Romeo and Juliet

• “Strong limits cannot hold love out” - Romeo


  Shakespeare creates a haven of romantic hope momentarily separates undertones of violence + conflict

  Theme = Love
• “Deny thy father refuse thy name“ - Juliet Act 2 Scene 2


  -Semantic field , “deny” , “refuse” highlights defiance illustrating her rebellion against the constraints of her family feud + commitment to true love
• “My only love sprung from my only hate !” - Juliet Act 1 


  -Juxtaposes love and hate encapsulates the core conflict of R+J foreshadows passion and violence

  -The two forces will become indistinguishable (identical) catalysing (accelerating) the tragedy further

  -Repeated use of the pronoun “My” highlights Juliets prioritisation of her own love over societal and familial expectations that once restricted her

  -Theme = Love + Violence

  -Techniques , Juxtaposition , repetition , foreshadowing
• “If he be married , my grave is like to be my wedding bed“ - Act 1 , Juliet 


  -Dramatic Irony (audience knows something character doesn’t) the prologue “star - crossed lovers” sets the stage for the audience (foretelling the tragic destiny awaiting R+J

  -Creates dramatic Irony since Juliet remains unaware of her impending fate

  -Her impulsive nature becomes her Harmatia (tragic flaw) , fails to grasp true consequences of pursuing forbidden love

  Theme = Fate , violence , love
• “Then I defy , you stars“ - Act 5 Romeo 


  -Exclamative sentence emphasises Romeos descent into despair + recognition of the tragic fate that awaits him

  -Defiance against societal , religious and familial boundaries
• “There lie more peril in her eye / Than twenty of their swords” Act 2 Romeo


  -Violent imagery Romeos subconscious recognition of the violence intertwined with his love towards Juliet

  -Young Eponymous characters blinded by passion + ignorant to the peril (danger) of the prohibited love
• “It is the east and Juliet is the sun” - Romeo


  -Metaphor / personification creates the idea that the sun represents Juliets beauty
• “Ancient Grudge”
• “Civil hands unclean”
• “Villain is a guest“ - Tybalt , referring to Romeo being uninvited to the Capulets party
• “am I the master here or you?” - Lord Capulet
• “Saucy boy” - Lord Capulet mocking Tybalt saying he is somebody who is silly and likes to cause trouble
• “I will withdraw” - Tybalt , backs down to Lord Capulet demonstrates the power of the great chain of being
• “I am hurt” - Mercutio , Tybalt killed Mercutio
• “A plague O both your houses!” - Mercutio
• “O sweet Juliet” - Romeo
• “My reputation stain’d” - Romeo
• “Here comes the furious Tybalt” - Benvolio
• “If she lives to see Juliet wed , she will die content” - Nurse
• “I think you are happy in this second match , for it excels your first” - Nurse
• “O, he’s a lovely gentleman” - Refers to Romeo (The nurse says this to Juliet)