EXAMPLESFORROMEOANDJULIETESSAYPROMPTSUsetheseexamplesasastartingplaceforyouressay.DONOTusethesummariesinyourwriting,butratherusethesetohelpyouwithconcretedetails,andusethesummariestohelpyouunderstandwhat’shappeningfortheseexamples.

PROMPT1:IRRATIONALHATRED(DoNOTusethesesummariesinyourwriting.Theyarejustheretohelpyouunderstandthecontextofeachpassage.Useyourownthoughtsandwordswhenanalyzingthesequotes!)Prologue:Twohouseholds,bothalikeindignity(InfairVerona,wherewelayourscene),Fromancientgrudgebreaktonewmutiny,Wherecivilbloodmakescivilhandsunclean.FromforththefatalloinsofthesetwofoesApairofstar-crossedloverstaketheirlife;WhosemisadventuredpiteousoverthrowsDowiththeirdeathburytheirparents'strife.Thefearfulpassageoftheirdeath-markedloveAndthecontinuanceoftheirparents'rage,Which,buttheirchildren'send,noughtcouldremove,Isnowthetwohours'trafficofourstage(Prologue.1-12).Summary:Thinkofthislikeamini-readingguide:here,Shakespeare(ortheChorus)tellsusupfrontthat,overthecourseoftheplay,"twohouseholds,"orfamiliesinVerona,aregoingtogetcaughtup(again)inalongstandingfeud,or"ancientgrudge."Notonlythat,butthingsaregoingtoget"blood[y]"whentheirchildren(thekidswhocamefromtheirparents'"fatalloins")fallinloveandthenlater"taketheirlife."Wealsoknowthatthedeathsofthetwo"star-crossedlovers"willputanendtotheirfamilies'hatred.Injustafewlines,Shakespearelaysouttheplotandafewofthemajorthemes—doneanddone.Act1Scene1:ABRAHAM:Doyoubiteyourthumbatus,sir?SAMPSON:Idobitemythumb,sir.ABRAHAM:Doyoubiteyourthumbatus,sir?SAMPSON,asidetoGregory:Isthelawofourside,ifIsay"Ay"?GREGORY,asidetoSampson:No.SAMPSON:No,sir,Idonotbitemythumbatyou,sir,butIbitemythumb,sir(1.1.45-52).

Summary:Okay,whatisgoingonhere?Basically,thumbbiting,whichinvolvesbitingandthenflickingone'sthumbfrombehindtheupperteeth,isaShakespeareanversionofflippingsomeonethebird.Now,Sampson(aCapuletservant)doesn'thaveagoodreasontoinsulttheMontagues'servants—he'sjustlookingtostiruptroublebecausehismastersarefeudingwiththeMontagues,butprobablymorebecausehe'sbored.Plus,Sampson'stoomuchofacowardtoownuptohissillygesturebecausethe"law"won'tbeonhis"side"ifhisthumbbitingcausesabigoldbrawl(hedoesn'twanttogetbustedforcausingafracas).What'sthepointofallthis?Well,theCapulet/Montaguefeud,whichhasobviouslytrickleddowntoinvolvetheirservants,iscompletelyabsurd.JustlikeSampson'sthumbbiting.

Act1Scene1:PRINCE:What,ho!Youmen,youbeasts,ThatquenchthefireofyourperniciousrageWithpurplefountainsissuingfromyourveins:Onpainoftorture,fromthosebloodyhandsThrowyourmistemperedweaponstotheground,[…]ThreecivilbrawlsbredofanairywordBythee,oldCapulet,andMontague,HavethricedisturbedthequietofourstreetsAndmadeVerona'sancientcitizensCastbytheirgrave-beseemingornamentsTowieldoldpartisansinhandsasold,Cankeredwithpeace,topartyourcankeredhate(1.1.85-89;91-97).Summary:WhenthePrincecallstheCapuletsandMontaguesabunchof"beasts,"heimpliesthattheirhatreddoesn'tseemtohaveanyrationalcause–itissimplytheresultofpassionstheyrefusetorestrain.Wealsonoticethatthere'sneveranyrealexplanationofwhatcausedthefeudorwhyitevencontinues.Theonlythingweknowisthattherehavebeenthreebigstreetfightsthathave"disturb'dthequietof[the]streets"inVerona.ThePrince'ssolutiontoallofthisviolence?Anymancaughtbrawlinginthefuturewillbesentencedto"death."Act1Scene5:TYBALT:This,byhisvoice,shouldbeaMontague.—Fetchmemyrapier,boy.Pageexits.WhatdarestheslaveComehithercoveredwithananticfaceTofleerandscornatoursolemnity?Now,bythestockandhonorofmykin,TostrikehimdeadIholditnotasin(1.5.61-67).Summary:WhenTybaltdiscoversthatRomeohascrashedtheCapulet'sparty,hisfirstresponseis…tostartaswordfight.ButTybaltiseasilyprovoked.DoeshereallyhatetheMontaguessomuch,ordoeshejustlovehatingasmuchasRomeolovesloving?Act1Scene1:ROMEO:Ome!Whatfraywashere?Yettellmenot,forIhavehearditall.Here'smuchtodowithhate,butmorewithlove.Whythen,Obrawlinglove,Olovinghate,Oanythingofnothingfirstcreate!Oheavylightness,seriousvanity,Mis-shapenchaosofwell-seemingforms!Featheroflead,brightsmoke,coldfire,sickhealth,Still-wakingsleep,thatisnotwhatitis!ThislovefeelI,thatfeelnoloveinthis.Dostthounotlaugh?(1.1.178-188).

Summary:RomeoisabitofadramaqueenwhenhespotsbloodfromtherecentstreetbrawlbetweentheCapuletandMontagueservants.Hedizzieshimselfherebyrelatingtheextremesofhateandlove.Weshouldalsopointoutthatthephrases,"Obrawlinglove!Olovinghate!",areperfectexamplesof"oxymoron."An"oxymoron,"bytheway,isthecombinationoftwotermsordinarilyseenasopposites.KeepyoureyesopenforthesebecauseShakespeareusesalotofthemintheplay.Act1,Scene5:JULIET:Myonlylovesprungfrommyonlyhate!Tooearlyseenunknown,andknowntoolate!ProdigiousbirthofloveitistomeThatImustlovealoathèdenemy(1.5.152-155).Summary:Julietisdevastatedwhenshelearnsthather"onlylove"(thatwouldbeRomeo)has"sprungfrom[her]onlyhate"(isthesonofherfamily'sonlyenemies,theMontagues).Romeo'sresponsetothenewsthatJulietisaCapuletisprettysimilar.Hesays"Odearaccount!Mylifeismyfoe'sdebt!"(1.5.8).Butaretheybothjustoverreacting?Inanearlierpassage,weheardJuliet'sdadsaythatRomeoisanicekid.Earlyonintheplay,Capuletalsosaysthathe'stoooldtookeeponfeudingwiththeMontagues(1.2.1).Act2Scene3:FRIARLAURENCE:Butcome,youngwaverer,come,gowithme.InonerespectI'llthyassistantbe,ForthisalliancemaysohappyproveToturnyourhouseholds'rancortopurelove(2.3.96-99).

FriarLaurencedoesn'tbelievethatRomeo'sloveforJulietisauthentic(especiallysinceRomeowas"inlove"withRosalineabouttwosecondsago),butheagreestomarrythemanyway.Whatgives?Well,theFriarbelievesthatamarriagebetweenayoungCapuletandayoungMontaguemightbeabletoputanendtothelong-standingfamilyfeud.Prettyconniving,don'tyouthink?

Source:http://www.shmoop.com/romeo-and-juliet/hate-quotes-1.html

PROMPT2:DECEPTION&DISGUISESomeexamplestogetyougoing:Act1:RomeogoestotheCapuletpartyinamask,passinghimselfoffasaninvitedguest(andthemasksatthepartydisguisingeveryone,allowingRomeoandJuliettomeet)Act2:-RomeoandJulietmarrywithouttellingthereparents-TheNursekeepstheirmarriageasecret-TheFriardecidestomarrytheminsecretAct3:-JuliettellshermomthatshehatesRomeo(eventhoughsheismarriedtohim)-TheconversationbetweenLordCapuletandParisaboutJulietmarryingPariswithoutherconsent

-JulietmisleadsherfatherintothinkingthatshehasfollowedhisorderstomarryPariswhenshetellstheNurse,"Goin,andtellmyladyIamgone,/Havingdispleasedmyfather,toLaurence'scell,/Tomakeconfessionandtobeabsolved"(III,v,ll.231-233).

-FriarLaurencebecomesinvolvedindeceivingtheCapuletswhenhegivesapotiontoJuliet,whichmakesherappeardead.Whilehisintentionsmaybegood,theactisanythingbutforthright.Ofcourse,Juliet,too,isguiltyofdeceptionagain.

Act4:

-TheFriar’sPlanforJuliettofakeherdeath

-Juliet,followingtheplan,tellsothersshewantstomarryParis,thentakesthepotion,deceivingeveryoneintothinkingsheisdead

Act5:

Everyoneishiding,hidingsomething,orintentionallydeceivingothers(thinkpotions,marriages,andpeoplehidingatthecemetery)

(fromhttp://www.enotes.com/homework-help/need-4-examples-lies-romeo-juliet-60009)

PROMPT3:ADULTS&TEENS(DoNOTusethesesummariesinyourwriting.Theyarejustheretohelpyouunderstandthecontextofeachpassage.Useyourownthoughtsandwordswhenanalyzingthesequotes!)Act1Scene2:LORDCAPULETButMontagueisboundaswellasI,Inpenaltyalike,and'tisnothard,Ithink,Formensooldaswetokeepthepeace(1.2.1-3).Summary:WhenParisasksforthirteen-year-oldJuliet'shandinmarriage,Capuletresponds(prettysensibly,ifyouaskus)thatshe'swaytooyoungtobea"bride."(HealsotalksaboutJulietasthoughshe'sapieceoffruitthatisn'tyet"ripe,"whichislesssensibleandmoregross.)TheconversationgetsevencreepierwhenParispointsoutthattherearetwelve-year-oldswhoarealreadymothers.Capulet'sreplyseemstocarryontheJuliet=apieceofunripefruitmetaphorbecauseheimpliesthatJulietwouldbe"marr'd"(bruised,tainted,ruined,etc.)ifshemarriedandhadkidssoyoung.Uh,yep.Thatsoundsaboutright.Act1Scene2:LORDCAPULET:Butsayingo'erwhatIhavesaidbefore.Mychildisyetastrangerintheworld.Shehathnotseenthechangeoffourteenyears.LettwomoresummerswitherintheirprideErewemaythinkherripetobeabride.PARIS:Youngerthanshearehappymothersmade.LORDCAPULET:Andtoosoonmarredarethosesoearlymade(1.2.7-13).Summary:WhenParisasksforthirteen-year-oldJuliet'shandinmarriage,Capuletrespondsthatshe'swaytooyoungtobea"bride."(HealsotalksaboutJulietasthoughshe'sapieceoffruitthatisn'tyet"ripe,"whichislesssensibleandmoregross.)TheconversationgetsevencreepierwhenParispointsoutthattherearetwelve-year-oldswhoarealreadymothers.Capulet'sreplyseemstocarryontheJuliet=apieceofunripefruitmetaphorbecauseheimpliesthatJulietwouldbe"marr'd"(bruised,tainted,ruined,etc.)ifshemarriedandhadkidssoyoung. Act1Scene5:LORDCAPULET:Nay,sit,nay,sit,goodcousinCapulet,ForyouandIarepastourdancingdays.Howlongis'tnowsincelastyourselfandIWereinamask?SECONDCAPULET:By'rlady,thirtyyears.CAPULET:What,man,'tisnotsomuch,'tisnotsomuch(1.5.35-40).Summary:LordCapuletcannotbelieveit'sbeenthirtyyearssincehishighschoolgraduation.It'slike,nedayyou'rethecaptainofthefootballteam,andthenextdayyou'remiddle-agedwithacoupleofdisobedientkidsandalotofhot-headedyoungmentryingtogetyourfamilykilled.

Act2Scene5:JULIET:TheclockstruckninewhenIdidsendtheNurse.Inhalfanhourshepromisedtoreturn.Perchanceshecannotmeethim.That'snotso.O,sheislame!Love'sheraldsshouldbethoughts,Whichtentimesfasterglidethanthesun'sbeams,Drivingbackshadowsoverlouringhills.Thereforedonimble-pinioneddovesdrawLove,Andthereforehaththewind-swiftCupidwings.NowisthesunuponthehighmosthillOfthisday'sjourney,andfromninetilltwelveIsthreelonghours,yetsheisnotcome.Hadsheaffectionsandwarmyouthfulblood,Shewouldbeasswiftinmotionasaball;Mywordswouldbandyhertomysweetlove,Andhistome.Butoldfolks,manyfeignastheyweredead,Unwieldy,slow,heavyandpaleaslead(2.5.1-17).Summary:AccordingtoJuliet,theoldergeneration(includingthe"lame"Nurse)istooslowtounderstandtheswiftpassionoflove.It'sseemsprettyclearthatlovebelongstotheyounginRomeoandJuliet.Act3Scene3:ROMEO:Thoucanstnotspeakofthatthoudostnotfeel.WertthouasyoungasI,Julietthylove,Anhourbutmarried,Tybaltmurderèd,Dotinglikemeandlikemebanishèd,Thenmightstthouspeak,thenmightstthoutearthyhair,Andfallupontheground,asIdonow,Romeothrowshimselfdown.Takingthemeasureofanunmadegrave(3.3.67-74).Summary:WhenRomeolearnsfromFriarLaurencethathe'sbeenbanishedfromVerona,heflipsoutandaccusesFriarLaurenceofbeingtoooldtounderstandthispassionatesituation.AccordingtoRomeo,ifFriarLaurencewere"young"andinthesamesituationasRomeo,he'dbe"tear[ing]out[his]hair."But,again:isn'tthiswhatkidsalwayssay?(Andiftheydo,doesthatmakeituntrue?)

Act3Scene5:

CAPULET:God'sbread,itmakesmemad.Day,night,hour,tide,time,work,play,Alone,incompany,stillmycarehathbeenTohavehermatched.AndhavingnowprovidedAgentlemanofnobleparentage,Offairdemesnes,youthful,andnoblyligned,Stuffed,astheysay,withhonorableparts,Proportionedasone'sthoughtwouldwishaman—Andthentohaveawretchedpulingfool,Awhiningmammet,inherfortune'stender,Toanswer'I'llnotwed.Icannotlove,Iamtooyoung.Iprayyou,pardonme.'But,anyouwillnotwed,I'llpardonyou!Grazewhereyouwillyoushallnothousewithme(3.5.187-200)

Summary:WhenJulietrefusestomarryParis,LordCapuletflipshislid.HesuggeststhatyoungJulietisawhinyingrate,threatenstothrowheroutofthehouse,andthenmocksherforpleadingthatsheis"tooyoung"towedParis.Thefunnythingis,whenParisfirstapproachedCapuletwithaproposaltomarryJulietbackinAct1,Capuletseemedtoagreethatshewasaslittleyoung(1.2).Weshouldalsopointoutthat,bythispoint,JulietisalreadymarriedtoRomeo(secretly)so,shedoesn'treallythinkshe'stooyoungtobeawife—shejustusesitasanexcusenottogethitchedtoParis.

Act3,Scene5

LORDCAPULET:Anyoubemine,I'llgiveyoutomyfriend;Andyoubenot,hang,beg,starve,dieinthestreets,For,bymysoul,I'llne'eracknowledgethee,Norwhatismineshallneverdotheegood:Trustto't,bethinkyou;I'llnotbeforsworn(3.5.192-196).

Summary:Thinkyourparentsarestrict?InShakespeare'sday,children(especiallygirls)hadverylittlecontrolovertheirlives.Daughterswereexpectedtobesilent,chaste,andobedient,whichiswhyLordCapulettreatsJulietlikeapieceofpropertythathecanjustthrowoutonto"thestreets"whenshedoesn'tfollowhisorders.

Source:http://www.shmoop.com/romeo-and-juliet/youth-quotes-1.html

PROMPT4:DYNAMICCHARACTERSDynamic(changing)Characters:-Romeo-Juliet-Nurse-LordCapulet-FriarStatic(unchanging)Characters:-Tybalt-LadyCapulet-Mercutio-Benvolio