Romeo and Juliet Act 3 - Important lines Flashcards
“Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat,”
Mercutio to Benvolio – He is commenting on how Benvolio likes to fight. (Example of a simile.)
“Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.”
Mercutio to Tybalt – Mercutio is taunting Tybalt to fight with him. (He calls Tybalt King of Cats
because of his swordsman skills.)
“A plague on both your houses!”
Mercutio – Mercutio has been stabbed by Tybalt. It happened when Romeo tried to stop them from fighting. He is angry with both families (Montagues and Capulets), and blames them for
his wound.
“They have made worms’ meat of me.”
Mercutio to Romeo - Mercutio speaking to Romeo, saying that he is near death.
“O, I am fortune’s fool!”
Romeo to Benvolio - After slaying Tybalt, Romeo realizes that he is a victim of fate.
(We were told by the Chorus that Romeo and Juliet are star-crossed lovers.) (Example of oxymoron)
“Come gentle night, come loving black-browed night,”
Juliet - She is anxious for the night to come so she will be reunited with her Romeo, for their
wedding night. She is still unaware that Romeo has been banished for killing Tybalt.
“Tybalt is dead, and Romeo - banished”
Nurse to Juliet - She tells Juliet that Romeo has killed her cousin, Tybalt, and that the prince
has banished Romeo from Verona.
“Where Juliet lives, and every cat and dog
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her,
But Romeo may not.”
Romeo to Friar Laurence - Romeo is saying he will never see Juliet again; it is unfair that other
people and creatures can see her, but he cannot.
“Misshapen in the conduct of them both,
Like powder in a skilless soldier’s flask,”
Friar - Romeo, by not using his intelligence, could be destroyed by that which should defend him. He is his own worst enemy, like gunpowder for an inept soldier. (Example of simile.)
“And bit her – mark you me? – on Wednesday next –”
Capulet to Paris - Capulet decides that Juliet will marry Paris in three days.
“It was the lark, the herald of the morn;
No nightingale.”
Romeo to Juliet - Romeo hears a lark sing. The lark sings at dawn, so he knows morning is
approaching and he will have to leave Juliet for Mantua. (The nightingale sings at night.)
“More light and light – more dark and dark our woes.”
Romeo to Juliet. He is telling Juliet that as the sun rises, the darker or sadder he feels because
he will have to leave Juliet. Light brings darkness. (Example of irony.)
