Literary Analysis
Romeo and Juliet
Mr. Shelton
Advanced English 8
Materials needed:
Thesis / theme statement tool kit
Literature book
Ideas to consider for your essay:
Create a theme statement, then use this to help build your thesis.
1. Role of fate (closely related to superstition) vs free will in the play:
How much of the tragedy had to do with poor decisions; how much was fate /
chance (bad luck)? Consider what exactly led to the bad decisions if this is part
of your focus.
O God, I have an ill-divining soul! Methinks i see thee, now thou are below, as
one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Either my eyesight fails, or thou lookst pale
Act 1 Scene 4
111 By some vile forfeit of untimely death. 112 But He, that hath the steerage of
my course, 113 Direct my sail!
2. Negative effects of extreme behavior / actions is Romeo and Juliet:
Characters to consider: Romeo (irrational); Tybalt (angry and violent); Mercutio
(light hearted);
Extreme Actions: Nurse (ignorance); Friar: (his fear of staining his reputation; and
his hasty, bold intention of being the hero)
“medicine metaphor”
3. Lack of experience / ignorance:
Focus: Nurse: (she tries to nurture their romance without thinking long term);
Romeo: (no world without Verona walls; compares banishment to death)
4. Speed of the play
-The entire play takes place over a four-day period
-Romeo’s irrational behavior is rooted in quick thinking which leads to
consequences which are considered before acting (some could and does end in
death)
-Friar-he hurriedly comes up with the plan; he hurriedly tries to come up with a
solution for Juliet’s escape and leaves her.
"Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast"
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 2.3
5. Role of dreams in the play:
Dreams are closely connected to the role of fate / superstition
Romeo’s interpretation of dreams: they are bad / good omens which guide his
behavior (instead of reason)
Mercutio: his idea of dreams are that they are what one does when they are
bored.
True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy.
Romeo and Juliet. ACT I Scene 4.
6. “Use of the metaphors about moderation and the role of extreme behavior:”
Romeo and his irrational behavior: his impulses are good in helping him meet
Juliet; helping
Mercutio’s behavior is good in keeping things in perspective when it comes to
love and dreams (fate), but it leads to his death as he doesn’t take a life and
death situation seriously enough
Juliet is the voice of moderation, but fails where she is not assertive enough
(backing Romeo off; avoiding the wedding; would not leave Verona)
"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 2.3
7. Lack of leadership in the play
Prince Escalus: he did not follow through with his punishment: is it possible that
no one took him seriously enough?
Friar: went against his better judgment and married the couple anyway
Capulet and Montague: both parents did not feel comfortable enough to talk
openly with their own children
8. Personality Conflicts
Foils: character conflicts: (is this just a bad combination of people and
relationships all the way around and has a major effect on the couple)?
9.Use of language in Shakepeare’s plays:
Poetry vs prose
Soliloquy
Oxymorons
Various entertainment as a way to connect with the audience
Puns
allusion
** For those Twilight fans:
You can compare / contrast essay between the Twilight with a focus on character
and theme analysis.
***For those of you who love music, you can compare / contrast the play with a
song of your choice with a focus on character / theme, or even use of lit terms.
Citing Shakespeare:
Mr. Shelton
Advanced English 9
The proper way to cite Shakespeare quotations.
1. When citing a line from the play in your essay, do the following:
Hamlet first learns of his father’s murder and contemplates Claudius’ true nature.
“That one may smile and smile and be a villain. / At least I am sure it may be so
in Denmark” (1.5.115-116).
Note the following from the example above:
•“1” refers to the act of the play.
•“5” refers to the scene of the act.
•“115-116″ refer to the lines that are quoted.
•The act, scene, and line numbers are separated by periods (2.3.107-109).
•The “/” signifies the end of a line. It requires a space before and after the slash.
•The punctuation, spelling, and other grammatical matters are cited exactly as
they appear in the text.