Analysis of Act Two, Scenes 3-4

Question 1

Give an example from Act 2, Scene 3 that shows Romeo’s close relationship with Friar Lawrence.

Answer 1

Friar Lawrence calls Romeo “Young son” and “my good son”, which suggests that he acts as a father figure to Romeo.

Question 2

Why does Friar Lawrence agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?
A. Romeo tricks him into
agreeing
B. He thinks they are a
good match
C. He wants to end the
family feud
D. He doesn’t realise
they’ve just met

Answer 2

C. Friar Lawrence hopes that the “alliance” between Romeo and Juliet will lead to peace between their families by turning their “households’ rancour” (hatred) into “pure love”.

Question 3

Friar Lawrence tells Romeo that “Young men’s love” can be found “Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes”. What do you think he means by this?

Answer 3

He means that young men like Romeo fall in love with Women that they find beautiful (women that they love with their “eyes”) rather than truly loving them in their “hearts”. Friar Lawrence is suggesting that because Romeo has fallen out of love with Rosaline so quickly, his love for Juliet might be shallow and motivated by her beauty.

Question 4

How would you describe the mood of Act 2, Scene 4?
What technique does Shakespeare use to create this mood?

Answer 4

The mood of Act 2, Scene 4 is lightened and humorous. Romeo and Mercutio joke with each other and then Mercutio and Benvolio tease the Nurse when she arrives. Shakespeare uses wordplay to add comedy to Romeo and Mercutio’s conversation, and has Mercutio insult the Nurse in a humorous way by comparing her clothes to the “sail” of a ship referring to her as “ancient lady”.