...both pieces of literature believe that they are destined to be together. Romeo and Juliet are not destined to be together. Juliet’s judgement is clouded by the fact that she is betrothed to Paris. Romeo just cares about getting over Rosaline and ending the feud. Pyramus and Thisbe are just afraid to be apart and have to find someone else. All these characters are just looking for excuses not to be alone. When Juliet is told that she will marry Paris. She doesn’t want to disappoint her mother, so she agrees. Juliet does not want to marry Paris so she keeps her eyes open for another suitor. Juliet thinks that if she finds someone else everything will be better. Fate was a big theme in Romeo and Juliet. This is well illustrated by the saying star-crossed lovers. If this was true people...
Words: 787 - Pages: 4
...Assignment 1 Romeo and Juliet Contents: Page 1 – Contents page Page 2 – Essay: Romeo and Juliet Page 4 – Bibliography Essay: Romeo and Juliet In this essay I will look at and analyse lines 1 to 30 spoken by Friar Lawrence in Act 2 Scene 3 of the play Romeo and Juliet and prove the importance of these lines towards the plot and how it acts as a premonition of the tragedy to come. I believe these lines prove to be of great importance as they lead the audience to the tragedy that is to come. These lines give the audience an idea of the events that may come to pass as the words spoken act as a premonition of the course of tragic events to come. In lines one to four of this scene, Friar Lawrence begins by describing the beauty of the sunrise, which in turn contrasts with how Romeo and Juliet had viewed the sunrise in the preceding scene. The couple see the sunrise as a sign that their night together is over and that they must now say good bye, however the friar sees the sunrise optimistically, although we know that light is not always equated with good in the play, just as night is not always linked with evil, bad or other negative connotations. Therefore light could symbolise the dark tragedy that is looming ahead of them, as opposed to something good. The friar’s optimistic view of the sunrise as something good and positive is indicative of his naivety, which proves to be of great importance in the course of the play. These four opening lines of the scene direct the audience...
Words: 1407 - Pages: 6
...Romeo and Juliet Argumentative Essay Have you ever been in love? In William Shakespeare's tragic play Romeo and Juliet a pair of star crossed lovers chose their fate. Romeo and Juliet could have changed their outcome of life. They could have changed their path by making at least three different choices. These choices are one Romeo could have spoken to Juliet's father, Two Romeo didn't need to kill Tybalt, Three Romeo shouldn't have gone to the Capulet's party in the first place. One choice Romeo could have made differently is, Romeo could have spoken to Juliet's father and asked for his blessing to marry Juliet. If Romeo had made this choice it could have changed the outcome of their fate. The reason it could have changed the outcome...
Words: 479 - Pages: 2
...Romeo and Juliet Essay Emily Ma In the wake of a tragedy, people place blame on others from their perspectives. Blame can be placed onto whoever is responsible for the disaster in a situation. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Friar Laurence is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. By making many poor decisions, he ends the lives of two young lovers who believed that their love was stronger than anything else on earth. Friar Laurence’s dedication to his job and optimism for love lead him to make premature, negligent decisions about Romeo and Juliet’s relationship while disregarding the consequences of the family feud. Priest’s aren’t allowed to have love so when Friar Laurence sees Romeo and Juliet’s passion for each other, he puts his hopes about love into their relationship and ignores the inevitable repercussions. Friar Laurence has just married Romeo and Juliet in secret and says, “So smile the heavens upon this holy act/ That after-hours with sorrow chide us not” (II, vi, 1-2) when he has gotten a feeling that this marriage is doomed and something...
Words: 1021 - Pages: 5
...Comparative Essay Outline Thesis Statement: In “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare demonstrates the concept that fate cannot be prevented, no matter what is said or done. Point 1: Fighting against fate is not worth the time, for whoever bothers will fail. Augustus seeks to control his own fate of death by not smoking, but even by trying to live vigorously, fate still won in the end. Proof from text #1: With a cigarette in his mouth, Augustus states, “You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don't give it the power to do its killing,” thinking he had a choice of how he would die, but his cancer was already killing him. Transition Sentence: Likewise, the Friar thought he could help the two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, be together. If...
Words: 810 - Pages: 4
...Capuleys is on going. 2-Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall in love. 3-Romeo and Juliet marry in secret. 4-Romeo vengefully kills Tybalt and Capulets obligates Juliet to marry Paris. 5-Juliet takes a drug and she is put in the family tomb when thoughts she ws dead. 6-Romeo goes to the tomb, kills Paris, sees Juliet ''dead'' AND DRINKS THE POISON. 7-Juliet wakes up, sees Romeo and Paris dead and stabs herself. 8-At the end of the play, the Capulets and the Montagues resolved their feud and Romeo and Juliet are dead. Themes of the play: 1-Fate:Since their families were enemys.Romeo and Juliet were fated to meet at some point in their lives. 2-Destiny:The destinies of Romeo and Juliet ended with their death but they solved the family's feud. 3-Love:Romeo and Juliet fall in love and their love moves the story. Vocabulary words: 1-Nuptial:Relating weddings and marriage. 2-Profane:Treats something holy with disrespect. 3-Synonyms:Marital,conjugal and bridal. William Shakespeare: Birth: April 26, 1564 Marriage:November 1582 Writing:1592-1596 Romeo and Juliet was written and played in 1596. Lasr play:Shakespeare wrote the Tempest in 1610. Died:William Shakespeare died on April 23. Last play:Shakespeares wrote the Tempest in 1610. Puns: A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of dy ifferent words. Review: a-Match the character: 1-Romeo:30 years old man who dies. 2-Juliet:13 year old female...
Words: 689 - Pages: 3
...Explore the presentation of norms and values within Verona During this essay I will focus on how society at the time had an impact on Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. I will explore how the norms and values within institutions in Verona such as ‘the family’ and ‘the church’ played a role the couple’s fate. A theme throughout the play was love. All the violence and hatred was a result of Romeo and Juliet’s unexpected relationship. The prologue was a sonnet; Shakespeare used the sonnet to remind the audience of romance. Lot’s of love poems at the time were in sonnet form. He was reminding the audience that ultimately what causes all the violence and betrayal is love. Religion and the Church had a massive impact and held a great power over people during the 16th Century. In some ways religion was more powerful than the law. When Romeo and Juliet first met they fell madly in love, ‘My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough tough with a tender kiss’. So to live by the moral rules set by the church they had to marry. Friar Lawrence’s role in the church gave him a lot of power and earned him a lot of respect and so the couple were over joyed when he agreed to wed them in the church ‘In one respect I’ll they assist be; For this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households’ rancour to pure love.’ Religion is a powerful force within the play as a whole. During the 16th century people couldn’t live together before marriage and divorce was practically...
Words: 574 - Pages: 3
...WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET By ARTHEA J.S. REED, PH.D. S E R I E S W. GEIGER ELLIS, ED.D., E D I T O R S : UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, EMERITUS and ARTHEA J. S. REED, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, RETIRED A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet 2 INTRODUCTION William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an excellent introduction to Shakespearean drama; teenagers can relate to its plot, characters, and themes. The play’s action is easily understood, the character’s motives are clear, and many of the themes are as current today as they were in Shakespeare’s time. Therefore, it can be read on a variety of levels, allowing all students to enjoy it. Less able readers can experience the swash-buckling action and investigate the themes of parent-child conflict, sexuality, friendship, and suicide. Because of the play’s accessibility to teenagers, able readers can view the play from a more literary perspective, examining the themes of hostility ad its effect on the innocent, the use of deception and its consequences, and the effects of faulty decision making. They can study how the characters function within the drama and how Shakespeare uses language to develop plot, characters, and themes. The most able students can develop skills involved in literary criticism by delving into the play’s comic and tragic elements and its classically tragic themes: the role of fate and fortune, the inevitable...
Words: 7462 - Pages: 30
...------------------------------------------------- Romeo and Juliet Mini Essay 3.4 The idea of love for young men, especially Romeo is more attraction than relationship. Both Romeo and Juliet are fairly young, so the qualification for their love is either 'fake' or 'real'. Both Romeo and Juliet saw each other as deep, true lovers but realistically the love both of the character developed was infatuation. Romeo sees Juliet as the beautiful woman in the world or the most beautiful girl he saw far. Simultaneously Juliet sees Romeo as the most handsome guy she has ever seen. Both of the lovers based their love on appearance of the other. Romeo's love is only the desire of lust. According to the character list Romeo is described as someone who likes the idea of love. Being in love is appealing to him. Towards the beginning of the play Romeo decides to be in love with Rosaline. After being supposedly rejected by Rosaline, sulking Romeo goes to the Capulet banquet to see Rosaline but instead he "falls" in love Juliet. Friar Laurence correctly describes Romeo's case of love regarding the fact of his fairly fast movement from heart break to new love. "Holy saint Francis, what a change is there! Is Rosaline whom thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken? Young men's love then lies, not truly in their hearts but in their eyes." (I. ii 61-4). Romeo's respond to friar's comment by justifying his cause, "I pray thee chide me not, her I love now, doth grace for...
Words: 883 - Pages: 4
...Shakespeare In this essay I will explore Shakespeare’s two plays Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado about Nothing. These plays are presented in the 16th Century. Romeo and Juliet is about 2 lovers who meet but they are from rival families. At the end of the play they both kill each other, it ends in a tragedy. Much Ado about Nothing is about lovers who meet but Claudio thinks that Hero cheated him but at the end of the play it ends and all the couple marries and live happily ever after, this play is a comedy. At the start of the play Lord Capulet seems loving towards his daughter by saying “My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Let there be 2 more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride”. This suggests that that Capulet wants her daughter to wait 2 more summers and wait for her to grow up and be a bride. The word “stranger” implies that her daughter is innocent and she doesn’t know the world yet. In a similar way at the start of Much Ado about Nothing, Leonato shows that he loves his daughter Hero by saying “But will acquaint my daughter withal, that she may be the better prepared for an answer if peradventure this be true”. This makes me think that Leonato is a soft person and he will let his daughter have a choice to marry or not. The word “acquaint” suggests that Leonato is soft and not forceful towards his daughter. In Act 3 scene 1 the relationship between Lord Capulet and Juliet worsens by saying...
Words: 669 - Pages: 3
...Romeo and Juliet Essay - Critical Commentary Critical Commentary Opening Prologue: The first act prologue not only reveals what will happen during the course of the play, but also some of the major dichotomies. The opening line shows us that the Capulet and Montague houses are, although at odds, equal in their aristocratic status. It was considered "fashionable" in the Renaissance for aristocratic families to have feuds, but they were not to engage in public fighting, a taboo which is broken by the Capulets and the Montagues. However, line 4 indicates that these equal families are in an ungoverned situation where no rules will be obeyed, which is why they are able to fight. The Chorus reveals one of the most important themes of the play in line 5-8, which is that Romeo and Juliet are destined not only to love each other, but to die, which will end the feud. The fact that Shakespeare tells us the end of the play before it even begins is intentional—this creates a tension between what we as the audience know must happen, and what could have happened if the characters had acted differently. Thus the theme of fate versus free will emerges: do Romeo and Juliet die because it was their destiny, or do they die because of their actions and the actions of those around them? The third major point that surfaces in the opening prologue is one of extremes. There is extreme hatred between the Capulet and Montague families. The only solution to...
Words: 1744 - Pages: 7
...Mercutio says to Romeo, “Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.” Which of the following is the best paraphrase of Mercutio's words? a. I am so badly wounded that I feel I will die. b. Why did you interfere? Your arm allowed him to stab me. c. Why has the devil caused me bad fortune? d. Your arm could not save me, Romeo. ____ 2. When Benvolio announces Mercutio's death, Romeo replies, “This day's black fate on moe days doth depend; / This but begins the woe others must end.” Which of the following best describes Romeo's emotional reaction to Mercutio's death? a. shame and sympathy for Tybalt b. grief and fear of the future c. guilt and regret d. relief and optimism that all will end well ____ 3. After Tybalt's death, the Prince sentences Romeo to which of the following punishments? a. death b. banishment c. imprisonment for life d. the loss of his noble title ____ 4. At the beginning of Act III, Scene ii, Juliet is alone in Capulet's orchard. She delivers a long speech in which she eagerly anticipates Romeo's arrival at nightfall. Which of the following correctly describes this speech? a. aside b. monologue c. metaphor d. soliloquy ____ 5. In Act III, Scene iii, when Romeo learns about the Prince's decree, which of the following best expresses his reaction as he talks with Friar Lawrence? a. calm b. panic c. guilt d. self-pity ____ 6. Read the following speech by the Nurse to Juliet in Scene ii: There's...
Words: 2110 - Pages: 9
...Miscommunication In The Tragedy of Romeo And Juliet And How It Causes Tragedy In life, there is one primary reason why bad things happen, and that reason is lack of communication between people. As Joseph Fink puts it, “…miscommunication leads to everything that has ever happened in the whole of the world.”. Essentially, any time there is something left unsaid or a lie is told, more and more events result from it, leading to a tragedy. This is evident in The Tragedy of Romeo And Juliet. It may be better known as a love story, but the true tale is that of two teen’s demise due to misconceptions that are perpetrated by themselves and their confidants. These miscommunications occur due to the generation gap, masculine peer pressure, and fate....
Words: 349 - Pages: 2
...To Be or Not To Be (A discussion of Juliet’s Bravery) What is bravery? According to the dictionary, it is ‘courageous behaviour or character’. There are many chances to be brave in everyday life; serving in the armed forces, public speaking, performing in a concert. However, back in Shakespearian times, young girls did not have the chance as often as they do today. They were very sheltered, rarely seen outside their homes except for church. Their life experience was greatly diminished because of this fact. However, despite all that, one girl was able to be brave beyond what, even now, is ordinary. In this essay, it shall be discussed Juliet’s bravery when she takes Friar Lawrence’s potion in Act IV of Romeo and Juliet. The first way...
Words: 612 - Pages: 3
...Writing a Research Paper in Literary Studies1 The most important aspect to bear in mind is that you are writing a research paper and not an essay! This means that you are arguing a thesis with reference to secondary literature – it is essential that you conduct relevant research and that you integrate your findings into your paper. Things to keep in mind: • Your paper should have a well-defined topic and a precisely formulated argument. • Your approach should be recognizably systematic. • Your argument should remain relevant and clear-cut, consistent and coherent throughout. • Your secondary material should be discussed critically and documented accurately. • Writing is a process; you should constantly revisit and revise. DON’T FORGET TO PRINT, SIGN AND ATTACH THE “PLAGIATSHINWEIS”! First steps Many students neglect the preliminary work of the writing process, but if you give it sufficient attention the actual writing of your paper will be faster and more organized than if you just start writing. The most important thing is to be systematic in your approach. 1. Finding a topic Perhaps the most difficult part of any research paper is finding an adequate topic, formulating a title and making a coherent argument. Once you have decided on a topic or a title, which in literary studies will most likely involve a certain text, rephrase it as a question to guide your research. You should also think about the methodology you intend to apply to your analysis. • ...
Words: 3119 - Pages: 13
