Romeo & Juliet

• Oxymoron


  A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms
• Shakespeare's use of oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet

  • Establishes a pattern of emotional outburst
  • Reinforces Romeo's inner turmoil
• Brawling love

  The term 'brawling' is typically associated with aggression and fighting, whereas the term 'love' is associated with affection and romance, highlighting the ambivalent emotions experienced by Romeo
• Romeo as an archetypal Petrarchan lover


  • Shakespeare is playing on an established trope (a recurring idea) from Elizabethan England
  • A "Petrarchan lover" is a person who suffers greatly as their love is unrequited
• Religious imagery

  Suggests Romeo and Juliet's love can only be described through the language of religion, thus elevating it above the cliched language Romeo used when describing his love for Rosaline
• Holy shrine


  In the context of the text, has connotations of love that is true and pure
• Shakespeare's use of religious imagery

  • Influenced by the religious turmoil in Elizabethan England
  • Highlights the purity of Romeo and Juliet's relationship and juxtaposes it with the sexual desire felt with Rosaline
• Honour

  Has connotations of a blessing and associations with reputation and respectability, reflecting the fact that marriage was a vehicle for social advancement for women in Elizabethan England
• Shakespeare's exploration of the expectation for daughters to marry well

  • Commenting on ideas around social hierarchy in Elizabethan England
  • Daughters were expected to follow their father's expectation to marry and advance their family's status
• Mansion of love

  An extended metaphor used by Shakespeare to create the image of marriage as a business transaction, reflecting contemporary beliefs
• Shakespeare's use of the character of Juliet

  • Explores the role of women in a patriarchal society where marriage was a business transaction to advance a family's wealth and status
• Shakespeare's crafting of the character of the Friar

  • Reinforces the Elizabethan belief that a person's fate is predetermined by God
• Wish

  Has connotations of desire and aspiration, suggesting the Nurse views the ultimate goal for Juliet is a good marriage
• Shakespeare's presentation of the relationship between Juliet and the Nurse

  • As affectionate and warm, critical of Elizabethan upper class parenting norms
• Shakespeare's portrayal of the Nurse

  • As a surrogate mother for Juliet, critical of Elizabethan parenting norms amongst the wealthy
• Shakespeare's presentation of Lady Capulet's relationship with Juliet

  • As cold and unloving, critical of Elizabethan upper class parenting norms
• The use of the imperative verb 'leave' creates a tone of authority suggesting that Lady Capulet has power over the nurse


  This is undermined by the imperative verb 'come back' which creates a tone of reluctance and fear suggesting that Lady Capulet does not feel comfortable being alone with her own daughter
• The use of the hyphen where Lady Capulet summons the Nurse back symbolises how little time Lady Capulet can bare spending alone has with her daughter
• Shakespeare uses the noun 'boy' as an insult: first Capulet calls Tybalt a 'boy' to emphasise that Tybalt is his inferior. Later, Tybalt calls Romeo 'boy' as well to do the same thing

  MAN vs BOY
• Shakespeare's use of the rhetorical question "Am I the master here or you?" has a tone of expectation and anger


  It links to the Natural Order and how Capulet expects to be obeyed because God has chosen him to be head of the household
• Shakespeare's use of the contradictory phrase "nay more" crafts a tone of certainty


  It links to the Natural Order and how Capulet expects to be obeyed because he is the family patriarch and to disobey him would be unthinkable
• Tybalt: '"ad I hold it not a sin"'
• Shakespeare's employment of a semantic field of status

  • Such as 'stock' and 'honour' reinforces the idea Tybalt feels the need to use violence to protect his family's position in society
• The term 'sin'


  Typically associated with evil and wrongdoing suggesting Tybalt sees the Montagues as an evil within Verona
• Shakespeare's use of the verb 'strike'

  Creates a combative tone, foreshadowing Tybalt's later violent acts
• Tybalt: '"Peace? I hate the word, as I hate Hell, all Montagues, and thee"'
• Benvolio: '"Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do."'
• Shakespeare's use of the term 'fools'

  Would have been associated with entertainers whose role would be to entertain royalty. Through this term, Benvolio reminds these servants that their role is to serve those above them rather than go against their social status by causing trouble in the streets
• Shakespeare's use of the term 'fools'


  Has connotations of stupidity suggesting that Benvolio views conflict as needless and unnecessary
• Shakespeare's use of imperative verbs 'part' and 'put up'

  Create a tone of authority, suggesting that Benvolio is desperately trying to assert his higher class status over the servants to prevent the street brawl
• Mercutio: '"O calm, dishonourable, vile submission."'
• Shakespeare's use of an asyndetic list

  Contributes to an increasingly angry mood, creating the sense that Mercutio's rage will lead to violence
• Shakespeare's use of the adjective "vile"


  Has connotations of deep disgust, suggesting that Mercutio is sickened at his friend's decision to not fight
• Shakespeare's use of the phrase "calm, dishonourable"


  Is symbolic of the ideas around masculinity and honour, where men were compelled to defend these physically and publicly
• Mercutio: '"A plague o' both your houses. They have made worms' meat of me."'
• Shakespeare's highly emotive use of the metaphor "plague"

  Creates an intensely angry mood here, as Mercutio curses both his enemy and the family he died for
• Mercutio's description of his death in strictly physical and unromantic terms: "worms' meat"


  Emphasises the cynical and hopeless tone
• The Prologue: '"From ancient grudge break to new mutiny."'
• Paris suggests that Juliet will be happy to marry at 13


  The use of the word "happy mothers" has connotations of parenthood, reinforcing societal expectations that marriage is to grow and strengthen a family, not for love
• Paris' use of the adjective "younger"


  Creates a desperate tone – Paris is clearly attempting to persuade Capulet to allow him to marry Juliet sooner rather than later by suggesting that some girls are already married by Juliet's age