ROMEO AND JULIETYear 10Coursework

Rhyme

In Romeo and Juliet about fifty per cent of the lines are rhymed.

Strong emotions express themselves in blank verse, though in the case of the nurse it is ignorance, while playful or ordinary feelings are in rhyme.

In most cases the closing lines of long speeches are in couplets.

Soliloquies

Their purposes are to reveal the speaker’s true character and motives. To reveal intentions. To prepare the audience for subsequent developments.

Important soliloquies

Friar Laurence – to learn about his character, his job, his faith. Juliet, Act III Sc 2 – after her marriage while she awaits

Romeo. It represents the joy of fulfilled love. Also later in the play when she drinks the potion, it shows her keen imagination and agitation, and predicts her death.

Romeo and Juliet after the ball both show their feelings, this prepares the audience for their mutual surrender.

Romeo in Mantua before the arrival of Balthasar, this presents the contrasts of his happiness and dream with the shock that follows.

Contrasts

The use of contrasts highlights the distinctions between the characters.

The scenes are arranged to present contrasts of tragedy and humour.

Consider the following comparisons, Capulet and Montague, Mercutio and Benvolio, Tybalt and Romeo, Nurse and Lady Capulet/Juliet.

Dramatic Irony

These are occasions when the attention of the audience becomes tense in expectation. For example:-

First meeting of Romeo and Juliet Paris and Juliet meeting in the Friar’s cell,

and the Friar’s dilemma. Wedding preparations while Juliet lies

‘dead’ in her bedroom. Paris and Romeo meeting at the tomb,

while witnesses are hiding in the graveyard.

Who loses?

Tybalt’s passion for fighting leads to his own death.

The Capulets and the Montagues both lose their children and nephews because of their failure to follow the Prince’s command to cease the feud.

The Friar’s knowledge of ‘black magic’ potions, and his agreeing to an illegal marriage, brings great suffering to him.

Weaknesses

Friar Laurence – the main weakness is in the deceit he practised in consenting to marry Paris to Juliet when he knows that she is already married, in his part in Juliet’s fake death, in his mind he truly considers himself justified in acting as he does. His role as both adviser and confessor to Romeo and Juliet is clear throughout, although at the end he finally tells the whole tragic tale to the Prince so clearly that all suspicion of foul play is removed and a general pardon is extended to all.

Weaknesses

The Nurse – she has a pompous manner while walking the streets at the beginning with her page, she adores gossip and loves telling long stories. She is vulgar which reflects her low social status. She is disloyal and dishonest, (she accepts a bribe from Romeo and then goes off to Paris), (she calls Romeo an excellent young man, and then calls Paris ‘a lovely gentleman! Romeo’s a dish-clout to him’). She also never knows when to be quiet, and says things she shouldn’t, she talks about Paris in her first meeting with Romeo.

Strength – affection, humorous, faithfulness to Juliet during the planned marriage to Romeo. She is clearly upset by Juliet’s ‘death’, as she is almost speechless.

Weaknesses

Romeo – He is a traditional Elizabethan lover, his melancholic moods, his youth, although he appears to gain maturity especially during the duelling scenes, and refers to Paris as a youth. He is secretive like most young men, unable to share his feelings of love with his parents. When he finds true love his speech changes to blank verse. He allows fate to have control over his life and death.

Weaknesses

Juliet – She is obviously very beautiful and although young she is cultured. At first we know that she is inexperienced in love, but after meeting Romeo we see her embracing fully the concept of love, and she shows a practical side when she arranges the meeting with the Friar. She deceives her parents and Paris. She allows her vivid imagination to take hold of her when considering the potion. To sum up she changes from a submissive child into a woman in a few days. She is resourceful in concealing her feelings and ultimately getting what she wants.