Romeo and Juliet
Handouts
Dramatic Terms and Devices Handout #1
Teacher Copy
TERM
PUN
SOLILOQUY
ASIDE
METAPHOR
SIMILE
TRAGIC HERO
TRAGIC FLAW
“HUBRIS”—
EXCESSIVE PRIDE
DRAMATIC IRONY
PATHOS
DEFINITION
EXAMPLE/LOCATION
A pun is a play on words in which a “My naked weapon is out”
word or phrase has a double
(1.1, 32)
meaning.
A soliloquy occurs when a
“But, soft! What light
character speaks their thoughts in
through yonder window
an extended speech while alone on
breaks…”(2.2, 2)
stage.
An aside occurs when a character “Shall I hear more, or shall I
briefly speaks their thoughts to the
speak at this?” (2.2, 37)
audience while there are other
characters on stage.
A metaphor is a direct comparison
“It is the east, and Juliet is
not using like or as
the sun!”(2.2, 3)
A simile is a comparison using like “Thou art as glorious to this
or as.
night being o’er my head, as
is a winged messenger of
heaven” (2.2, 26)
The tragic hero is the protagonist
Romeo
who experiences a rise in fortune
followed by a sudden downfall that
results in death.
A tragic flaw is the lack or excess of Romeo’s tragic flaw could
a character trait that leads to the be his excess of passion, the
protagonist’s downfall.
fickle nature of his love, his
rashness, etc.
Dramatic Irony occurs when the
Tybalt and others do not
audience knows something a
know Romeo and Juliet are
character does not.
married.
Pathos is a feeling of sympathy or
The tragic conclusion to
sadness evoked by a play.
Romeo and Juliet evokes
pathos for the lovers and
their families.
Character Chart Handout #2
Teacher Copy
Character
Benvolio
Tybalt
Romeo
Nurse
Paris
Mercutio
Juliet
Friar Lawrence
Description
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A Montague
Romeo’s Cousin
Peace maker
A Capulet
Juliet’s cousin
Verona’s best swordsman
Known as Prince of Cats
Montague’s only son
16 years old
Falls in and out of love easily
Emotional
Juliet’s nurse
Adult who is closest to Juliet
Mother figure for Juliet
Quirky and eccentric
Nobleman of Verona
Handsome and respected
Wants to marry Juliet
Not concerned with her age
Friend of the Montagues
Prince’s cousin
Funny and charismatic
Joker—provides comic relief
 Capulet’s only daughter
 13 years old
 Has more common sense
than Romeo
 Adult closest to Romeo
 Gives good advice but
doesn’t follow it himself
 Terrible schemer
Quote/Location
“Part, fools! Put up your
swords; you know not what
you do” (1.1, 62
“What, drawn, and talk of
peace! I hate the word as I
hate hell, all Montagues,
and thee” (1.1, 68)
“Tut, I have lost myself; I am
not here” (1.1, 194)
“Thou was the prettiest
babe that e’er I nursed”(1.3,
61)
“Younger than she are
happy mothers made”
(1.2, 12)
“If love be rough with you,
be rough with love” (1.4, 27)
“Ask for me tomorrow, and
you will find me a grave
man” (3.1, 96)
“That which we call a rose
by any other name would
smell as sweet” (2.2, 43)
“Wisely and slow; they
stumble that run fast” (2.3,
94)
Important Quotes Handout
Teacher Copy
QUOTE
CIRCUMSTANCES
SIGNIFICANCE
“I’ll look to like, if looking liking
move; but no more deep will I
endart mine eye than your
consent gives strength to make it
fly” (1.3)
Juliet is talking to her mother
about checking out Paris.
“It is the East, and Juliet is the
sun!” (2.2, 4)
Romeo sees Juliet through a
window while he is creeping
around her yard.
“Deny thy father and refuse thy
name” (2.2, 34)
Juliet is on her balcony speaking
her thoughts about Romeo while
he secretly listens below.
“What’s in a name?” (2.2, 43)
Again, Juliet is on her balcony
speaking her thoughts about
Romeo while he secretly listens
below.
This quote shows that Juliet is
mature and respectful. She
hasn’t really thought about
marriage, but she will do as her
mother wishes and give Paris a
look.
In this quote, Romeo is already
worshipping Juliet and placing
her on a pedestal. He constantly
compares her to things in the sky
or heavens, things above him.
Juliet is wishing Romeo wasn’t
Montague. She suggests he
should forfeit his name so they
can be together.
This quote shows Juliet is quite a
modern thinker for her time.
She is questioning the value of
titles and names at a time when
they meant everything.
This shows Romeo’s immaturity
and overblown romanticism. In
contrast, Juliet is far more
mature and rational.
This shows Tybalt’s extreme
sensitivity and excessive pride.
He is looking for a reason to
fight.
This is an example of dramatic
irony, as Tybalt is unaware of the
marriage between Romeo and
Juliet.
This shows Mercutio’s pride. His
inability to stand by ultimately
kills him.
Mercutio lays equal blame on
both families. He is a victim of
their senseless feud.
“There lies more peril in thine
eye than twenty of their
swords”(2.2, 71)
“Romeo, the love I bear thee can
afford no better term than this:
thou art a villain” (3.1, 59)
Romeo responds to Juliet’s
suggestion that he is in great
danger sneaking around her
yard.
Tybalt challenges Romeo to a
duel for a perceived slight.
“I do protest, I never injured
thee, but love thee better than
thou canst devise till thou…”
(3.1, 67)
“O calm, dishonorable, vile
submission!”(3.1, 72)
Romeo is telling Tybalt that he
doesn’t want to fight him.
Mercutio can’t stand Romeo’s
refusal to stand up for himself.
“A plague o’ both your houses!”
(3.1, 90)
Mercutio curses both houses
after he is stabbed by Tybalt.
Important Quotes Handout (Continued)
Teacher Copy
QUOTE
CIRCUMSTANCES
SIGNIFICANCE
“Ask for me tomorrow and you
will find me a grave man” (3.1,
96)
“O, I am fortune’s fool” (3.1, 135)
Mercutio just before his death
“Then, I defy you, stars!” (5.1,
24)
Romeo has just learned Juliet is
dead.
“Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee
to-night” (5.1, 34)
Romeo is in the immediate grief
of Juliet’s death.
This shows Mercutio’s jocular
character. Even in death, he
jests.
Romeo repeatedly refers to the
stars and other cosmic forces in
the play. He believes in fate.
This again shows Romeo’s belief
in fate, but Romeo is determined
to buck it.
Romeo intends to kill himself.
Again, he is impulsive,
emotional, and extreme.
This shows Friar Lawrence is
cowardly.
These two quotes effectively
summarize the new reality: both
families have lost their very best
and suffer equally, but mutual
loss has brought a new peace
and the feud is over.
“I dare no longer stay” (5.3)
“All are punish’d” (5.1, 295)
“A glooming peace this morning
with it brings”(5.3, 5)
Romeo has just killed Tybalt.
Friar Lawrence before he runs
The Prince addresses the families
at the end of the play.