Mercutio Flashcards
Give a quote from Act 1 Scene 3 where Mercutio tells Romeo to not be held down by love
“Borrow cupid’s wings and soar with them above a common bound”
In Act 1 Scene 3, How did Mercutio tell Romeo to treat love and what does this show about Mercutios nature? (give a quote)
“If love be rough with you, be rough with love”
- shows that Mercutio would never allow the heavy burden of love to control him
In Act 1 Scene 3, Mercutio says that “dreamers often…
lie”
Analyse one quote from the queen mab speech (Act 1 Scene 3)
“she gallops night by night, through lovers brains, and then they dream of love”
- this shows that Mercutio sees love as a fantasy/dreamscape and doesnt believe in it
How does Mercutio describe dreams in Act 1 Scene 3?
he says that dreams are “the children of an idle brain”. This shows that dreams dont show the reality of life
Give 2 examples of sexual jokes in Act 2 Scene 1, that Mercutio says to mock Romeo about his former love for Rosaline?
“quivering thigh…and that there adjacent lie”
“Oh that she were an open arse and thou a poperin pear”
What does Mercutio call Romeo in Act 2 Scene 4, and what does this highlight
he calls Romeo a “hard-hearted wrench”
- this highlights the fact that Mercutio doesnt know about Romeos relationship with Juliet
In Act 2 Scene 4, what does Mercutio call Tybalt (behind his back) and what does this tell us about Mercutios character?
“Prince of Cats”
- This tell us that Mercutio is a bold, fearless character
Give a quote in Act 2 Scene 4, by Mercutio that proves that Romeo used to speak in Petrarchan sonnets
“Now Is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in”
Give a quote from Act 2 Scene 4 where Mercutio was joking around with Romeo
“Why then is my pump well flowered”
Give 3 quotes from Act 2 Scene 4, where Mercutio deliberately mocks the nurse
“Her fans the fairer face”
“A bawd, a bawd”
“Farewell, ancient lady”
Give a quote from Act 2 Scene 4, where Mercutio makes a sexual joke about the clock/time and what could this indicate/foreshadow
“the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon”
- Indicates Mercutios sexual nature
- could foreshadow the fact that Romeo and Juliet would soon consummate their marriage in short/due ‘time’
In Act 2 Scene 4, Mercutio says “Now art thou Romeo”
Why is this quote important? (state 2 reasons)
- Mercutio says “now art thou romeo” whilst in the other scenes, Romeo would say “This is not Romeo”. This highlights the fact that Romeo knows things that Mercutio doesnt (irony)
- Could indicate that Romeo’s change in behaviour after meeting Juliet is apparent
Give a quote from Act 3 Scene 1 where Mercutio describes Benvolio as a hot-headed person and what does this suggest
“Thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy”
- Mercutio could have really been describing himself through Benvolio
Give 3 quotes that show Mercutio deliberately encouraging a fight with Tybalt, in Act 3 Scene 1
- “Couple it with something, make it a word and a blow”
- “Consort, what dost thou make us minstrels”
- “Could you not take some occasion without giving?’
