English Literature Romeo and Juliet week beginning 23/9/19

Read this scene from Act 1, scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question which follows.  

At this point in the play, Romeo is feeling sad that he has been rejected by Rosaline.

BENVOLIO Good morrow, cousin.
ROMEO    Is the day so young?
BENVOLIO But new struck nine.
ROMEO    Ay me! Sad hours seem long. Was that my father that went hence so fast?
BENVOLIO It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?
ROMEO Not having that which, having, makes them short.
BENVOLIO 155In love?
ROMEO Out.
BENVOLIO Of love?
ROMEO Out of her favor, where I am in love.
BENVOLIO Alas, that love, so gentle in his view, 160Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!
ROMEO Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here? Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here’s much to do with hate but more with love. Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first created! O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this. Dost thou not laugh? BENVOLIO No, coz, I rather weep. ROMEO Good heart, at what? BENVOLIO At thy good heart’s oppression. ROMEO Why, such is love’s transgression. Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast, Which thou wilt propagate, to have it pressed With more of thine. This love that thou hast shown Doth add more grief to too much of mine own. Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears. What is it else? A madness most discreet, A choking gall, and a preserving sweet. Farewell, my coz

Starting with this conversation, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Romeo as loyal.

Write about:

·         How Shakespeare presents Romeo in this extract

·         How Shakespeare presents Romeo in the play as whole

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You may wish to consider the following points or add points of your own:

How is Romeo portrayed? (Impulsive? Rash? Immature? Naïve? Loving?)

      Is Romeo really depressed about being rejected by Rosaline or is he playing the role of the Petrarchan lover which had become a bit of a cliché during the time Shakespeare was writing?

How does Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline foreshadow events later in the play?

What do the oxymorons in this passage suggest about Romeo’s attitude to love?

        Is Romeo portrayed in the same way throughout the rest of the play or does he change?

Possible scenes to look at: Act 1, scene 4 (Romeo’s interactions with Mercutio); Act 1, scene 5 (when Romeo falls in love with Juliet at first sight); Act 2, scene 2 (The balcony scene); Act 3, scene 1 (when Romeo kills Tybalt); Act 3, scene 5 (when Romeo spends a final night with Juliet); Act 5, scene 3 (Romeo’s death)        
          Does he really love Juliet? – “Juliet is the sun” – however, could it also be said that he is idealising her and worshipping her instead of loving her as a fellow human being?       Is he rash/impulsive? – he asks her to marry him – he rushes things. Does this lead to his death? 

Possible quotations to use:

O she doth teach the torches to burn bright.

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear. (I.v.)

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. (II.ii.)

With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls,

For stony limits cannot hold love out. (II.ii.)

O sweet Juliet

Thy beauty hath made me effeminate

And in my temper softened valor’s steel! (III.i.)