Act 1

Scene 1: SAMPSON: “I will take the wall of Bravado / masculinity / all members of the family are embroiled
any man or maid of the Montagues” in the conflict.
Fight scene
between ABRAM: “I bite my thumb, sir” Antagonising the Montagues / disrespectful symbol
servants,
Benvolio BENVOLIO: “Part fools! Put up Trying to enforce peace – juxtaposes everyone else in the scene,
and Tybalt. your swords; you know not what you apart from the Prince
do”
Prince
warns that TYBALT: “heartless hinds” / “Turn Alliterative phrase reinforces aggression. Rule of three
they will be thee Benvolio, look upon thy death” / reinforces the extent of the conflict. Reminds audience of
killed if “Peace? I hate the word as I hate hell, prologue – “ancient grudge breaks to new mutiny”
they fight all Montagues and thee”
again.
LORD CAP: “Give me my long Both men want to be involved in the conflict. Reinforces the
Romeo is sword ho!” “ancient grudge” that “nought could remove”
introduced LORD MONT: “Thou villain “villain” is an insult.
at the end Capulet”
of the scene
– he is PRINCE: “Throw your mistempered Imperative verbs reinforce his status / trying to regain control.
lovesick weapons to the ground” / “Your lives “Mistempered” – personifies weapons to reinforce his
over shall pay the forfeit of the peace” / displeasure of their actions.
Rosaline. “On pain of death, all men depart”
Unrequited
love LORD MONT: “Locks fair daylight Light and dark imagery – Romeo is lovesick. First time we are
out and makes himself an artificial introduced to his character. Initial impression is that he is very
night” emotional.
THEMES:
Conflict
Family
ROMEO: O bawling love! O loving Uses a lot of oxymorons in his speech which are clichés about
honour hate! love. He is immature and reacts very emotionally to the
Love unrequited love.

ROMEO: “She hath Dian’s wit” / She won’t yield her honour or fall for his cliché one liners. /
“She will not stay the siege of loving Indication it isn’t actually true love.
terms”
Scene 2: CAPULET: “Let two more summers Rhyming couplets. He wants to delay the wedding – he is a
LC refuses P wither in their pride / Ere we may supportive father OR he is asserting masculinity / power over
to marry J. think her ripe to be a bride.” Paris by making him wait.
Benvolio
CAPULET: “Woo her, gentle Paris, Romantic love. He wants his daughter to be happy. Ironic.
encourages
Romeo to go
get her heart”
to the party
BENVOLIO: “I will make thee Swan are white – symbol of purity. Foreshadows R meeting J
THEMES: think a swan a crow” and her beauty / purity.
Love
Power
Scene 3: JULIET: “It is an honour I dream Youthfulness / naivety / innocence
Lady C not of”
speaks to J LADY C: “Well think of marriage “Think” is an imperative verb – reinforces J’s powerlessness
about
marriage now” / “Valiant Paris seeks you” (foreshadows Act 3, scene 1)
NURSE: “He is a flower” Metaphor- N supports Lady C – low status OR wants happiness
THEMES: for J
Love JULIET: “I’ll look to like, if looking She wants to obey her parents. Typical submissive daughter.
Power
liking move” Juxtaposes Act 3, scene 1.

Scene 4: ROMEO: “I have a soul of lead” Metaphor – he is still love sick over Rosaline. Reinforces his
Romeo is emotional characteristic; he is very hyperbolic.
unsure
about being MERCUTIO: “If love be rough with Doesn’t understand love. Juxtaposes his view of love / mocks
happy at you, be rough with you” / “Queen Romeo – he is humorous.
the party Mab” Fictional character – thinks Romeo’s dreams are fantasies.
Scene 5: ROMEO: “A rich jewel in an Light imagery juxtaposes the darkness associated with Rosaline.
Capulet’s Ethiop’s ear” / “Burn bright” / snowy Metaphor: echoes Benvolio’s words; he has forgotten about
Party. dove trooping with crows / Did my Rosaline and reinforces Juliet’s beauty. ‘snow’ symbolises
Romeo heart love till now? purity and innocence. Rhetorical question- forgotten Rosaline /
sees Juliet R is fickle.
for the first
time and TYBALT: “By the stock and honour Interrupts Romeo’s appreciation of Juliet. Rhyming couplet links
they meet. of my kin / To strike him dead I hold to the prologue. Structure is significant; love is synonymous
Tybalt it not a sin” with conflict (suggests that their love will not last)
commits to
killing LORD CAPULET: “You’ll make a Doesn’t supports Tybalt’s plan. Links to the Prologue (‘ancient
Romeo mutiny amongst my guests” grudge breaks to new mutiny’) as LC cares more about his
reputation more.
THEMES:
Conflict ROMEO: “This holy shrine” SHARED SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET: lexical field of
Family JULIET: “palm to palm is holy religious imagery – purity. Rhyming couplet at the end
honour symbolises their kiss and unity of their love. Juliet is more
palmers’ kiss”
Love
ROMEO: “dear saint” innocence / naïve that Romeo.
JULIET: “You kiss by the book”

ROMEO: “My life is my foe’s Melodramatic. Foreshadows the ending. Not deterred by her
debt!” family.

Simile: foreshadows the ending. Changed her mind about

JULIET: “My grave is like to be my marriage from scene 3. She is already committed to Romeo.
wedding bed”

Love is synonymous with conflict. Juxtaposition reveals that

JULIET: “My only love sprung they are “star-cross’d lovers.” Her commitment to Romeo
from my only hate” weakens her commitment to her parents.

NOTES:
Act 2

Scene 1: MERCUTIO: “By her fine foot, Mercutio’s language is lewd and bawdy. He is mocking Romeo
straight leg and quivering thigh” / and his views of love juxtapose Romeo. Is this why Romeo
Romeo “An open – etcetera; thou a poperin never tells him about Juliet?
hides and pear!”
listens to Continues to keep the peace. He doesn’t engage with Mercutio’s
Mercutio BENVOLIO: “If he hear thee, thou lewdness.
mock him. wilt anger him”

THEMES:
Sexual Love

Scene 2: ROMEO: “Juliet is the sun. Arise SOLILQUY - Lexical field of light imagery. Reveals their true
Romeo, fair sun and kill the envious moon” love.
thinking he is “I am too bold” / “Two of the fairest Compared Rosaline to the moon – his love for Juliet is stronger
alone, stars” / “The brightness of her cheek and more pure. Set at night – their relationship flourishes in
declares his
would shame those stars” darkness which symbolises it is forbidden.
love for
Juliet. Juliet
is worried JULIET: “Romeo, Romeo, Repetition of Romeo signifies how much she is thinking of him.
about him Wherefore art thou Romeo?” Rhetorical question – wants to see him again.
being a
Montague JULIET: “Deny thy father” She wants Romeo to no longer be a Montague.
but soon
changes her JULIET: “I’ll no longer be a She is committed to Romeo – prepared to give up her family
mind and Capulet” / “What’s Montague? / “O honour for him.
commits to be some other name” Rhetorical questions. She is confused and conscious of the fact
marrying
he is a Montague but this doesn’t deter her.
Romeo.

THEMES: JULIET: “O swear not by the moon, Juliet is more mature than Romeo. She doesn’t believe in
Romantic Love th’ inconstant moon” clichés.
Commitment
Family honour JULIET: “love be honourable / thy
purpose marriage, send me word Society expects Juliet to preserve her honour. Changed her mind
tomorrow” from Act 1, scene 3; reinforces her love for Romeo.
Scene 3: ROMEO: “My heart’s dear love is Rhyming couplets – lyrical feel to it. He is very happy now
FL agrees to set / On the fair daughter of rich (juxtaposes his emotions at the start of the play). Paternal role –
marry R and Capulet” he trusts FL.
J because he
thinks it will
FRIAR LAURENCE: “Holy Saint In shock! He questions Romeo’s sudden change of heart.
end the feud
but warns
Francis! What change is here?”
Romeo of
moving too FRIAR LAURENCE: “To turn He has good intentions but seems a bit naïve. Dramatic irony –
quickly. your households’ rancour into pure the audience know that “nought could remove the continuance
love” of their parents’ rage” – linked to tragic inevitability.

Prophetic: juxtaposition between the two clauses – sense of

FRIAR LAURENCE: “Wisely and foreboding.
slow: they stumble that run fast”
Scene 4: MERCUTIO: “Prince of Cats” / Reference to a story - animalistic imagery. Plausibly cats is an
Mercutio and “courageous captain of insult; Mercutio doesn’t respect the way he fights.
Benvolio compliments” / “He rests his minim Alliterative phrase – he follows instructions on how to fight –
discuss rests, one, two, and the third in your lack of respect.
Tybalt and
bososm” Focuses on his method. / Sneaky fighter – foreshadows M’s
further mock
Romeo.
death
Nurse meets
with Romeo MERCUTIO: “Is this not better Mercutio doesn’t understand love. Thinks Romeo is happy
to discuss now than groaning for love?” because he has forgotten Rosaline.
wedding.
NURSE: “She will be a joyful Nurse is committed to Juliet. She does what she can to make her
THEMES: woman” happy. Adjective “joyful” reinforces Juliet’s feelings
Commitment
Conflict
NURSE: “Doth not Romeo and Quite an abrupt question. Foreshadows the ending as rosemary
Rosemary begin with the same was a token of remembrance between lovers but also for the
letter?” dead. Constant reminders that they are ill-fated.
Scene 5: JULIET: “perchance she cannot SOLILQUY – Juliet is anxious that Nurse and Romeo have not
Nurse teases meet him” met. Trusts the Nurse.
Juliet and
finally tells Bawdy and lewd language. Shares same views of love as
NURSE: “Yet his leg excels all
her Romeo
men’s” Mercutio.
will marry
her.
NURSE: “I am the drudge and the
toil in your delight” Committed to Juliet. She will help her and do what she can,
even though she would get in trouble.

Scene 6: FRIAR LAURENCE: “So smile the Foreshadows the final scene – reminds the audience that they
Very short heaven, upon this holy act / That are ill-fated and “star crossed lovers.” They are not meant to be.
scene. R and after hours with sorrow chide us not”
J marry. FL
warns them ROMEO: “Then love devouring Foreshadows the final scene. Death will triumph over their love.
of the
death do what he dare”
consequence
s of moving
too quickly FRIAR LAURENCE: “These Prophetic – oxymoron reveals their destructive passion.
violent delights have violent ends”
THEMES: Very short scene – could represent their very short
Commitment relationship or the very short amount of time they have left.
Fate Structure also reinforces they are not meant to be.

Act 3
NOTES:
Scene 1: BENVOLIO: “The day is hot, the Keeping the peace / heat: tempers flare in the heat. Juxtaposes
Capels are abroad and if we meet we the calmness of their wedding – makes their love seem
Meructio shall not ‘scape a brawl.” vulnerable.
challenges
Tybalt to a MERCUTIO: “Make it a word and
fight but he a blow” Challenge Tybalt to a fight. Challenging his masculinity and
only wants honour.
to fight TYBALT: “Thou consort’st with
Romeo. Romeo” Links to Act 1, scene 3 – he is committed to killing Romeo.
Romeo Protecting his family honour.
refuses and TYBALT (to R): “Thou art a
Mercutio villain” Villain – insult.
cannot
believe it. ROMEO: “Good Capulet, which Dramatic irony- we understand why it is so ‘dear’ to him but the
Meructio is name I tender as dearly as my own, characters do not. Feelings of love juxtaposes M and T’s
killed by be satisfied.” hostility. Once again, love and conflict are synonymous.
Tybalt.
Romeo MERCUTIO: “O calm, Rule of three: shocked at this submission. Adjectives reinforce
kills Tybalt dishonourable, vile submission” how disgusted he is.
and Romeo
is exiled. MERCUTIO: “A scratch, a Mercutio is dying but still remains humorous. Underplays it to
scratch” / “I was hurt under your protect his honour and masculinity. He blames Romeo. He is no
THEMES: arm” / “A plague on both your longer committed to the Montagues.
Conflict houses”
Family Romeo blames Juliet. Catalyst for the tragic ending. His
honour
ROMEO: “O sweet Juliet, your commitment to his honour and feud overpowers his love. He
Fate
beauty hath made me effeminate” feels he has to assert his masculinity.

ROMEO: “Fire-eyed fury be my
conduct now”
ROMEO: “Either I or thou or both
must go with him”
ROMEO: “I am fortune’s fool”
PRINCE: “Immediately we do exile
him hence”
Alliterative phrase – ‘f’ sound is harsh so reinforces his anger.
Once again acting on impulse.
Rule of three reinforces his commitment to the fight. He is
prepared to die in order to avenge Mercutio’s death
Blames fate – ill fated. Impulsiveness is Romeo’s fatal flaw.
Changes the consequence. 1) Because he was avenging
Mercutio, who was also a friend of the Prince 2) lacks power –
allowed himself to be swayed by Lord Montague.

Scene 2: NURSE: “He’s dead, he’s dead, he’s Stumbles over her words. “He” – pronoun makes Juliet think
dead! Romeo is dead. He is all she is thinking about.
Nurse tells
Juliet of JULIET: “Vile earth, to earth Resigns to kill herself as she thinks Romeo is dead.
Tybalt’s
resign; end motion here” Foreshadows final scene. Fully committed to him.
death and
Romeo’s
banishment. JULIET: “Beautiful tyrant! Dove Oxymoron – Juliet is confused by his behaviour and herself for
Juliet feather’d raven” / “A damned saint!” criticising Romeo.
questions
Romeo and NURSE: “Shame come to Romeo!” Nurse is more committed to family honour than J’s love for R.
then regrets
it. JULIET: “Blister’d be thy tongue Scolds the nurse for ill thoughts. Loyalty with Romeo and not
for such a wish” the nurse. Conflict between them for the first time.
THEMES:
Commitment JULIET: “Bid him come to take him Imperative verbs – Juliet wants to see Romeo one last time.
Conflict
last farewell” Reinforces commitment as it is a big risk.
Scene 3: ROMEO: “For exile hath more terror Personification – exile is worse than death because he cannot be
Friar in his look. Much more than death” with Juliet.
Laurence
consoles ROMEO: “Hadst thou no poison Rhetorical question. Mentions both methods Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and mix’d, no sharp ground knife? use at the end of the play. Foreshadows ending. Reinforces
thinks of a
Romeo’s impulsive and emotive reactions. Subtly reveals death
solution
is the only option for them to be together.

Rhetorical question – FL is questioning Romeo’s masculinity.

FRIAR LAURENCE: “Art thou a He is acting like a woman because he is so emotional. Light
man?” humour.

FRIAR LAURENCE: “Tybalt Far more pragmatic and logical than Romeo.
would kill thee, but thou slewst
Tybalt; there art thou happy”
Scene 4: LORD CAPULET: “I will make a Contractual love – LC is deciding for Juliet. He wants her to
Lord Capulet desperate tender of my child’s love. I marry Paris.
and Paris think she will be rul’d by me”
meet again.
This time, LORD CAPULET: “Wednesday is Ironic that earlier in the play he wanted to make Paris wait two
LC agrees
too soon. Thursday let it be” years and now it will happen in a matter of days.
for him to
marry Juliet
and moves LORD CAPULET: “Prepare her, Lack of power – dramatic irony. Tension builds at the end of the
the wedding wife, against this wedding day” scene as we know she is married to Romeo.
forward to
Thursday. Why does Lord Capulet change his mind?
1) Genuinely cares for Juliet and wants to try and help her
THEMES: get over Tybalt’s death (dramatic irony- actually crying
Contractual over Romeo’s banishment)
love 2) Paris is one of the Prince’s kinsmen. Given the “new
Power mutiny” he would welcome the political help from Paris.
Scene 5: JULIET: “It was the nightingale and Nightingale and lark – light and dark imagery. Another reminder
 not the lark” that their relationship only flourishes in darkness, which has
Romeo and ROMEO: Come, death, and welcome! connotations of death. Light symbolically brings them dark
Juliet spend Juliet wills it so” moments, symbolising their relationship will end in death.
their last
evening JULIET: “I see thee, now thou art so Prophetic image. It foreshadows the ending. Next time they see
together. low as one dead in the bottom of a each other, their lover will be dead.
Lord tomb”
Capulet and
Juliet argue JULIET: “With Romeo, till I behold Manipulates Lady Capulet when she tells her that she won’t marry
over his him – dead - is my poor heart” Paris. Power of pausing on the stage – Lady Capulet thinks she
decision for wants Romeo dead but audience know her heart is metaphorically
her to marry dead without Romeo.
Paris. Juliet
feels alone JULIET: “He shall not make thee ‘Not’ reinforces her commitment to Romeo. She is prepared to defy
as even the there a joyful bride” her parents. This juxtaposes Act 1, scene 2 (look to like if looking
nurse sides liking move) – Juliet is more mature / changed.
with her
father. LORD CAPULET: “The fool were Spiteful and cold- foreshadows the ending. Without realising it,
married to her grave” / “out you green- Lord Capulet’s actions mean that this will happen. Rule of three –
THEMES: sickness carrion! Out you baggage! insults reinforces his anger. He is enraged by her defiance.
Love You tallow face!”
Power
Conflict LORD CAPULET: “I will drag thee “Hurdle thither” – used to drag traitors and prisoners. Degrading.
on a hurdle thither / “never after look Prepared to humiliate and disown his daughter
me in the face”

NURSE: “I think it best you married Metaphor– Nurse sides with Capulets. Is this because she has just
the County.” / “Romeo is a dishclout” been reminded of her low status and is scared of any retribution or
thinks that this will make Juliet happy?

JULIET: “Ancient damnation! O most Juliet is angry. She feels that the nurse is disloyal.
wicked fiend”

JULIET: “I’ll to the Friar to know his The only person Juliet can turn to is the Friar. She is prepared to die
Act 4 remedy / If all else fail, myself have – ominous. Foreshadows the ending. Powerless – only option is
the power to die” death.
Scene 1: PARIS: “Immoderately she weeps Dramatic irony. Paris doesn’t know why Juliet is so upset –
Juliet for Tybalt’s death” completely juxtaposes romantic love with Romeo.
bumps into
Paris at PARIS: “happily met, my lady and Repetition of pronoun “my” – possession / believes they are
Friar my wife!” already married. Contractual love / Power
Laurence’s
cell and JULIET: “I will confess to you that Vague pronoun – dramatic irony. Cleverly referring to Romoe.
cleverly I love him” / “It will be of more Juliet cleverly sidesteps Paris’ advances. More evidence she has
deflects his price, being spoke behind your back, matured.
advances. than to your face”
FL gives J
a potion. JULIET: “Be not so long to speak; I Juliet is prepared for death. Reinforces the end of Act 3 and
long to die. If what thou speak’st foreshadows the ending. The audience are constantly reminded
speak not of remedy” of their “death mark’d love” Committed to defying her father

FRIAR LAURENCE: ”Likeness of Extreme plan – reinforces their desperate situation. Death like
shrunk death” state to be reunited with her husband. Once again death and love
are intertwined.

Scene 2: LORD CAPULET: “To County Twist of fate - builds tension – Romeo and Juliet’s love is ill-
Juliet returns Paris, to prepare up him against fated.
home and tomorrow” Friar has less time to get a message to Romeo now the wedding
tells her is moved forwards.
family she
LORD CAPULET: “My heart is
will marry
Paris.
wondrous light” Metaphor juxtaposes Juliet’s heart and plan for death.
THEMES:
Commitment
Family
Scene 3: JULIET: “What if it be poison, Rhetorical question: Juliet is worried about taking the vial. She
Juliet is which the Friar subtly hath is losing her trust in everyone but realises that the Friar only
worried minister’d to have me dead?” wants to help her.
about taking
the vial but JULIET: “Stay! Tybalt! Stay! Imperative verb reinforces her commitment to Romeo and not
does so after
Romeo, Romeo, Romeo, I drink to her family. It is Romeo in danger that makes her drink so
seeing
Tybalt in a
thee” quickly.
vision.

THEMES:
Commitment
Family
Love
Scene 5 NURSE: “The County Paris hath set Bawdy / lewd language. Still doesn’t understand love so would
Nurse finds up his rest / That you shall rest but never have understood Juliet’s predicament.
Juliet dead. little
Plans NURSE: “Help! Help! My lady is Tone changes dramatically. Exclamation marks show shock.
switch dead” Personal pronoun shows maternal instinct and love.
from a
wedding to LORD CAPULET: “Death is my Metaphor – foreshadows the end of the play. Death and love are
a funeral son-in-law” intertwined once more.

LORD CAPULET: “Bridal flowers Oxymoron. Death and love are intertwined. Changes the
serve for a buried corse” wedding to a funeral.

NOTES:

Act 5
Scene 1: ROMEO: “I dreamt my lady came Prophetic image. Reinforces his wishes from Act 3, scene 3.
and found me dead” Both Romeo and Juliet have accepted death as their only option.
Balthsar
tells ROMEO: “Then I defy you stars!” Fate. Another reminder that they are “star cross-d lovers”.
Romeo that Audience know he won’t be able to overpower fate.
Juliet is ROMEO: “Well, I will lie with thee Attempting to defy fate. Challenging the Prince’s authority.
dead. He tonight” INVIOLABLE FATE – not meant to be.
commits
himself to ROMEO: “Come, cordial and not Yet again, Romeo is acting on impulse and his emotions. His
death. poison, go with me / To Juliet’s tragic flaw of impulsiveness is what causes their double suicide.
grave, for there I must use thee.
THEMES:
Commitment
Love
Fate

Scene 2: FRIAR LAURENCE: “Unhappy Recognises that fate has failed his plan. His prophetic images
fortune” from earlier in the play are coming to fruition.
Friar
Laurence FRIAR LAURENCE: “I will write Their fate, created by interplay of societal expectations is too
finds out
again to Mantua and keep her at my powerful to escape.
that Friar
John
cell till Romeo comes”
 couldn’t
deliver the
message.

THEMES:
Fate

Scene 3: PARIS: “Sweet flower, with flowers Follows societal expectations. His behaviour and reaction to
thy bridal bed I strew” Juliet juxtaposes Romeo’s. It highlights the difference in their
Romeo and love.
Juliet ROMEO: “I beseech thee, youth,
commit put not another sin upon my head” Romeo is prepared to kill Paris. He has accepted his fate and is
suicide. prepared to die and doesn’t care who will get in his way.
Lord Cap ROMEO: “Thy drugs are quick.
and Lord Thus with a kiss I die” Reinforces the prologue. Ultimate commitment – he is prepared
Mont make to die for his love for Juliet.
peace. JULIET: “Left no friendly drop” /
“O happy dagger” Personification – she is prepared to die to be with Romeo too.
THEMES: Oxymoron – links to Prologue – ‘death mark’d love’ – she is
Commitment happy to die in order to be with her love.
Love
Power MONTAGUE: “My wife is dead
Conflict tonight grief of my son’s exile hath Reinforces the pain the conflict causes and the further impact of
Death stopp’d her breath” Romeo’s impulsiveness.

CAPULET: “O brother Montague,

give my thy hand” “And the continuance of their parents’ rage, which but their
MONTAGUE: “For I will raise her children’s end nought could remove” – reinforces the warning in
statue in pure gold” the prologue and shows the futileness of all those who have died.

PRINCE: “For never was there a

story of more woe than this of Juliet
and her Romeo” Prince reinforces their tragic love.