Romeo and Juliet matching exercise

Point In Shakespeare’s time, women characters were played by men or boys (THIS IS DISCUSSING CONTEXT). This has implications for the presentation of Juliet during Shakespeare’s era; possibly the audience might have found some of the sexual references in the play quite funny as a result of this.

Evidence“Will you leave me so unsatisfied?”

“What satisfaction can thou hast tonight?”

ExplanationAnalysisLinks

Romeo questions Juliet as to whether she can leave him so “unsatisfied”. It’s not very clear as to what he means by being “unsatisfied”. He could possibly be talking about finding sexual satisfaction with her. There could be real humour here if Juliet was played by a boy. Similarly, Juliet’s shocked response could be funny if spoken by a man.

Point Shakespeare uses alliteration (repeated letter sounds) in order to make his characters emphasize key words and ideas. His presentation of Romeo as being utterly in love is not only emphasized in the meaning of the lines, but also his use of alliteration. The repeated letter sound “l” creates a definite effect.

Evidence With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;     For stony limits cannot hold love out,

ExplanationAnalysisLinks

Romeo alliterates the letter “l” in order to highlight and draw attention to his love for Juliet. The repetition of this consonant creates a “hard” sound and a strong rhythm or beat in the line. Romeo suggests that because he’s in love he has “light” wings which can’t “limit” his love; the alliteration suggests the power and strength of his love which can’t be “limited” or held back.

Point Shakespeare uses assonance (repeated vowel sounds) in order to make his characters emphasize key words, ideas and feelings. Juliet is concerned that Romeo will think she’s too easily won over, and deploys assonance to stress the strength of her feelings.

Evidence  But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true     Than those that have more cunning to be strange.

ExplanationAnalysisLinks

The repeated vowel sound of “oo” as in “prove” and “true” draws attention to the power of Juliet’s feelings for Romeo. This is a classic example of assonance (a repeated vowel sound) underlining a key idea: Juliet aims to show Romeo that she will more faithful than girls who play hard to get, who are “more cunning to be strange”.

Point Shakespeare presents the lovers as listening very carefully to each other by using the imagery (word pictures) that the other lover has discussed. This happens a great deal in the scene, but it is particularly striking towards the end of the scene when they talk about being birds.

Evidence ROMEO     I would I were thy bird. JULIET     Sweet, so would I:     Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.

ExplanationAnalysisLinks

Romeo says that he wishes he was Juliet’s bird after she has said that she feels like the owner of a bird who has it tied on a string and is always pulling back to her. Juliet responds by saying that she wishes he was her bird too but then realises that she would crush him to death with too much hugging and kissing. This is an example the playful way the lovers use imagery to explore their feelings for each other. There is humour in the imagery, but also a sense of violent passion.

Point Shakespeare uses similes (a comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’) to conjure and create powerful images. One of the most powerful similes Juliet uses is when she describes her love for Romeo. She is presented as being deeply in love in these lines.

Evidence My bounty is as boundless as the sea,     My love as deep; the more I give to thee,     The more I have, for both are infinite.

ExplanationAnalysisLinks

Juliet says that her “bounty”, the treasure of her love, is “as boundless as the sea”. This simile suggests that her love will go on forever, that it is of the same size as the sea. She’s presented as being incredibly passionate here.

Point Shakespeare uses metaphors (direct comparisons) to make the audience think about the problems the characters are facing. One of the most thought-provoking metaphors Juliet uses is when she explains to Romeo that they need to take their time and not rush into a love affair straight away. She does this by saying that their love is a currently a bud that will grow into a flower if they give themselves time.

Evidence  This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,     May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

ExplanationAnalysisLinks

Juliet compares the love that she and Romeo feel to being a “bud” which “may prove a beauteous flower” if they give their love affair time. The metaphor makes the audience realise that they’ve only just met that they are very much in the “spring-time” of their love; they possibly need “summer’s ripening breath” to make it more mature. This extended metaphor makes us think about the sudden nature of their passion and how it’s overwhelmed them so quickly.

Point Shakespeare uses repetition to powerful effect in this scene. This particularly evident when Juliet is talking about Romeo being a Montague. She repeats not only the noun “name” but also Romeo’s name a number of times.

Evidence  O, be some other name!     What's in a name? that which we call a rose     By any other name would smell as sweet;     So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,     Retain that dear perfection which he owes     Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,     And for that name which is no part of thee     Take all myself.

ExplanationAnalysisLinks

The repetition of the word “name” in this speech makes the audience think about the ways in which our names can brand us as being from certain cultural backgrounds – and yet we’d be the same with a different name or no name at all. The repetition of the word and of Romeo’s name has a powerful effect; it forces to realise how ridiculous the feud is between the families.

Point Shakespeare uses personification (turning an object into person) to reveal his sense of awe of Juliet in this scene. He personifies the sun as being Juliet and then speaks to the sun as if it were his lover.

Evidence  Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,     Who is already sick and pale with grief,     That thou her maid art far more fair than she:

ExplanationAnalysisLinks

By commanding the sun to “arise” or get up, Romeo is actually asking Juliet to come out onto the balcony because he has personified the sun as being her. He is standing in the darkness waiting for her to appear. He then personifies the moon as being a woman is very jealous that the sun is more beautiful than she is. In such a way, he uses personification to show that he feels that Juliet is as powerful and beautiful as the sun, and that she is the source of light and life for him. This use of personification is complicated and thought-provoking.