to the balcony and
compares Juliet to the sun.
Elizabethan audiences would have instantly recognised it when Romeo proclaims “It is the
east, and Juliet is the sun”. At first glance, we know that Romeo is in love with Juliet. He
compares her metaphorically to the “sun” suggesting she is bright, powerful. Romeo sees
, Juliet as someone who brings light to his heart. Romeo had always compared Rosaline to the
moon, and now, his love for Juliet has outshone the moon.
Juliet later responds to Romeo that he would be just as perfect even if his name was not
Romeo. She says Romeo should take away his surname from “Montague” the opposing
household to Juliet’s family who they have constant fights and banters with to “Capulet”
and rather be a part of her family to which Romeo agrees only if Romeo gives him her love.
In lines 62-70 Juliet is concerned about two things. What are they?
In these lines, the first thing Juliet is concerned about is if her “kinsmen find” Romeo. She
explains to him the orchard walls are high, making it hard to climb over them. Juliet is
worried that Romeo may be recognized and killed by “kinsmen” or the Capulet guards. As a
Montague and enemy of Juliet's family, Romeo is risking his life by climbing into their
domain.
The second thing Juliet is concerned about is about Romeo’s name. She pleads with Romeo
to change his name. We can understand that Romeo’s name is Juliet’s enemy. Juliet believes
Romeo will still be himself even if he quit being a Montague. Juliet then goes on to say, that
a rose would smell just as sweet if we called it by any other name. Similarly, Romeo would
be just as perfect even if he wasn’t called Romeo. She appeals to Romeo, to lose his name
and trade-in his name which has nothing to do with him and take all of her in exchange.
How does Romeo correspond to her concerns?
Romeo is irrational in terms of his response and his replies show that unlike the practical
Juliet, he acts recklessly as if he is so excited that nothing could harm him.
It is useful to note that when Romeo says he'd rather be killed by the Capulets' swords than
by waiting for Juliet to love him, it is one of several occasions that the couple professes that
they prefer death to separation. This foreshadows the lover’s death in the acts to come.
Keeping track questions
Act 2
Scene 1
Where is Romeo when Benvolio and Mercutio are speaking? Can we hear them? How do
we know?
Instead of leaving the party with Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo tries to find Juliet. This is
another social pressure that Romeo must face; his friends.
He thus decides to “go forward” where his heart is, and hence he makes a “turn back” to go
to Juliet. “Here" is Capulet's house, where Juliet is. He doesn’t take time to contemplate and
is quick on deciding to go to his “heart” who is Juliet. He must instead try to find Juliet.
This expresses his immense love for Juliet.
Romeo metaphorically describes himself as dull, heavy earth, or dirt, which falls toward the
centre of the earth by gravity. But in another sense, Romeo is comparing his body to dull
dirt, which is drawn toward its centre of attraction: Juliet. This can be suggested as
foreshadow as this echoes the biblical notion of our bodies returning to the earth upon
death "dust to dust."
,Scene 2
What does Romeo mean when he says, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound”?
Explain how this foreshadows and mirrors what happens later.
This arises as Mercutio begins to ridicule him, claiming that Romeo has been made weak by
love. Romeo says that Mercutio “jests” suggesting he is joking about something which is the
love he never felt or experienced. vAs a way of mocking what he believes is Romeo’s
overwrought love for Rosaline, Mercutio takes the part of Romeo and compares Rosaline to
all the most famous beauties of antiquity, finding Rosaline far superior.
This foreshadows Mercutio’s death later on in the play as he dies because of a wound.
Romeo’s words make this seem ironical
When is the first time in this scene that the lovers speak directly to each other? What is
each talking about at this point?
In this scene, Romeo professes his love for Juliet in a remarkably romantic manner.
Shakespeare uses a form of blason, a form of love poetry particularly popular in the
Elizabethan times where various parts of a woman's body are described using metaphors
generally related to nature.
Shakespeare uses light and dark imagery in this scene to describe the blossoming of Romeo
and Juliet's romance. As Romeo stands in the shadows, he looks to the balcony and
compares Juliet to the sun.
Elizabethan audiences would have instantly recognised it when Romeo proclaims “It is the
east, and Juliet is the sun”. At first glance, we know that Romeo is in love with Juliet. He
compares her metaphorically to the “sun” suggesting she is bright, powerful. Romeo sees
, Juliet as someone who brings light to his heart. Romeo had always compared Rosaline to the
moon, and now, his love for Juliet has outshone the moon.
Juliet later responds to Romeo that he would be just as perfect even if his name was not
Romeo. She says Romeo should take away his surname from “Montague” the opposing
household to Juliet’s family who they have constant fights and banters with to “Capulet”
and rather be a part of her family to which Romeo agrees only if Romeo gives him her love.
In lines 62-70 Juliet is concerned about two things. What are they?
In these lines, the first thing Juliet is concerned about is if her “kinsmen find” Romeo. She
explains to him the orchard walls are high, making it hard to climb over them. Juliet is
worried that Romeo may be recognized and killed by “kinsmen” or the Capulet guards. As a
Montague and enemy of Juliet's family, Romeo is risking his life by climbing into their
domain.
The second thing Juliet is concerned about is about Romeo’s name. She pleads with Romeo
to change his name. We can understand that Romeo’s name is Juliet’s enemy. Juliet believes
Romeo will still be himself even if he quit being a Montague. Juliet then goes on to say, that
a rose would smell just as sweet if we called it by any other name. Similarly, Romeo would
be just as perfect even if he wasn’t called Romeo. She appeals to Romeo, to lose his name
and trade-in his name which has nothing to do with him and take all of her in exchange.
How does Romeo correspond to her concerns?
Romeo is irrational in terms of his response and his replies show that unlike the practical
Juliet, he acts recklessly as if he is so excited that nothing could harm him.
It is useful to note that when Romeo says he'd rather be killed by the Capulets' swords than
by waiting for Juliet to love him, it is one of several occasions that the couple professes that
they prefer death to separation. This foreshadows the lover’s death in the acts to come.
