Romeo and Juliet

The basic story

A boy (Romeo) and a girl (Juliet) fall in love. But they come from families which hate each other, and know they will not be allowed to marry. They are so much in love that they marry in secret instead. However, before their wedding night Romeo kills Juliet's cousin in a duel, and in the morning he is forced to leave her. If he ever returns to the city, he will be put to death.

Juliet is then told she must marry Paris, who has been chosen by her parents, who do not know she is already married. She refuses - then agrees because she plans to fake her death and escape to be with Romeo.

She takes a sleeping drug and appears to be dead, so her parents lay her in a tomb. However, Romeo does not know about the plan, visits her grave, finds her 'dead', and kills himself. Juliet finally wakes up, finds Romeo dead, and then kills herself.

Act 1 – Love at First Sight

In the streets of Verona another brawl breaks out between the servants of the feuding noble families of Capulet and Montague. Benvolio, a Montague, tries to stop the fighting, but is himself embroiled when the rash Capulet, Tybalt, arrives on the scene. After citizens, outraged by the constant violence, beat back the warring factions, Prince Escalus, the ruler of Verona, attempts to prevent any further conflicts between the families by decreeing death for any individual who disturbs the peace in the future.

Romeo, the son of Montague, runs into his cousin Benvolio, who had earlier seen Romeo moping in a grove of sycamores. After some prodding by Benvolio, Romeo confides that he is in love with Rosaline, a woman who does not return his affections. Benvolio counsels him to forget this woman and find another, more beautiful one, but Romeo remains despondent.

Meanwhile, Paris, a kinsman of the Prince, seeks Juliet’s hand in marriage. Her father Capulet, though happy at the match, asks Paris to wait two years, since Juliet is not yet even fourteen. Capulet dispatches a servant with a list of people to invite to a masquerade and feast he traditionally holds. He invites Paris to the feast, hoping that Paris will begin to win Juliet’s heart.

Romeo and Benvolio, still discussing Rosaline, encounter the Capulet servant bearing the list of invitations. Benvolio suggests that they attend, since that will allow Romeo to compare his beloved to other beautiful

1

Romeo and Juliet

women of Verona. Romeo agrees to go with Benvolio to the feast, but only because Rosaline, whose name he reads on the list, will be there.

In Capulet’s household, young Juliet talks with her mother, Lady Capulet, and her nurse about the possibility of marrying Paris. Juliet has not yet considered marriage, but agrees to look at Paris during the feast to see if she thinks she could fall in love with him.

The feast begins. A melancholy Romeo follows Benvolio and their witty friend Mercutio to Capulet’s house. Once inside, Romeo sees Juliet from a distance and instantly falls in love with her; he forgets about Rosaline completely. As Romeo watches Juliet, entranced, the young Capulet, Tybalt, recognizes him, and is enraged that a Montague would sneak into a Capulet feast. He prepares to attack, but Capulet holds him back. Soon, Romeo speaks to Juliet, and the two experience a profound attraction. They kiss, not even knowing each other’s names. When he finds out from Juliet’s nurse that she is the daughter of Capulet—his family’s enemy—he becomes distraught. When Juliet learns that the young man she has just kissed is the son of Montague, she grows equally upset.

Act 2 – Love fulfilled

As Mercutio and Benvolio leave the Capulet estate, Romeo leaps over the orchard wall into the garden, unable to leave Juliet behind. From his hiding place, he sees Juliet in a window above the orchard and hears her speak his name. He calls out to her, and they exchange vows of love.

Romeo hurries to see his friend and confessor Friar Lawrence, who, though shocked at the sudden turn of Romeo’s heart, agrees to marry the young lovers in secret since he sees in their love the possibility of ending the age-old feud between Capulet and Montague. The following day, Romeo and Juliet meet at Friar Lawrence’s cell and are married. The Nurse, who knows the secret, procures a ladder, which Romeo will use to climb into Juliet’s window for their wedding night.

Act 3 – Love and hate

The next day, Benvolio and Mercutio encounter Tybalt—Juliet’s cousin—who, still enraged that Romeo attended Capulet’s feast, has challenged Romeo to a duel. Romeo appears. Now Tybalt’s kinsman by marriage, Romeo begs the Capulet to hold off the duel until he understands why Romeo does not want to fight. Disgusted with this plea for peace, Mercutio says that he will fight Tybalt himself. The two begin to duel. Romeo tries to stop them by leaping between the combatants. Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm, and Mercutio dies. Romeo, in a rage, kills Tybalt. Romeo flees from the scene. Soon after, the Prince declares him forever

2

Romeo and Juliet

banished from Verona for his crime. Friar Lawrence arranges for Romeo to spend his wedding night with Juliet before he has to leave for Mantua the following morning.

In her room, Juliet awaits the arrival of her new husband. The Nurse enters, and, after some confusion, tells Juliet that Romeo has killed Tybalt. Distraught, Juliet suddenly finds herself married to a man who has killed her kinsman. But she resettles herself, and realizes that her duty belongs with her love: to Romeo.

Romeo sneaks into Juliet’s room that night, and at last they consummate their marriage and their love. Morning comes, and the lovers bid farewell, unsure when they will see each other again. Juliet learns that her father, affected by the recent events, now intends for her to marry Paris in just three days. Unsure of how to proceed—unable to reveal to her parents that she is married to Romeo, but unwilling to marry Paris now that she is Romeo’s wife—Juliet asks her nurse for advice. She counsels Juliet to proceed as if Romeo were dead and to marry Paris, who is a better match anyway.

Act 4 - Desperation

Disgusted with the Nurse’s disloyalty, Juliet disregards her advice and hurries to Friar Lawrence. He concocts a plan to reunite Juliet with Romeo in Mantua. The night before her wedding to Paris, Juliet must drink a potion that will make her appear to be dead. After she is laid to rest in the family’s crypt, the Friar and Romeo will secretly retrieve her, and she will be free to live with Romeo, away from their parents’ feuding.

Juliet returns home to discover the wedding has been moved ahead one day, and she is to be married tomorrow. That night, Juliet drinks the potion, and the Nurse discovers her, apparently dead, the next morning. The Capulets grieve, and Juliet is entombed according to plan.

Act 5 – Sacrifice and an end to hatred

Friar Lawrence’s message explaining the plan to Romeo never reaches Mantua. Its bearer, Friar John, gets confined to a quarantined house. Romeo hears only that Juliet is dead.

Romeo decides to kill himself rather than live without her. He buys a vial of poison from a reluctant Apothecary, then speeds back to Verona to take his own life at Juliet’s tomb. Outside the Capulet crypt, Romeo comes upon Paris, who is scattering flowers on Juliet’s grave. They fight, and

3

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo kills Paris. He enters the tomb, sees Juliet’s inanimate body, drinks the poison, and dies by her side. Just then, Friar Lawrence enters and realizes that Romeo has killed Paris and himself. At the same time, Juliet awakes. Friar Lawrence hears the coming of the watch. When Juliet refuses to leave with him, he flees alone. Juliet sees her beloved Romeo and realizes he has killed himself with poison. She kisses his poisoned lips, and when that does not kill her, buries his dagger in her chest, falling dead upon his body.

The watch arrives, followed closely by the Prince, the Capulets, and Montague. Montague declares that Lady Montague has died of grief over Romeo’s exile. Seeing their children’s bodies, Capulet and Montague agree to end their long-standing feud and to raise gold statues of their children side-by-side in a newly peaceful Verona.

Some Key Quotations

The theme of love1) ROMEO

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!...Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.(1.5.1)

Romeo forgets all about his "love" for Rosaline the second he sees Juliet, which makes us think that he was never really in love with Rosaline to begin with. But does this also mean that Romeo's desire for Juliet is nothing more than meaningless infatuation?

2) But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! (2.2.2-3)

Romeo, our young hero, already loves Juliet. In his words of adoration, he compares Juliet to a sunrise. Juliet hasn't seen Romeo below her window; she has no idea Romeo is even on her family's grounds. The important thing to take away is Romeo's use of language. Throughout the play, Romeo associates Juliet with 'light' imagery. He finds her love to be bright, sunny, and warm.

4

Romeo and Juliet

3) O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Juliet speaks these lines, perhaps the most famous in the play, in the balcony scene (2.1.74–78). Leaning out of her upstairs window, unaware that Romeo is below in the orchard, she asks why Romeo must be Romeo—why he must be a Montague, the son of her family’s greatest enemy (“wherefore” means “why,” not “where”; Juliet is not, as is often assumed, asking where Romeo is). Still unaware of Romeo’s presence, she asks him to deny his family for her love. She adds, however, that if he will not, she will deny her family in order to be with him if he merely tells her that he loves her.

A major theme in Romeo and Juliet is the tension between social and family identity (represented by one’s name) and one’s inner identity. Juliet believes that love stems from one’s inner identity, and that the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets is a product of the outer identity, based only on names. She thinks of Romeo in individual terms, and thus her love for him overrides her family’s hatred for the Montague name. She says that if Romeo were not called “Romeo” or “Montague,” he would still be the person she loves. “What’s in a name?” she asks. “That which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet” (2.1.85–86).

4) What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other word would smell as sweet. (2.2.43-44)

Still thinking about names, Juliet expresses a very modern idea. Your name does not define you. In her world, your name — or the family that you come from — sets out how people view you. The idea that you should be judged solely on your own merit is a progressive idea for the setting that showcases Juliet's rebellious and modern streak.

5) Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." (2.2.185-186)

In her farewell, Juliet expresses her sorrow about being away from her love, Romeo. But their parting is sweet, because the next time they meet, their wedding will take place.

6) From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,

5

Romeo and Juliet

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife. . .

7) Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,I have no joy of this contract to-night:It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;Too like the lightning, which doth cease to beEre one can say 'It lightens.' (2.2.13)

Juliet is certain that she loves Romeo but she's also a bit cautious because her love seems "too rash, too unadvised, too sudden." So, while Juliet is clearly a very passionate girl, she's also pretty smart and realizes that head-over-heels passion can be dangerous.

8) ROMEOO my love! my wife!Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath,Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yetIs crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,And death's pale flag is not advanced there....

Ah, dear Juliet,Why art thou yet so fair?

...Eyes, look your last!Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O youThe doors of breath, seal with a righteous kissA dateless bargain to engrossing death!...Here's to my love!O true apothecary!Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.(5.3.88-120)

Death becomes an act of love for Romeo, because he thinks that suicide will enable him to be with Juliet (he thinks she's dead). 9) O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris,

From off the battlements of yonder tower;Juliet is desperate after she learns of her father’s intention to marry her to Paris

6

Romeo and Juliet

10) Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,So soon forsaken? young men's love then liesNot truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.(2.2.6)

Friar Laurence makes a convincing argument that Romeo's love for Juliet could be nothing more than a crush. Just days ago Romeo was crying his eyes out over another woman, the unattainable Rosaline.

Friar Laurence has good reason to be sceptical of Romeo's newfound "love." But, if he's so sceptical of the relationship, why does he agree to secretly marry the young couple? Well, he tells us: "For this alliance may so happy prove/ To turn your households' rancour to pure love" (2.2.9).

In other words, Friar Laurence is hoping a union between Romeo and Juliet will force the feuding families to reconcile. But good intentions aren't enough. His meddling may not be solely responsible for the tragedy, but it's at least partly responsible. At the same time, Romeo and Juliet's love does eventually bring the two families together—but only after a double suicide.

11) CAPULET O brother Montague, give me thy hand:This is my daughter's jointure, for no moreCan I demand.MONTAGUE But I can give thee more:For I will raise her statue in pure gold;That while Verona by that name is known,There shall no figure at such rate be setAs that of true and faithful Juliet. CAPULET As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie;Poor sacrifices of our enmity! (5.3.3)

After Romeo and Juliet are found dead, Montague offers to erect a "statue" of "pure gold" in Juliet's honour and Capulet promise to do the same for his dead son-in-law, Romeo. Although the young lovers' deaths unite the warring families and put an end to the feud (just as the Chorus promised back in the first Prologue), the efforts of the Capulets and the Montagues are a day late.

12) For never was a story of more woe [t]han this of Juliet and her Romeo. (5.3.317-318)

7

Romeo and Juliet

In the last two lines of the play, Prince Escalus remarks on the lives of Juliet and Romeo. He's saying that no other tale has been this sad. While Escalus is right, his words also allow for the enduring quality of Romeo and Juliet's love. Their classic love story has been told and retold to every generation since first hitting the stage in 1594.

Hate13) Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. (Prologue)

14) PRINCE What, ho! you men, you beasts,That quench the fire of your pernicious rageWith purple fountains issuing from your veins,On pain of torture, from those bloody handsThrow your mistemper'd weapons to the ground.

When the Prince calls the Capulets and Montagues a bunch of "beasts," he implies that their hatred doesn't seem to have any rational cause – it is simply the result of passions they refuse to restrain. We also notice that there's never any real explanation of what caused the feud or why it even continues.

15) TYBALTThis, by his voice, should be a Montague.Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slaveCome hither, cover'd with an antic face,To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.(1.5.1)

When Tybalt discovers that Romeo has entered the Capulet's party uninvited, his first response is to start a sword fight. But Tybalt is easily provoked. Does he really hate the Montagues so much, or does he just love hating as much as Romeo loves loving?

16) JULIETMy only love sprung from my only hate!Too early seen unknown, and known too late!Prodigious birth of love it is to me,

8

Romeo and Juliet

That I must love a loathed enemy.(1.5.10)

Juliet is devastated when she learns that her "only love" (Romeo) has "sprung from [her] only hate" (is the son of her family's only enemies, the Montagues). Romeo's response to the news that Juliet is a Capulet is pretty similar. He says "O dear account! My life is my foe's debt!" (1.5.8).

17) FRIAR LAURENCEBut come, young waverer, come, go with me,In one respect I'll thy assistant be;For this alliance may so happy prove,To turn your households' rancour to pure love.(2.3.9)

Friar Laurence doesn't believe that Romeo's love for Juliet is authentic, but he agrees to marry them anyway. Why? Well, the Friar believes that a marriage between a young Capulet and a young Montague might be able to put an end to the long-standing family feud. Pretty conniving, don't you think?

18) TYBALTRomeo, the love I bear thee can affordNo better term than this,--thou art a villain.ROMEOTybalt, the reason that I have to love theeDoth much excuse the appertaining rageTo such a greeting: villain am I none;Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.TYBALTBoy, this shall not excuse the injuriesThat thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.ROMEOI do protest, I never injured thee,But love thee better than thou canst devise,Till thou shalt know the reason of my love:And so, good Capulet,--which name I tenderAs dearly as my own,--be satisfied.MERCUTIOO calm, dishonourable, vile submission!(3.1.5)

9

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt because he's just married to Juliet, Tybalt's cousin. According to Tybalt, Romeo has dishonoured himself by refusing to fight. Violence in the play is associated with masculinity.

19) A plague o' both your houses!" (3.1.104)

Tension between the Montague and Capulet families has been mounting until a fight erupts in the streets. Romeo's best friend, Mercutio, goads Tybalt Capulet into a duel. Mercutio is stabbed by Tybalt, who runs away. Mercutio curses both families in his final words, wishing a plague on both families. Mercutio's words foreshadows the loss that both families will soon feel.

20) ROMEOSpakest thou of Juliet? how is it with her?Doth she not think me an old murderer,Now I have stain'd the childhood of our joyWith blood removed but little from her own?Where is she? and how doth she? and what saysMy conceal'd lady to our cancell'd love?(3.3.11)

Romeo worries that his murder of Tybalt, an act of hatred, may have destroyed Juliet's love for him.

Fate

21) ROMEO I fear, too early: for my mind misgivesSome consequence yet hanging in the starsShall bitterly begin his fearful dateWith this night's revels and expire the termOf a despised life closed in my breastBy some vile forfeit of untimely death.(1.4.13)

Just before Romeo heads over to the Capulet ball, where he falls in love with and meets (in that order) Juliet, he tells us that he fears that something "hanging in the stars" (something destined to happen) will be set in motion that night. Romeo's premonition seems to be in keeping with what the Chorus tells us in the Prologue.

22) JULIET (gesturing towards Romeo)What's he that follows there, that would not dance?NURSE

10

Romeo and Juliet

I know not.JULIETGo ask his name: if he be married.My grave is like to be my wedding bed.(1.5.9)

Juliet foreshadows her own death – her grave does become her wedding bed.

23) ROMEOO, I am fortune's fool!(3.1.11)

Immediately after he kills Tybalt in a duel, Romeo declares he is "fortune's fool." This seems to suggest that fate or "fortune" is responsible for Tybalt's death, not Romeo. But, really? Should we let Romeo off the hook for fighting and killing Tybalt, or should we hold Romeo responsible for his actions?

24) JULIETO God, I have an ill-divining soul!Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.(3.5.8)

When Juliet says she has "an ill-diving soul," she means that she has a premonition of Romeo's death. This, of course, foreshadows how she will see Romeo for the last time: with her in her tomb (5.3)

25) ROMEOIs it even so? then I defy you, stars!(5.1.24)

When Romeo hears from Balthasar that Juliet is dead (well, fake-dead), he declares "I defy you, stars!" True, he does have a plan to make sure that he and Juliet end up together despite the stars.

26) ROMEO (to Juliet in the tomb)I still will stay with thee;And never from this palace of dim nightDepart again: here, here will I remain

11

Romeo and Juliet

With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, hereWill I set up my everlasting rest,And shake the yoke of inauspicious starsFrom this world-wearied flesh.(5.3.6)

Romeo is convinced that he'll escape his fate (“shake the yoke of inauspicious stars “) by killing himself, thus ensuring that he spends eternity with Juliet. But, in fact, taking fate into his own hands just means he ends up killing himself for nothing—and ensuring that Juliet dies after. If you're looking for textual evidence that Romeo brings about his own "fate" (by making a decision of his own free will to kill himself), then this is the passage for you.

27) FRIAR LAURENCEI hear some noise. Lady, come from that nestOf death, contagion, and unnatural sleep:A greater power than we can contradictHath thwarted our intents.(5.3.8)

When Juliet awakens and finds Romeo dead, the Friar tells Juliet that a "higher power"—either God or fate—has ruined their plans. It seems like the Friar doesn't want to take any responsibility for the part he played in the couple's tragedy. After all, Friar Laurence is the one who (1) facilitated the secret marriage, and then (2) came up with the idea for Juliet to drink the sleeping potion that would make everyone think she was dead. We're pretty sure that, when the Prince says that some will be "punished," he's looking straight at this guy.

12

Romeo and Juliet

Essay question 1 -Choose a play in which there is a significant scene that has a major impact on the development of both character and plot. Explain the circumstances of the scene and go on to discuss the impact it has on the play as a whole.

For this type of essay where you have to ‘dip in’ to the body of the play then also deal with the ‘before and after’, it is a good idea to answer the question briefly in your introduction.

Sample opening to introduction:

In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” a scene that has particular significance on the play as a whole is when Juliet meets Romeo for the first time at her parents’ banquet. Juliet’s life is thrown into confusion by her encounter with Romeo who is a Montague, a person she expects to hate and detest.

Body of essay: Remember each paragraph of your essay should have the following elements:

• topic sentence: a point that helps to answer the task• develop the point introduced in the topic sentence• context (a bit of the story)• quote• analysis• evaluate/explain with reference to the question.

Discuss the following: Dutiful Juliet – Before the key scene Juliet is seen as a dutiful daughter wanting

to please her parents. Banquet / key scene this question – Discuss this key scene and how Juliet’s

world changes completely when she meets Romeo Balcony – Discuss the deep feelings that Juliet is now experiencing after her

initial meeting with Romeo. Feud and Family – Discuss the feud – Romeo/Mercurtio/Tybalt and the

consequences of this for the lovers. Friar Lawrence – Discuss Friar Lawrence’s intervention – his attempts to end the

family feud. Discuss Juliet’s desperation and how much she has changed from the dutiful daughter at the start.

Death – Discuss the tragic ending of the play – all of which stems from that fateful meeting between Romeo and Juliet in the Banquet scene.

Possible topic sentences:

A key scene in the development of the play is when Juliet attends a banquet hosted by her parents at which she is to meet Paris, her suitor. Juliet’s world is thrown into confusion when she meets Romeo for the first time. Prior to this she was a dutiful daughter who only wanted to please her parents.

“My only love sprung from my only hate.” - paradox

“Loathed enemy” – language of feud and violence.

Following Juliet’s dreadful discovery of Romeo’s identity at the end of the key banquet scene, she is surprised later that night when Romeo, unknown to her, breaks into her house and overhears her secret thoughts.

13

Romeo and Juliet

"What's in a name? That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet."

“Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow.”

“Where and what time thy wilt perform the rite”

“If they see thee they will murder thee.”

The fateful events resulting from Juliet’s meeting with Romeo in the Banquet scene begin to unfold rapidly. Despite being secretly married to Romeo, Juliet’s happiness is short lived when she receives the news that her husband has murdered her favourite cousin, Tybalt.

“Oh serpent heart, hid with a flow’ring face”

“Fiend angelical”

“I thy three hours wife have mangled it.”

Juliet’s problems are multiplied when she discovers that her parents have brought forward the date of the marriage between her and Paris. Juliet, once more, is put under great pressure to preserve her relationship with Romeo.

“He shall not make me there a joyful bride.”

“Hang beg die in the streets, I have done with you.”

“Talk not to me for I’ll not speak a word. Do as thou wilt for I have done with thee.”

As a result of her parents’ stubborn refusal to hear Juliet’s point of view, Juliet desperately seeks out Friar Lawrence. Juliet knows that Friar Lawrence is the only person who can possibly help her be with her lover.

“Be not so long to speak, I long to die.”

“Romeo! Romeo! Romeo! I drink to thee!”

The tragic events that began in the key scene reach their climax with the deaths of the young lovers. We are not surprised when Juliet awakens, to find her lover already dying, that she is quick to choose death herself.

Sample conclusion:

It is clear then that without the meeting of Romeo and Juliet in the key banquet scene, the subsequent tragic events would not have taken place. Juliet’s determination to be with Romeo, the only son of her family’s great rival, ultimately leads to her decision to take her own life. Tragically for Juliet by the end of the play she realises she has no choice other than to kill herself in order to be with her dead lover and husband. Juliet’s fateful encounter with the son of her only enemy has led to the death of two young innocent people. The love kindled at the banquet and Juliet’s admirable determination to stay true to her emotions has brought great turmoil and tragedy. The play ends with a seeming peace between the feuding families but the price they have paid to arrive at that peace has been truly terrible.

14

Romeo and Juliet

Essay question 2 - Choose a play in which a character makes a decision which has a significant impact on the outcome of the play.Explain the circumstances of the decision and go on to discuss the impact it has on the play as a whole.

Possible opening:In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” the main character Juliet makes a decision, which has a significant impact on the outcome of the play. Her decision to defy her family to be with Romeo, ultimately leads to her demise.

Essay question 3 Choose a play in which there is conflict between two of the main characters. Go on to demonstrate how this conflict affects the characters decisions and the outcome of the play.

Essay question 4 Choose a play which features a breakdown in family relationships. Show what the relationship was and go on to explain what makes it break down.

Essay question 5 Choose a play which has an important scene or turning point. Give a brief account of the scene then go on to show why it was important to the play as a whole.

Essay question 6 Choose a play which has a violent theme. State what the theme is and show how the characters deal with the issues in such a way as to overcome the violence or be destroyed by it.

Possible opening: Violence is one of the main themes of Romeo and Juliet. The main characters, Romeo and Juliet fall in love in an environment that is violent and aggressive. Because both of the main characters are from warring families, they have to keep their feelings a secret from their aggressive and disapproving families. The pressure this places on Romeo and Juliet’s relationship ultimately ends in tragedy when Juliet is forced to take her own life.

The play begins in a violent and chaotic manner. Both families, the Montagues and the Capulets, are involved in a long running bloody feud. Verona’s prince is tired of the constant warfare and issues athreat to both families that the next antagonist will be punishable by death if he is caught causing more unrest. This is the context within which Romeo and Juliet meet and conduct their love affair...

15