BEST LINES IN

ROMEO & JULIET

By Ms. Secko

THE GR EATEST LOVE STO RY O F AL L T IME…

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

THE POWER OF LOVEA C T 1 , S C E N E 5 , PA G E 2

“The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand,

And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand.

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!

For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.”

Literary Technique: Rhyme

“The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand,

And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand.

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!

For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.”

Using rhyme in poetry gives a poem a repetitive quality by sound without repeating a line or phrase. The use of rhyme allows poetry to gain a songlike quality.

RHYME

“The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand,

And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand.

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!

For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.”

Through the use of rhyme, Shakespeare is able to capture an enamored Romeo who is surrounded by the “notes” of love. His rhyming speech IS the music behind his passion, Juliet. Through rhyme, the audience is able to understand Romeo’s deep feelings for Juliet. We want them to be together!

WHAT DOES IT ADD?

IS IT TRUE LOVE?A C T 1 , S C E N E 5

Literary Technique: Allusion

ROMEO[To JULIET] If I profane with my unworthiest handThis holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready standTo smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.JULIETGood pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,Which mannerly devotion shows in this;For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

ROMEO[To JULIET] If I profane with my unworthiest handThis holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready standTo smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.JULIETGood pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,Which mannerly devotion shows in this;For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

ALLUSION

WHAT DOES IT ADD?

Shakespeare’s allusion, or reference, to God brings this relationship to a new level. Using biblical language assures the audience that this relationship is different than any other; it is Holy, true and blessed! We, too, are in love – with them!

ROMEO[To JULIET] unworthiest hand…holy shrine…pilgrims…

JULIET pilgrim…hand…devotion…saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch…and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

THE CONSEQUENCE OF HATEA CT 3 , S CE NE 1 , PA G E 5

MERCUTIO: Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man

Literary Technique: Pun

PUNMERCUTIO: Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave manThe use of pun, or play on words, is to suggest

two possible meanings. In this case, the two meanings for “grave” are 1) serious, 2) buried. Naturally, the characters assume Mercutio is going to take his wound seriously and seek help. The audience, on the author hand, understands the foreshadowing of Mercutio’s death. The audience is deeply saddened.

DEATHA C T 3 , S C EN E 1 , PA GE 5

MERCUTIO: A plague o' both your houses!

Literary Technique: Metaphor

DEATHA C T 3 , S C EN E 1 , PA GE 5

MERCUTIO: A plague o' both your houses!

Literary Technique: Metaphor

WHAT DOES IT ADD?

MERCUTIO: A plague o' both your houses! By using the “plague” metaphor, Mercutio is

suggesting ultimate doom. Not only will there be death, but the audience knows that there will be pain and suffering on both sides. A plague does not discriminate, it will kill everyone in its path regardless of who you are, Capulet or Montague. Shakespeare’s metaphor sends chills up his audience’s spine – we fear the end results!

THE END

It’s not what is said, but, rather, how it’s said that makes it memorable….