Shakespeare Coursework Assignment
Examine Act 3 Scene 1 of “Romeo and Juliet” and show how Shakespeare
makes it dramatically effective / shows tension of streets of Verona.
The problems Shakespeare faced in writing this scene
Number these problems in order of importance and then write a short paragraph that
explains what Shakespeare wanted to achieve in this scene and the difficulties he had to
overcome. Include any four points.







A noisy badly behaved audience (groundlings) … he had to
get their attention and keep them from causing trouble.
Need to get everyone interested after the wedding scene.
Everyone will want to know what happened next.
Need to have everyone paying attention to a dramatic event
(deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt) and Romeo’s crime (murder)
No special effects, small team, no lighting etc, (maybe) cold
weather, no scenery
Need to develop important themes in the play (love &
violence)
Explain the setting … where the scene is taking place …
make people realise it is a hot violent place
Audience has to realise how hard it was for a boy like Romeo
to avoid the knife (sword) crime on the streets of Verona
“… you shall not stay alone, till Holy Church incorporates
two in one” … Romeo and Juliet go off to get married.
Act 3 Scene 1 follows a quiet scene where Romeo and Juliet persuade Friar Lawrence to marry
them so
Shakespeare’ audience might have been restless after the love scene in
Shakespeare had many problems in setting up Act 3 Scene 1
1
SCENE I. A public place. Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, Page, and Servants
BENVOLIO
I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
MERCUTIO
Thou art like one of those fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword
upon the table and says 'God send me no need of thee!' and by the operation of the second cup draws
it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.
BENVOLIO
Am I like such a fellow?
MERCUTIO
Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy. Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man
that hath a hair more,
or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast: thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no
other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes: thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the
street, because he hath
wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun:
BENVOLIO
By my head, here come the Capulets.
MERCUTIO
By my heel, I care not.
Enter TYBALT and others
TYBALT
Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.
MERCUTIO
And but one word with one of us? couple it with
something; make it a word and a blow.
TYBALT
You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you
will give me occasion.
MERCUTIO
Could you not take some occasion without giving?
TYBALT
Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,-MERCUTIO
Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an
thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but
discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall
make you dance. 'Zounds, consort!
BENVOLIO
We talk here in the public haunt of men:
Either withdraw unto some private place,
And reason coldly of your grievances,
Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.
MERCUTIO
Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.
2
TYBALT
Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.
Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford
No better term than this,--thou art a villain.
ROMEO
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting: villain am I none;
Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.
TYBALT
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.
ROMEO
I do protest, I never injured thee,
But love thee better than thou canst devise,
MERCUTIO
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Alla stoccata carries it away.
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?
Draws
TYBALT
What wouldst thou have with me?
MERCUTIO
Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.
TYBALT
I am for you.
Drawing
ROMEO
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
MERCUTIO
Come, sir, your passado. They fight
ROMEO
Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!
Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath
Forbidden bandying in Verona streets:
Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio!
TYBALT under ROMEO's arm stabs MERCUTIO, and flies with his followers
MERCUTIO
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.
Is he gone, and hath nothing?
BENVOLIO
What, art thou hurt?
MERCUTIO
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.
3
ROMEO
Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.
MERCUTIO
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve: ask for
me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. Why the devil came you between us? I
was hurt under your arm.
ROMEO
I thought all for the best.
ROMEO
My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt
In my behalf; my reputation stain'd
With Tybalt's slander,--Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!
Re-enter BENVOLIO
BENVOLIO
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!
ROMEO
This day's black fate on more days doth depend;
This but begins the woe, others must end.
BENVOLIO
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
ROMEO
Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!
They fight; TYBALT falls
BENVOLIO
Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death,
If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!
ROMEO
They fight; TYBALT falls
BENVOLIO
Why dost thou stay?
Exit ROMEO
Enter Citizens & Prince
4
Act III Scene 1
How does Shakespeare show the audience the tension and violence on the streets of Verona? What is
the importance of this scene to the play.
Introduction:
Shakespeare’s theatre – has no special effects, lighting, music, voice overs etc. but needs to show
audience the kind of society Romeo and Juliet are growing up in and needs to develop the plot and
themes of the play.
MAIN BODY OF ESSAY: make notes on what you will include in each paragraph.
Discussion between Benvolio and Mercutio:
Tybalt’s entry
The argument between Mercutio and Tybalt
Romeo’s entry
5
The fight between Romeo and Tybalt
Benvolio’s arrest
The importance of the scene to the play:
Plot – Prince condemns Romeo, leading to final tragedy
Showing tension on streets of Verona
Learning more about Romeo’s character.
6
Before planning your essay answer the following questions: (with answers)
1.
What does the name Benvolio suggest to the audience?
peacemaker
2. How do Benvolio’s words, “I pray thee good Mercutio, let’s retire…if we meet, we shall not scape a
brawl” fit in with his name?
He’s trying to calm things down – as he always does (Act 1 Sc 1)
3. What do his words tell the audience about the atmosphere on the streets of Verona?
Shows that they are dangerous – fights break out all the time
4. Mercutio jokes with Benvolio about Benvolio being a really violent kind of person. What does this tell
us about Mercutio’s character? What does it tell us about life in Verona at that time?
He’s obsessed by violence – he is fond of Benvolio and jokes with him – young men are always getting into
fights over nothing and Mercutio sees this clearly
5. What does Mercutio’s name tell us about his character?
Mercury is quicksilver – very dangerous and slippery
6. When Benvolio notices the Capulets coming Shakespeare makes the scene more dramatic by having
Benvolio say, “By my head here come the Capulets”. How would Benvolio say this and how would the
audience react?
Shocked and frightened – this would give build up tension in audience
7. Compare Benvolio’s attitude to the arrival of the Capulets with Tybalt’s. What is Shakespeare telling
the audience about the violence in Verona? Does everyone have the same attitude?
Mercutio sees their arrival as a chance to confront them and show he is not scared; different people would
have different attitudes to the violence, just like today
8. Explain the way in which Tybalt tries to wind up the Montague boys.
He keeps deliberately misunderstanding them and taking their words as a challenge to fight
9. When Tybalt whispers to one of his mates, “Follow me close for I will speak to them”, do you think he
is showing off? Do people ever behave like this in modern times?
He is showing his friends he is not scared – this can still be a motivation for violence today
10. Is Mercutio’s response “And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a words
and a blow,” is he being brave or is he just showing off too?
He’s showing off – but he is also courageous
7
11. Suggest a reason why these two men are so keen to be seen fighting each other.
They are the leaders of their groups and want to build up their status and reputations
12. There is a lot of word play in the argument between Tybalt and Mercutio. Tybalt says Mercutio
‘consorts’ (is in a group) with Romeo. Mercutio deliberately misunderstands him and says if he is in a
group then he will hear some pretty loud and unpleasant music (heavy metal perhaps), then he
threatens Tybalt with his “fiddlestick”. Shakespeare did not give stage directions, but it is pretty
obvious that he gets out his sword at that point. Do people still behave like this – mixing humour and
cussing with violence? What would the audience’s reaction to this be? Would they laugh, would they
be a bit anxious about what might happen? Why does Shakespeare aim for such an ambiguous
response?
The audience would probably laugh and be impressed by their clever responses and excited by the prospect
of violence
13. How does Shakespeare create tension when Romeo enters the scene? (I.e. what do the characters
say and do?)
Everyone would stop and look at him; he would not know what was going on; the audience would be
wondering what would happen next. Mercutio and Tybalt stop fighting and turn their attention to
Romeo.
14. What does the audience know about Romeo that none of the other characters knows? This
technique is called dramatic irony. We feel, “If only they knew…”
He is now married into the Capulet family
15. How would Romeo be feeling at this point in the play? How would this make the audience feel about
him?
Relaxed and happy – in love – feeling positive about the Capulets; the audience likes him and feels pity that
he is getting caught up in something he does not want to
16. Romeo tries to calm Tybalt down. What is Mercutio’s reaction?
Mercutio accuses him of being a coward
17. Why does Mercutio call Tybalt a rat-catcher?
It’s a running joke on his name (Tibbles is a typical cat’s name). They keep making comments about it. I
imagine the gang miaowing as he arrives.
18. Explain, “A la stoccata carries it away.” Why does Shakespeare include this detail – what does it
show about the young men’s attitudes.
It is a comment on his excellent sword fighting moves – the young men are obsessed with the martial arts of
8
their day – just like today
19. How is Mercutio killed? Whose fault is it? Who feels as if it is his fault? Find quotations that show
whom Mercutio blames.
He’s killed almost by accident by Tybalt under Romeo’s arm when Romeo is trying to stop the fight. He
accuses Romeo – “Why came you between us – I was hurt under your arm?”
20. Romeo feels that Juliet’s beauty has made him effeminate. What should a proper man do according
to the code of honour these people live by?
Take revenge – fight whenever you get the chance or the slightest provocation
21. When Romeo says, “I am fortune’s fool,” What does this tell the audience about his personality?
Self-pitying
22. Why is it ironic that at the end Benvolio is arrested?
The peacemaker gets the blame – the older people are blaming the wrong one
9
Before planning you essay answer the following questions:
23. What does the name Benvolio suggest to the audience?
24. How do Benvolio’s words, “I pray thee good Mercutio, let’s retire…if we meet, we shall not scape a
brawl” fit in with his name?
25. What do his words tell the audience about the atmosphere on the streets of Verona?
26. Mercutio jokes with Benvolio about Benvolio being a really violent kind of person. What does this tell
us about Mercutio’s character? What does it tell us about life in Verona at that time?
27. What does Mercutio’s name tell us about his character?
28. When Benvolio notices the Capulets coming Shakespeare makes the scene more dramatic by having
Benvolio say, “By my head here come the Capulets”. How would Benvolio say this and how would the
audience react?
29. Compare Benvolio’s attitude to the arrival of the Capulets with Tybalt’s. What is Shakespeare telling
the audience about the violence in Verona? Does everyone have the same attitude?
30. Explain the way in which Tybalt tries to wind up the Montague boys.
31. When Tybalt whispers to one of his mates, “Follow me close for I will speak to them”, do you think he
is showing off? Do people ever behave like this in modern times?
32. Is Mercutio’s response “And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a words
and a blow,” is he being brave or is he just showing off too?
10
33. Suggest a reason why these two men are so keen to be seen fighting each other.
34. There is a lot of word play in the argument between Tybalt and Mercutio. Tybalt says Mercutio
‘consorts’ (is in a group) with Romeo. Mercutio deliberately misunderstands him and says if he is in a
group then he will hear some pretty loud and unpleasant music (heavy metal perhaps), then he
threatens Tybalt with his “fiddlestick”. Shakespeare did not give stage directions, but it is pretty
obvious that he gets out his sword at that point. Do people still behave like this – mixing humour and
cussing with violence? What would the audience’s reaction to this be? Would they laugh, would they
be a bit anxious about what might happen? Why does Shakespeare aim for such an ambiguous
response?
35. How does Shakespeare create tension when Romeo enters the scene? (I.e. what do the characters
say and do?)
36. What does the audience know about Romeo that none of the other characters knows? This
technique is called dramatic irony. We feel, “If only they knew…”
37. How would Romeo be feeling at this point in the play? How would this make the audience feel about
him?
38. Romeo tries to calm Tybalt down. What is Mercutio’s reaction?
39. Why does Mercutio call Tybalt a rat-catcher?
40. Explain, “A la stoccata carries it away.” Why does Shakespeare include this detail – what does it
show about the young men’s attitudes.
11
41. How is Mercutio killed? Whose fault is it? Who feels as if it is his fault? Find quotations that show
whom Mercutio blames.
42. Romeo feels that Juliet’s beauty has made him effeminate. What should a proper man do according
to the code of honour these people live by?
43. When Romeo says, “I am fortune’s fool,” What does this tell the audience about his personality?
44. Why is it ironic that at the end Benvolio is arrested?
12