“A plague o’ both your houses”
Who says it? Where is it from? What does it mean? How is he feeling? Key words? Theme? Context?
Mercutio says it as he is dying in Act 2
It means he hopes all the Montagues and Capulets die of a plague (disease)
He’s angry, on the side of the Montagues but curses both families
“Plague” - cursing them
“Both” - to do with the family feud
Theme - hate, conflict
Context - religion, in the old testament, God sends a plague on Egypt, most in Shakespearean times were christian so would of been aware. Death of your first born child
“I am fortune’s fool”
Who says it? Where is it from? What does it mean? Key words? Feelings? Theme? Context?
Romeo says it after he has accidentally killed Tybalt in Act 3
It means fate has made him do something stupid
“Fortune” - his actions were written in the stars, destined to happen
“Fool” - he has made himself look and feel stupid
Theme - fate and free-will
Context - People alive in Shakespearean times had strong beliefs in fate and destiny
“With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls”
Who says it? Where is it from? What does it mean? Key word or feature? Theme? Context?
Romeo says it to Juliet when he has snuck into her garden in Act 2
It means that love gave him wings to fly over her garden’s high walls
“Light wings” - metaphor because he is not literally flying
Theme - love
“Bright angel”
Who says it? Where is it from? What does it mean? What does it imply about Romeo as a person? Key words? Theme? Context?
Romeo says it to Juliet when she appears at her balcony but has not seen him yet in Act 2
It means Juliet is unusually beautiful like an angel
“Angel” -
what are the names of the two families at war?
montague and capulet
someone who cares about appearances and how things look, paris is a good example of this; he says “thy face is mine” about juliet, so he clearly values her looks and status above other things
superficial
treating women disrespectfully. lord capulet behaves in the way when he tells juliet to “die in the streets” because she wont marry paris
misogynistic
to break the rules of cross the line. juliet does this when she refuses to marry paris against her father’s wishes
transgress
someone who thinks men should be in control. lord capulet is certainly someone who feels this way: he believes that juliet “will be ruled in all respects by me”
patriarchal
organising people in order of their importance. the prince is at the top of this in verona, followed by the heads of the capulet and montague families, who expect all their family members to follow all their orders
hierarchy
acting suddenly without thinking fast, romeo rushes into love with juliet, and she advises him that “it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden”
impulsive
aiming for perfection, not realistic. romeo is like this when he describes juliet as a “goddess” and a “bright angel”
idealistic
acting like a father. friar lawrence tries to be like this when he gives romeo advice about not rushing to marry juliet
paternal
trying to do good. friar lawrence is like this when he suggests that marrying might bring the feud between the two families to an end
well-intentioned
someone who doesn’t obey the rules. juliet is like this when she refuses to marry the person her parents have chosen for her
disobedient
someone who likes fighting and causing arguments. tybalt is a good example of this: he says “to strike him dead i hold it not a sin” about romeo
confrontational
someone who thinks they are better than others. paris is a good example of this
arrogant
someone who likes to control their loved ones. lord capulet and paris both behave this way towards juliet
possessive
a feeling that something bad will happen. romeo feels this ahead of going to the capulet ball, when he says he fears “some consequence yet hanging in the stars”
foreboding
someone who tells rude or sexual jokes. lots of the adolescent (teenage) characters use this kind of humour in romeo and juliet
bawdy
what happens in act 1 of romeo and juliet?
- the feud between montague and capulet is established
- paris asks capulet to marry juliet
- romeo and juliet meet at the capulet ball and fall in love
- tybalt challenges romeo to a duel (capulet disallows it)
what happens in act 2 of romeo and juliet?
- romeo and juliet are married in secret by friar lawrence
- mercutio and benvolio discuss tybalt’s challenge
what happens in act 3 of romeo and juliet?
- mercutio is killed by tybalt and romeo kills tybalt in retaliation
- romeo is exiled from verona by the prince but plans to meet with juliet in secret
- capulet tells juliet that she must marry paris (she refuses)
what happens in act 4 of romeo and juliet?
- juliet drinks a liquid (given by friar) that makes her appear dead on the morning of the wedding
- the wedding is cancelled and juliet’s body is moved to a tomb
what happens in act 5 of romeo and juliet?
- romeo, unaware that juliet’s death is fake, goes to her tomb and kills paris who mourns there and then drinks poison to commit suicide
- juliet wakes and sees romeo is dead, so kills herself with a dagger
who is romeo in the play?
son of montague and lady montague, more interested in love then violence
who is juliet in the play?
daughter of capulet and lady capulet, naive young girl who grows up very quick
who is friar lawrence in the play?
a friar (kind of priest) who provides help and advice
who is mercutio in the play?
a montague; romeo’s best friend. he is hot-headed and hilarious to be around
who is tybalt in the play?
juliet’s cousin. a proud man and skilled sword-fighter. honour is all to him
who is benvolio in the play?
romeo’s cousin and best friend; he tries to resolve the fighting
who is paris in the play?
important member of the prince’s family. capulet wants juliet to marry him
who is capulet in the play?
juliet’s father. a violent patriarch who likes women to know their place
who is lady capulet in the play?
juliet’s mother. she is not a confident mother, and relies on the nurse
who is the nurse in the play?
juliet’s nurse and closest friend, who has cared for her throughout her life
who is montague in the play?
romeo’s father. he loves his son, but is bitter enemies with the capulets
who is lady montague in the play?
romeo’s mother. she dies of grief when romeo is banished from verona
who is prince escalus in the play?
the prince of verona. he rules the city, and values peace at all costs
