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I. Wroteanapaper
Kirby
1/2/2012
Block-3
And Fights, And Threats, And Love…Oh My!
(Act 1 Scene 1)
Synopsis: The story of Romeo and Juliet starts off with a fight in the streets of Verona.
When Prince Escalus catches sight of this fight, he warns the Montagues and the Capulets
that if he ever sees this happening again, death will come their way. As the family separate
from one another, Romeo is introduced to the story. Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin, kept
bugging Romeo to find out what has been bothering him, and soon finds out that love is the
cause of Romeo’s bad mood.
A.W.E.:
1.“Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,
O anything of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness, serious vanity,” (1.1.181-183)
This quote, said by Romeo, is a great example of how anaphora is used to make
Shakespeare’s writing more appealing. The pattern of the O’s continues, and you realize
that Romeo is trying to figure why his love, Rosaline, doesn’t love him back. Shakespeare
also incorporates a sort of personification as Romeo waits for his response. Love, hate, or
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heavy lightness do not say anything back, but as Romeo keeps wondering, it seems as if he
was expecting an answer back.
2.“Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health,
Still-waking sleep that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.” (1.1.185-187)
These words show the oxymoron that Shakespeare blends, with other literary devices, into
the play. This quote is expressing the confusion that Romeo felt that moment. He was
thinking the opposite of what actually was. The first oxymoron in the quote, feather of lead,
may show that he felt weak and the heart break was weighing him down. Feathers, very
light, small things, are made of lead in this play. You can picture a normal feather flowing
softly in the air, but once you read that it is made of lead you see it fall heavily on the
ground. Romeo does not know how to feel, knowing that Rosaline does not love him back.
3.“Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes;
Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears.
What is it else? A madness most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.” (1.1.198-201)
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Shakespeare uses metaphors as Romeo talks about love. It’s the way that love should be. He
has experienced it and cannot let it go. It shows that Romeo understands how love should
really be, but knows that he does not have that love. Love should be sweet and you never
want to let it go. Love should be warm with the fire that burns as it surrounds the two
people. The metaphor is needed to show, in detail, how Romeo sees it now to later
comprehend it.
Reflection: I picked this scene because Shakespeare was able to introduce almost everyone
in such a short length of the play. In this scene alone, there are many moments when you
can foreshadow the upcoming scenes, if you’ve never heard of the play. I also picked this
scene because there were many comparisons with unlikely things and I was able to
visualize it in my head as I read the play. My whole life I’ve never seen a teenage guy
express such strong emotions toward a girl. Now-a-days, guys seem to act all tough, not
showing the emotions that they feel inside. Romeo didn’t care who knew about his love
towards Rosaline. He wasn’t scared to express himself.
Could It Be Love?
(Act 2 Scene 2)
Synopsis: Romeo goes to the Capulet’s garden to see Juliet again. He eavesdrops on Juliet as
she admits to being in love with Romeo. Romeo speaks up and tells her that he feels the
same way. As they take in their confessions, they soon decide that they want to marry one
another.
A.W.E.:
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1.”What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!” (2.2.43-45)
In this quote, Shakespeare uses yet another anaphora. Juliet is talking to herself on the
balcony and realizes that Romeo’s last name is nothing but a name. She feels as if even
though it is just a name, it is still her enemy. She understands that loving her enemy is
going to cause trouble. Shakespeare emphasizes her desire to be with Romeo as she points
out many body parts of a man. The name of her love shouldn’t matter even though it does.
2.”Ere one can say ‘It lightens.’ Sweet, good night,
This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.” (2.2.127-129)
Shakespeare uses personification as he describes the night, and Romeo and Juliet’s love for
each other. A night cannot be good or sweet, and a summer does not have a breath. Breath
also doesn’t ripen. Shakespeare makes their love into a bud that blooms into a flower.
Romeo and Juliet are confessing their love and Juliet explains how their love is going to
grow with every time they see each other.
3.”My bounty is as boudless as the sea,
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My love as deep. The more I give thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”(2.2.140-143)
This quote is an example of Shakespeare’s use of similes in his play. Juliet is telling Romeo
home she loves him. She compares her love to the sea. Juliet tell Romeo that both her love
for him and the sea are very deep. Both are also never ending and ongoing. Their love stays
strong till the end.
Reflection: I love this scene because of the way Romeo and Juliet act toward each other. The
way Shakespeare wrote this scene makes me want to be Juliet. The amount of literary
devices really surprised me, especially since I normally wouldn’t have noticed them. They
really helped me understand the old language better. As a girl, the most important thing
that I want is true love. I want to love a guy and I want the guy to love me back. I feel that
my parents have the same strong love that Romeo and Juliet had for each other. Well,
except they probably wouldn’t kill themselves, if they saw the other was dead.
The Fight That Change Their Lives
(Act 3 Scene 1)
Synopsis: Tybalt stops by Mercutio and Benvolio on the streets,and when Romeo comes
along, Tybalt tries to make Romeo want to fight him. Romeo refuses and Mercutio decides
to fight Tybalt. The fight ends with a dead Mercutio and Tybalt runs away. Romeo needs to
take revenge on his best friend’s death, so he kills Tybalt. When the prince finds out, he
bands Romeo from Verona.
A.W.E.:
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1.“…A plague o’
both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a
cat to scratch a man to death! A braggart, a rogue, a
villain that fights by the book of arithmetic!...”(3.1.103-106)
Shakespeare once again uses anaphora to create a feeling of madness from Mercutio. This
is the quote that occurred after Mercutio was stabbed and he knew that it wasn’t going to
end well for him. He blamed both the Montagues and the Capulets, for this would never
have happened if they weren’t enemies. He wishes harm to both families for being so
violent with each other. Shakespeare uses exclamation marks to show that this wasn’t a
simple joke but a serious anger coming from Mercutio.
2.“O noble Prince, I can discover all
The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl.
There lies the man, slain by you Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.”(3.1.150-153)
This quote is an example of assonance. The words all and brawl sound alike, and so do
Romeo and Mercutio. The rhyming words give a very nice flow as you read. As you read
these words, you can notice this device right away. Benvolio is trying to explain, here, to the
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prince what happened during the fight. He wants to help Romeo get off easy, but it didn’t
help much. The prince had banned Romeo from Verona…
3.“I have an interest in your hearts’ proceeding:
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding.
But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine.
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses.
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses.”(3.1.198-203)
This quote said by Prince uses assonances. The prince tells both family that they will be
punished for their reckless behavior. The rhyming, of these lines, makes the reader pay
closer attention to the words written on the page. This is a very important quote of the
play. The truth comes, but Romeo is nowhere in sight. Mercutio was the Prince’s family, so
the Montagues and the Capulets will pay a bigger price for what their ancient battle against
each other caused.
Reflection: Shakespeare does a very good job using devices to make the reader pay
attention to the words he writes. In this scene, he was able to incorporate many assonances
into the scenes which makes it easier to read and distinguish the meanings. I picked this
scene because it’s the scene where the story takes a downturn. From this moment,
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everything seems to be going the wrong way. I’d think that this part of the play was the
climax of it all.
Funeral Replaces Wedding
(Act 4 Scene 5)
Synopsis: When the nurse goes to wake up Juliet for the wedding, she finds that she is
unconscious. Immediately, she announces her death to the rest of the family. The wedding
had to obviously be canceled from the lack of a bride. The family had prepared a funeral for
Juliet.
A.W.E.:
1.“Life and these lips have long been separated.
Death lies on her like an untimely frost.”(4.5.32-34)
Shakespeare uses alliteration as the Capulets realize that their daughter had died. The “L” is
being repeated in these two lines. The words roll off your tongue as you read this. The
family had to think that Juliet was really dead, so that she wouldn’t need to marry Paris.
The potion really did work.
2.”O woe, O woeful, woeful, woeful day!
Most lamentable day, most woeful day
That ever, ever I did yet behold!
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O day, O day, O day, O hateful day!
Never was seen so black a day as this!
O woeful day, O woeful day!”
Shakespeare yet again uses anaphora. The nurse is crushed with Juliet being dead. She
screams hating that awful day. The repetition in this quote brings out the feelings that the
nurse need to express. She was furious and Shakespeare was able to show that anger with
negative words and exclamatory sentences.
3.”All things that we ordained festival
Turn from their office to black funeral:
Our instruments to melancholy bells,
Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast,
Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change,
Our bridal flowers serve from a buried corse,
And all things change them to the contrary.
Shakespeare adds denotation to his play as he writes this section of the 5th scene. He
straightforwardly writes the fact that Juliet is dead. Instead of a wedding with cheer,
excitement and white, they will need to change it all into sadness, and black. They have to
mourn their daughter’s death and not dance around to fun music.
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Reflection: This scene is the most memorable of all the scenes in the play. The reader can
easily tell that Shakespeare used many different techniques of writing this play. He was
able to create the mood needed in specific moments. He also used imagery to show how the
wedding looked and also how it was supposed to be changed after Juliet’s death. I like this
scene because of the literature used but I do not like what happens in that part of the play.
Juliet should have just told her parents that she already married Romeo. If they didn’t
approve, she should have just escaped and joined Romeo outside of Verona. No one would
ever destroy their peace. Juliet acted really immature in this scene, looking at the fact that
she was only 13 year old.
EXEMPLAR #2
She Writeswell
HWOC
Mrs. Kirby
1/6/12
Act 1, Scene 5
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A Flower in the Thorns
This is the scene in the play Romeo and Juliet where Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet
first meet each other. It is evident that though they only just met, their affections for each other
are strong, as they kiss twice. However, they are soon troubled to discover that they are from
opposing households in a long-standing feud.
JULIET
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathèd enemy. (1.5.138-139)
Juliet uses alliteration, or a group of consecutive words that begin with the same letter
sound, to describe her unfortunate emotional situation. Shakespeare, the author, uses alliteration
to highlight the most important idea of the scene; that if Romeo and Juliet are really in love, they
will have a problem seeing each other.
JULIET
My only love sprung from my only hate! (1.5.136)
Shakespeare uses antithesis, or the use of opposing phrases to create a balanced
contradiction of ideas, in this scene to create irony. The irony is that Juliet loves a man who is
from a family she hates.
ROMEO
...Is she a Capulet?
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O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt. (1.5.115-116)
Shakespeare uses assonance, or the recurrence of the sound of a vowel or diphthong,
here. This shows that Romeo has recognized that seeing Juliet will be a problem, as she is from
the opposite house! However, “O dear account!” means that it is a large price to pay, so we know
that though the situation will be difficult, Romeo will still pursue the love of Juliet.
Reflection:
The language in this scene gets my attention. I chose this scene because a significant
problem is introduced that I think will be important to the plot of the story. I think the fact that
Romeo and Juliet are members of rival households will be a conflict in the rest of the story. I
chose this also because I just really think it is a cute and romantic scene. I would have to say that
this scene is my favorite in the book so far. In the opera, The Phantom of the Opera, there is a
song that the two main characters sing when their love first blossoms called “All I Ask of You”.
I can connect this scene to this song, because the situations for the main characters are similar.
Act 2, Scene 2
Maturing Love
In this scene, Romeo goes to visit Juliet at her estate. They talk of their love all through
the night. Romeo proves his love is true by saying he wants to marry Juliet and will send a
messenger the next day to talk of wedding plans.
ROMEO
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...For thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As a winged messenger of heaven... (2.2.36-38)
Here a simile, or a figure of speech in which one thing is used to represent another using
“like” or “as”, is applied to Romeo’s feelings about Juliet. It is effective in this scene because it
shows how Romeo truly feels about Juliet.
ROMEO
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest. (2.2.189-190)
Shakespeare uses euphony, or combinations of words that are pleasing to the ear, in this
scene. It is effective in this scene because the euphony triggers positive feelings, and this scene is
all about the most positive feeling there is: love. The use of euphony enhances the pleasant
mood.
ROMEO
By love, that first did prompt me to inquire.
He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes. (2.2.80-81)
Romeo uses personification, or the giving of human traits or qualities to nonhuman
objects, here to describe how his love for Juliet obsessed him. He is saying that he is so in love
that he felt that he had a great need to go see her, almost as though love told him what to do.
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Then he acted on his impulse, almost like giving his desire eyes. It is effective in this scene
because the readers can see that if Romeo is obsessed with Juliet this completely, he must have
forgotten about Rosaline, eliminating an internal conflict.
Reflection:
The language in this scene is what keeps me reading. I chose this scene because of all of
the beautiful language Shakespeare uses when Romeo and Juliet eloquently describe their love
for each other. Also, I love romantic stories and movies, and this scene is one of the best
instances of romance I have ever seen, so it seemed fitting to reflect upon. A romantic movie I
have seen is “Letters to Juliet”, where heartsick women write letters to Juliet Capulet and leave
them on a wall of what is said to be her residence. I can relate to this movie to help me remember
this scene.
Act 3, Scene 1
Sinking Deeper
In this scene, Tybalt picks a fight with Romeo for gate-crashing the Capulets’ feast, but
Romeo calmly tells Tybalt that he does not want to fight. Mercutio fights with Tybalt instead as
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Romeo tries to break them apart, and Mercutio dies. Romeo kills Tybalt in revenge. Soon the
prince comes and rules that Romeo is banished from Verona as a punishment for killing Tybalt.
TYBALT
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw. (3.1.62-63)
Shakespeare employs cacophony, or combinations of words that are harsh or discordant
sounding, when Tybalt says this line. Cacophony creates feelings of negativity because of its
harsh sound. In this scene, Tybalt antagonizes Romeo even though Romeo did nothing to offend
him. The use of cacophony is useful in this scene because it adds to our already negative
impression of Tybalt.
PRINCE
...And for that offence,
Immediately we do exile him hence. (3.1.182-183)
Cadence, or the balanced rhythm of poetry, is used in these lines. Shakespeare uses
cadence in this scene to accent when the characters speak and act civilly. The flow of cadence
highlights the calm in the scene as opposed to the violence before.
PRINCE
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses.
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses, … (3.1.)
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Assonance is used here when the prince speaks. Shakespeare uses assonance at the end of
each line to make them rhyme (excuses, abuses), and in the middle of the second line (tears,
prayers). Assonance is effective in this scene because it is used to spotlight the prince. Instead of
ignoring the brawls in the streets between the Montagues and Capulets, he shows good
leadership by effectively putting a stop to the situation. Shakespeare is showing us that the prince
is a character to be respected.
Reflection:
The plot in this scene got my attention. I could not believe that Tybalt would be so hotheaded as to start a fight with Romeo when Romeo calmly refused. I chose this scene because
another obstacle is introduced that keeps Romeo and Juliet from seeing each other. Also, I like
this scene because I can really respect the prince. He capably stops the fighting in the city
between the Montagues and Capulets. I can connect this scene to a time when my brother kept
annoying me when I was calmly telling him to let me be.
Act IV: Act 4, Scene 5
Sadness Over a Fallacy
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Juliet takes a sleeping drug, given to her by Friar Lawrence, that gives her the appearance
of being dead. In this scene, her nurse finds her on her bed, apparently dead. Soon her parents,
Paris, and Friar Lawrence gather in her room to mourn.
NURSE
O lamentable day!
LADY CAPULET
O woeful time! (4.5.30)
Shakespeare uses anaphora, or the strategic repetition of words or phrases, in several
instances to emphasize the shock and sadness of Juliet’s family and friends. This is only one
example of the many times these phrases are repeated. These characters show their grief by
cursing the day. We can tell that their grief is paramount because they curse the day not once, but
multiple times.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
...Every one prepare
To follow this fair corse unto her grave. (4.5.92-93)
Friar Lawrence uses an oxymoron, or two contrasting ideas working in conjunction, to
describe Juliet in “death”. A “corse” in this play is a corpse. Dead bodies are typically thought of
as ugly or rotten. By saying Juliet’s corpse is “fair”, Friar Lawrence is telling the family that
Juliet will always be beautiful, even in “death”. This technique is effective in this scene because
it is a creative way to give the family comfort in their hour of darkness.
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CAPULET
Death lies upon her like an untimely frost
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. (4.5.28-29)
Capulet uses a simile here to describe how Juliet, who was an extremely beautiful person,
“died” young. This simile is effective in this scene. It helps us as the readers to understand
Capulet’s grief. When something beautiful has died, it is almost worse than when something
average does because that beauty is lost. This is what Capulet expresses here.
Reflection:
The language in this scene got my attention. I have never really payed attention to
anaphora in writing, and Shakespeare uses anaphora multiple times in this scene. I picked this
scene because it was a kind of learning experience for me; to see what good anaphora looked
like. Also, I love the language that Capulet uses as he describes his grief. I can relate this scene
to April Fool’s Day because people on that day succeed in tricking others, and Juliet and Friar
Lawrence succeed in making the family think Juliet is dead.
Act 5, Scene 3
Death of Lovers and Enmities
In this scene, Romeo travels to Verona after hearing word of Juliet’s “death” so that he
can kill himself and be buried with her. Before he is able to do this, Paris accosts him outside of
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the tomb, and Romeo kills him. Juliet wakes up just after Romeo drinks fatal poison and kills
herself with his knife. Shortly after, the Capulets and Montagues arrive and reconcile their
differences upon discovering the horrific sight of their slain family members.
ROMEO
...My intents are savage, wild,
More fierce and inexorable far
Than empty tigers or the roaring sea. (5.3.37-39)
Shakespeare uses figurative language, or language that is plentiful in figures of speech,
to help us to understand just how desperate Romeo is to end his life. This also shows his extreme
love for Juliet, as killing himself would enable him to be with her, if she were dead.
ROMEO
…O, give me thy hand,
One writ with me in sour misfortune’s book. (5.3.81-82)
This is another instance of Shakespeare’s successful employment of figurative language.
Romeo uses a metaphor after he has killed Paris. He basically says that both he and Paris are illfated, since both were to die young that day, so we know that Romeo’s decision to commit
suicide is final.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
What torch is yond that vainly lends his light
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To grubs and eyeless skulls?... (5.3.125-126).
Shakespeare uses personification to help set the macabre mood in this scene. This is
much more effective than simply saying, “What torch is yond?” because it describes how light,
used to mean happiness or good spirits, struggles in such a dark place filled with death and
“grubs and eyeless skulls”.
Reflection:
Both the plot and the language hold my attention in this scene. This scene includes the
turning point of the Montague and Capulet feud and contains resolutions to not only the external
conflict that Romeo and Juliet face, but internal conflicts within each of these characters. They
now have nothing obstructing their ability to be with each other and have made their decisions
about killing themselves. I found this scene to be worthy of my reflection because the plot in this
scene was vital to the story, since it resolved all of the conflicts presented over the course of the
play. The language in this scene enhances the climactic plot. Shakespeare’s use of
personification and figurative language give the scene a more morbid and grim feel. I chose this
scene also because Shakespeare does such a brilliant job conveying the mood to his readers. I
can relate this scene to the first time I attended a funeral. The air was almost thick with death and
grief, much like the mood of this scene.
EXEMPLAR 3
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Solid A. Paper
Kirby
HWOC 2
1-5-12
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Lonely Soul
Act 1 Scene 1
Romeo has a heavy heart. Rosaline, the woman he loves refuses him, and he cannot
bear to take it. After his fight with Tybalt, and the servants brawl, Benvolio tries to comfort
Romeo. Romeo has been shutting himself up in his room lately, and the Montagues are worried
for their son. Benvolio wants Romeo to forget about Rosaline and escape his depression, but
Romeo only complains of his loneliness.
AWE
1 “Alas that love,
whose view is
muffled still,
Should without
eyes, see
pathways to his
will (1.1.171172)”
2 “Love is a smoke
made with the
fume of sighs,
Being purg’d, a
Device
Effect
personification Romeo describes love as a person that controls him.
Love is blind, and it is blinding Romeo. He cannot “see”
anything but the woman he loves and the broken heart
in his chest. This is a perfect description of the feelings
he experiences, and in some ways, I can relate.
metaphor
This metaphor creates a lot of imagery. I pictured a
heart created from smoke, among other things
described. I really like how the things Romeo compares
love to are total opposites. To me, this shows how
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fire sparkling in
lovers’ eyes,
universal love really is.
Being vex’d, a sea
nourish’d with
loving tears
(1.1.196-198)”
3 “She is too fair,
chiasmus
too wise, wisely
too fair (1.1.229)”
I find Shakespeare’s use of chiasmus throughout this
book. There is much of this enjoyable word play. It is a
simple statement, but it makes my really look for the
meaning: Rosaline made a smart decision by denying
Romeo. She just wasn’t ready for the intimacy that he
was.
This scene is full of strong emotions. Even though this scene could be considered to be a
silly teen romance, Shakespeare dresses it up with poetry and excellent word choice. But in
retrospect, Romeo needs to do some growing up. But I can relate to his hopeless romanticism.
The way Romeo lays his heart out on the table is the other reason I chose this scene, besides
the relatability.
Forbidden Matrimony
Act 2 Scene 6
In this scene, Friar Lawrence meets up with Romeo and Juliet. They want to get married,
but their parents would never allow it. So, they want to wed in secrecy, with Friar Lawrence
joining them. He has agreed to help, but he has some advice to give before he weds the two
love birds.
AWE
1 “And in their triumph
die like fire and
powder:
Which as they kiss
Device
Effect
simile
I love the description of all the devices put together.
Each one provides an insight unto what Friar
Lawrence knows about love, and it seems to be about
the triumph and danger of passion.
metaphor
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consume.
alliteration
The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his
own deliciousness,
And in the taste
confounds the
appetite.
Then love-devouring
death do what he dare
(2.6.10-14)”
2 “Therefore love
moderately, long love
doth so,
alliteration The alliteration provides fluidity, but the proverb is really
proverb
what speaks. Friar Lawrence is trying to get Romeo and
Juliet not to rush their relationship. He will allow them to
be married, but he advises a steady, strong future.
Too swift arrives as
tardy as too slow.
(2.6.21-22)”
3 “This neighbour air,
and let rich music’s
tongue
metaphor
This metaphor is really symbolic for me, for I believe music
is a true universal language. Juliet has linked it to
happiness, and I would also agree with that. The
description flows well, too.
Unfold the imagin’d
happiness (2.6.27-28)”
Hate and Love Adjoined
Act 3 Scene 2
Juliet, a love-struck girl, is in a struggle with her heart. The man she loves, Romeo, has
just killed her dear cousin, Tybalt. Romeo is not only the son of the family that her kinsmen
hate most, but now he is a terrible villain, banished from the town of Verona. Yet somehow,
Juliet’s heart just won’t let him go. No matter how many times she thinks of what Romeo did to
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her cousin, Juliet still aches to be with him. Her nurse has just told her this news, and they are
devising a plan so that Romeo and Juliet can run off together in secrecy.
AWE
1 “Take him and
Device
Effect
metaphor
In my opinion, the metaphor of Romeo’s body being
compared to pieces of stars shows how much Juliet
admires Romeo, as well as how attractive she finds him.
This compares well to how for centuries, people have
admired the stars and look to them as a glimpse of mystery
and beauty.
cut him out in
little stars,
And he will
make the face of
heaven so fine,
That all the
world will be in
love with night
(3.2.22-24)”
2 “O serpent
heart, hid with a
flowering face,
Did a dragon
keep so fair a
cave?
Beautiful tyrant,
fiend angelical:
Dove-feather’d
raven, wolvishravening lamb,
Despised
substance of
divinest show:
Just opposite to
what hadst thou
to do in hell
(3.2.77-82)”
oxymoron
The very way Juliet describes Romeo shows a deep internal
struggle. She is dealing with the fact that her husband has
juxtaposition
just killed her cousin, and Juliet seems to want to feel angry
with Romeo, but finds herself taking his side. After all, who
would expect the one they love to do something so
unforgivable? This is Shakespeare’s way of showing Juliet’s
sincerity of her love for Romeo. She only wants to be with
her villain of a husband because the love is too strong.
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3 “But Oh it
presses me to
my memory,
Like damned
guilty deeds to
sinners’ minds,
Tybalt is dead
and Romeo
banished:
simile
repetition
The way she compares her own cousin’s death to the
banishment shows her deep love for Romeo, but it
confuses me. How can she be so in love that her own
cousin’s death means essentially nothing. She may be able
to see Romeo again, but she will never again speak to
Tybalt. But this may be what Shakespeare is going for:
Juliet is so in love that everything else she ever cared about
means nothing. The repetition of the word “banished”
presents Juliet’s struggle again. She just can’t come to grips
with the sudden heartbreak.
That banished,
that one word
banished,
Hath slain ten
thousand
Tybalts (3.2.114118)”
What captivates me most about this scene is the writing. The plot interests me little,
though I can partially relate. I like Juliet, sometimes feel like I hate the people I love. Whether it
be friends or family, I will still care about them no matter how much I detest them for their
actions. The writing in this single scene helps me perceive Juliet’s thoughts in such a way that I
feel that I am sitting with her as she comes to realize what her beloved husband has done.
When the juxtapositions and comparisons of love and hate in this scene alone come together, it
makes not only poetry, but music.
Disguised as Death
Act 4 Scene 5
Now, Juliet has faked her death in order to escape marrying the Count Paris. Friar
Lawrence gave her a substance that will make her appear dead for a while so that she will be
buried in her family’s tomb. He plans to send for Romeo to break her out of the tomb so they
can run away together. Her family has discovered the great “tragedy” now.
Wroteanapaper 26
AWE
1 “Death is my son-inlaw, death is my
heir,
My daughter he
hath wedded. I will
die,
Device
Effect
personification The personification of Death as Juliet’s husband is
very dark, yet beautiful. I think it fits perfectly in the
scene, as well as describes death in a way that
makes me think from a different perspective.
And leave him all life
living, all is Death’s.
(4.5.38-40)
2 “All things we
ordained festival,
tone (change)
The tone has already become quite sad, but this really
emphasizes the depressing feelings that come with loss.
Minutes ago, the Capulets were quite happy. They were
celebrating their daughter’s wedding day, but now have
to plan a funeral.
chiasmus
This chiasmus creates a fluid property among words.
Sure, it’s a little redundant, but it works well in this
scene and answers the question that Peter asks the
musicians “Why silver sound?”
Turn from their
office to black
funeral:
Our instruments to
melancholy bells,
Our wedding cheer
to a sad burial feast:
Our solemn hymns
to sullen dirges
change:
Our bridal flowers
serve for a buried
corse:
All things change
them to the
contrary. (4.5.8490)”
3 “ I say "silver sound,"
because musicians
sound for silver.
(4.5.134)”
Wroteanapaper 27
Juliet must really love Romeo. I say this because she was willing to hurt her entire family in order
to be with him. Although, I wouldn’t blame her. Her family tried to force her to marry a man that she
had no inclination to do so, not even caring about her feelings. For once, I chose this scene mostly
because of the plot. The whole idea of Juliet faking her death for her lover at thirteen is very interesting
– almost intriguing. I could never picture myself doing this, but desperate times call for desperate
measures.
Last Breaths
Act 5 Scene 3
Finally, there is real death in the air. Both Romeo and Juliet are suicidal at the sight of the
other’s death. When Romeo hears of Juliet’s “death” and doesn’t know it was false, he rushes to the
pharmacist to buy poison to drink so he can die with his wife. Then, Juliet awakens from her slumber
and discovers her dead husband and thrusts a knife into her chest. Even Paris gets caught in this awful
chain. The Montagues and Capulets decide to make amends in the memory of their beloved children.
AWE
1 “Thou detestable
maw, thou womb
of death,
Device
Effect
personification
This is another personification of death, but is very
different from the one described by Capulet. I imagine this
one as a monster that Romeo has tried to slay, but ends up
feeding him with Romeo’s own death. I like the anger of
Romeo’s words, and how it fits into the scene as he takes
the poison.
simile
This realization of life’s end comes for Lady Capulet in an
unexpected way. I find it sad, for she feels that she is dying
too. Children should never precede their parents when it
comes to life’s end.
Gorg’d with the
dearest morsel of
the earth.:
Thus I enforce thy
rotten jaws to
open,
And in despite I’ll
cram thee with
more food.
(5.3.45-48)”
2 “O me, this sight
of death is as a
bell
That warns my
old age to a
sepulchre.
Wroteanapaper 28
(5.3.206-207)”
3 A glooming peace anthropomorphism This is a very sad description of what should be daylight. It
this morning with
sort of implies a sad, regretful world that should never
personification
it brings,
have led to the death of this young couple.
The Sun for
sorrow will not
show his head
(5.3.305-306)
The tragic scene of two lovers’ death’s is heart-wrenching, but I find this part of the
book redundant, since Friar Lawrence basically repeats the whole story within a few pages. I like
the writing in this scene more than the plot, because it creates more intricate details, as well as
a dark nature. Sometimes, I am disappointed with cheerful endings, but I like this one, because
of the fact that something good (besides eternal love) came out of this tragic story. The two
families do make amends, but in essence, it was not a happy ending, but rather bittersweet.