Romeo + Juliet

• Nurse


  “Why, he’s a man of wax.” - Metaphor, Nurse describes Paris a man of perfection
• Juliet 


  “Saint do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.” - Religious imagery, Juliet flirting w Romeo, Juliet says she will not move if Romeo kisses her
• Juliet


  “If he be married, / My grave is like to be my wedding bed” - Dramatic irony—she ends up dying for love. Shows intensity and speed of her feelings
• Romeo - “O brawling love! O loving hate!”


  Oxymorons - Shows Romeo’s confusion and emotional immaturity. He romanticises love and pain, typical of Petrarchan love.
• Romeo : “Did my heart love till now? / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” (Act 1)


  Rhetorical question - He instantly forgets Rosaline when he sees Juliet—shows impulsiveness and superficial attraction.
• Romeo : “With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls” (Act 2)


  Metaphor - He compares love to wings, showing how he feels love gives him strength and freedom—romantic but reckless.
• Juliet : “Deny thy father and refuse thy name” (Act 2)


  Imperative Language - Juliet is brave and rebellious—she’s willing to go against her family for love
• Juliet : “I have no joy of this contract tonight. / It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden” (Act 2)


  Repetition - She’s more cautious than Romeo. Even though she loves him, she realises how fast everything is moving.
• Juliet : “O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die.” (Act 5)


  Personification/metaphor - She welcomes death to be with Romeo—shows her devotion and the tragedy of their love.
• Lord Capulet : “Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch!” (Act 3)


  Exclamation - His attitude changes drastically. He becomes aggressive and controlling when Juliet refuses to marry Paris—shows patriarchal power
• Lady Capulet : “Nurse, where’s my daughter? Call her forth to me.” (Act 1)


  Question - Shows Lady Capulet’s emotional distance from Juliet. The Nurse is closer to her daughter than she is
• Nurse : “What lamb! What ladybird!” (Act 1)


  Zoomorphism - Shows her close, loving relationship with Juliet. She’s more of a mother figure than Lady Capulet
• Nurse : “Romeo’s a dishclout to him” (Act 3)


  Metaphor - The Nurse betrays Juliet emotionally by saying Paris is better. It’s the moment Juliet loses trust in her.
• Lord Montague : “I will raise her statue in pure gold” (Act 5)


  Symbolism - Expresses his grief and desire to honour Juliet. Again, only tragedy brings the families together
• Mercutio : “If love be rough with you, be rough with love” (Act 1)


  Repetition - Mercutio mocks Romeo’s romanticism. He’s witty, bold, and sees love more physically than emotionally.
• Mercutio : “A plague a’both your houses!” (Act 3)


  Foreshadowing - As he dies, he curses both families. This moment marks the turning point of the play. he repeats this because of his anger and disbelief at what has happened to him and that he is frustrated that he is going to die.
• Tybalt : “Peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.” (Act 1)


  Repetition, Religious Imagery - Tybalt is violent, proud, and obsessed with honour. He despises peace and lives for the feud
• Capulet : God’s bread! It makes me mad.


  Religious imagery - He’s furious that Juliet won’t marry Paris. The reference to “God’s bread” reflects his frustration being almost sacred—his pride is deeply wounded
• Capulet : Let two more summers wither in their pride.


  Temporal imagery - shows he wants her to grow naturally and not be rushed. At this point, he seems like a caring father who prioritises Juliet’s well-being over social gain. But this contrasts heavily with his later attitude when he forces her to marry Paris
• Paris : Younger than she are happy mothers made.


  Patriarchal assumption - Paris argues Juliet is ready for marriage. It reflects the societal norms where girls are expected to marry and bear children young.
• Paris : Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander’d it.


  Possessive language - Paris sees Juliet as his property. The line shows his arrogance and sense of entitlement—he loves the idea of her more than Juliet herself
• Lady Montague : O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today?


  Rhetorical question - Shows Lady Montague’s concern for Romeo. Unlike Lady Capulet, she actively seeks his wellbeing, showing a more nurturing side
• Lady Capulet : Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word.


  Dismissive tone - When Juliet begs for help, Lady Capulet abandons her. This emotional coldness reveals the lack of maternal closeness between them
• Lady Capulet : So shall you share all that he doth possess.


  Materialism - Lady Capulet encourages Juliet to marry Paris for wealth and status. This shows her focus on social advancement rather than love or Juliet’s happiness
• Lord Montague : Black and portentous must this humour prove.


  Dark imagery - Montague speaks of Romeo’s sadness. He recognises something ominous and serious in his son’s behaviour, showing concern as a father
• Nurse : Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.


  Vulgar language : suggests that Nurse has a close relationship with Juliet - she’s not afraid to make vulgar jokes and sec and tease Juliet. Nurse also wants Juliet to enjoy life and find herself a good husband
• Romeo : It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. 


  Celestial imagery : Romeo describes Juliet’s window as “the east” because the sun rises in the east. Romeo implies that Juliet is too perfect to be human. She also is the source of light and hope.
• Friar Lawrence : Thy love did read by rote and could not spell.


  emotive language : Friar means that Romeo has learnt to recite words about love, but doesn’t really understand what they mean or what love is.
• Friar Lawrence : Violent delights have violent ends


  Repetition : he warns Romeo about his impulsive approach to love.
• Romeo : fire-eyes fury be my conduct now!


  Alliteration: Romeo is spitting the words out in anger because he is angry at tybalt and wants revenge.
• Prince : A glooming peace this morning with it brings


  Symbolism - mornings traditionally symbolise new beginning. the peace between the Montague and Capulets represents a new chapter for the virtues of Verona.