R+J Friar Quotes

Question 1

fill in the blank

‘ The earth ……………………………… is the tomb’

A2S3

Answer 1

‘ The earth that’s nature’s mother is the tomb’ - *
* The ‘earth’, the source of life, is also the ‘tomb’, the place of death (juxtaposition)
* Foreshadows how Romeo’s love for Juliet, which gives him vitality, will be the cause of his untimely death
* Similar to the combination of love/hate – all positive things come with some form of negativity.
* DRAMATIC IRONY

A2S3

Question 2

fill in the blank

“Within the i…. …… … ….. ….. …… Poison hath residence, and …….. power”

A2S3

Answer 2

“Within the infant rind of this weak flower Poison hath residence, and medicine power”
* states how medicine and poison are so closely linked together.
* Insinuates that with healing there is also pain and suffering
* Foreshadow’s the ending of the play, their families come to peace through the poisons drank.
* Substances which heal you, also have the power to kill. Vice Versa.

A2S3

Links to Act 1 Scene 1 in the Prince’s speech where he states ‘Canker’d with peace, to part your canker’d hate’

Question 3

fill in the blanks

‘These ….. ……. …… ……. ends’

A2S6

Answer 3

These violent delights have violent ends

• Strongly focused on the potential disaster which accompanied this union -> high level of insight. Repetition of ‘violent’ -> extent of potential tragedy
• However, he still decides to marry them anyway —> moral ambiguity

A2S6

Question 4

fill in the blanks

“Come …… …… and we will ….. …… …..”

A2S6

Answer 4

“Come, come with me and we will make short work”

A2S6

• Though given all his warnings, he still commits to joining the couple together in marriage whereas he should have believed in the sanctity of marriage instead of rushing the ceremony himself, since being a holy figure who society would look up to for doing the right thing
• Adjective ‘short’ refers again to the speed and hastiness of the process, bringing attention to the morally ambiguous nature of the Friar who overlooks his own warnings in order to appease Romeo

Question 5

fill in the blanks

“On ……., sir? the ….. is very …….”

A4S1

Answer 5

“On Thursday, sir? the time is very short”

A4S1

• This shows how the timing is speeding up as the play is ending. Friar Lawrence uses words connected with speed at the opening of the play, such as ‘very short’, showing how quickly events are now occurring.
• The friar acknowledges the haste in Juliet’s marriage with Paris however it is ironic as he previously married Romeo and Juliet quickly some time ago.

Question 6

fill in the blanks

“O Juliet, I already …… …… ……, it …. …. …. …. …. of my wit.”

A4S1

Answer 6

“O Juliet, I already know thy grief, it strains me past the compass of my wit.”

A4S1

• The friar feels partially responsible for the situation as he married Romeo and Juliet, therefore can’t let Juliet marry Paris.
• He starts feeling guilty, however previously, although he knew the consequences, he still decided to proceed with the marriage but now he is regretting his decision showing his morally ambiguous nature.

Question 7

“……. daughter ….. …. ….. …. ….. of hope”

A4S1

Answer 7

**“Hold daughter I do spy a kind of hope” **

A4S1

• “Hold” is an imperative word that urges Juliet to have faith in himself: the Friar comes across as a figure of authority and trust.
• This slows down the pace of the play, but this is ironic as he conducted the marriage of Romeo and Juliet with a great deal of haste and everything has happened so rapidly.
• “Daughter” - addresses her with affection showing his pseudo paternal role.

Question 8

“No …… no …… shall …… …… …… ……”

A4S1

Answer 8

“No warmth no breath shall testify thou livest”

A4S1

• Juliet will be in a state of life and death: this is similar to how Juliet is both married to Romeo but also separated from him through exile.
• This is a vivid description of the effects of Juliet’s potion which he will later describe as an “unnatural sleep”.

Question 9

FILL IN THE BLANK

“Come, …. ….. ….. ….. to go ….. …..?”

A4S5

HINT: PARIS MARRIAGE

Answer 9

“Come, is the bride ready to go to church?”

A4S5

• This again highlights the Friars morally ambiguous nature. The Friar is already aware of Juliet’s marriage to Romeo however still proceeds with her marriage to Paris.
• This was deemed as a sin during the Renaissance era and it was extremely shocking to have come from a religious figure like the friar at the time.

Question 10

FILL IN THE BLANKS

‘Come …… ….. ….. ….. /Of ….. , …… and …….. sleep’

A5S3

HINT: NEST AND WEIRD

Answer 10

‘Come from that nest /Of death, contagion and unnatural sleep’

A5S3

• He calls it ‘unnatural’ sleep, despite the fact that he was the one who arranged for the potion in the first place
• Repeated idea that he is a morally ambiguous character

Question 11

FILL IN THE BLANKS

‘A …… …… than we ….. …… hath …… …… ……’

A5S3

HINT: FATE AND FREEWILL!

Answer 11

‘A greater power than we can contradict hath thwarted our intents’

A5S3

Brings attention to the fact that fate is seen as an inescapable force as well as being stronger than free will —> the mention of fate as a ‘greater power’ supports the overview in the fact that fate is seen as an imposing force
The use of the phrase ‘hath thwarted our intents’ demonstrates the belief that people have freewill over their actions 
Fate is said to have ruined the friar’s plans —> brings attention to fate’s power over free will