Romeo and Juliet Handouts
Dramatic Terms and Devices Handout #1
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TERM / DEFINITION / EXAMPLE/LOCATIONPUN / A pun is a play on words in which a word or phrase has a double meaning. / “My naked weapon is out” (1.1, 32)
SOLILOQUY / A soliloquy occurs when a character speaks their thoughts in an extended speech while alone on stage. / “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks…”(2.2, 2)
ASIDE / An aside occurs when a character briefly speaks their thoughts to the audience while there are other characters on stage. / “Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?” (2.2, 37)
METAPHOR / A metaphor is a direct comparison not using like or as / “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!”(2.2, 3)
SIMILE / A simile is a comparison using like or as. / “Thou art as glorious to this night being o’er my head, as is a winged messenger of heaven” (2.2, 26)
TRAGIC HERO / The tragic hero is the protagonist who experiences a rise in fortune followed by a sudden downfall that results in death. / Romeo
TRAGIC FLAW
“HUBRIS”—EXCESSIVE PRIDE / A tragic flaw is the lack or excess of a character trait that leads to the protagonist’s downfall. / Romeo’s tragic flaw could be his excess of passion, the fickle nature of his love, his rashness, etc.
DRAMATIC IRONY / Dramatic Irony occurs when the audience knows something a character does not. / Tybalt and others do not know Romeo and Juliet are married.
PATHOS / Pathos is a feeling of sympathy or sadness evoked by a play. / The tragic conclusion to Romeo and Juliet evokes pathos for the lovers and their families.
Character Chart Handout #2
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Character / Description / Quote/LocationBenvolio / · A Montague
· Romeo’s Cousin
· Peace maker / “Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do” (1.1, 62
Tybalt / · A Capulet
· Juliet’s cousin
· Verona’s best swordsman
· Known as Prince of Cats / “What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee” (1.1, 68)
Romeo / · Montague’s only son
· 16 years old
· Falls in and out of love easily
· Emotional / “Tut, I have lost myself; I am not here” (1.1, 194)
Nurse / · Juliet’s nurse
· Adult who is closest to Juliet
· Mother figure for Juliet
· Quirky and eccentric / “Thou was the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed”(1.3, 61)
Paris / · Nobleman of Verona
· Handsome and respected
· Wants to marry Juliet
· Not concerned with her age / “Younger than she are happy mothers made”
(1.2, 12)
Mercutio / · Friend of the Montagues
· Prince’s cousin
· Funny and charismatic
· Joker—provides comic relief / “If love be rough with you, be rough with love” (1.4, 27)
“Ask for me tomorrow, and you will find me a grave man” (3.1, 96)
Juliet / · Capulet’s only daughter
· 13 years old
· Has more common sense than Romeo / “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” (2.2, 43)
Friar Lawrence / · Adult closest to Romeo
· Gives good advice but doesn’t follow it himself
· Terrible schemer / “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast” (2.3, 94)
Important Quotes Handout
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QUOTE / CIRCUMSTANCES / SIGNIFICANCE“I’ll look to like, if looking liking move; but no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly” (1.3) / Juliet is talking to her mother about checking out Paris. / This quote shows that Juliet is mature and respectful. She hasn’t really thought about marriage, but she will do as her mother wishes and give Paris a look.
“It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!” (2.2, 4) / Romeo sees Juliet through a window while he is creeping around her yard. / In this quote, Romeo is already worshipping Juliet and placing her on a pedestal. He constantly compares her to things in the sky or heavens, things above him.
“Deny thy father and refuse thy name” (2.2, 34) / Juliet is on her balcony speaking her thoughts about Romeo while he secretly listens below. / Juliet is wishing Romeo wasn’t Montague. She suggests he should forfeit his name so they can be together.
“What’s in a name?” (2.2, 43) / Again, Juliet is on her balcony speaking her thoughts about Romeo while he secretly listens below. / This quote shows Juliet is quite a modern thinker for her time. She is questioning the value of titles and names at a time when they meant everything.
“There lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords”(2.2, 71) / Romeo responds to Juliet’s suggestion that he is in great danger sneaking around her yard. / This shows Romeo’s immaturity and overblown romanticism. In contrast, Juliet is far more mature and rational.
“Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain” (3.1, 59) / Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel for a perceived slight. / This shows Tybalt’s extreme sensitivity and excessive pride. He is looking for a reason to fight.
“I do protest, I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise till thou…” (3.1, 67) / Romeo is telling Tybalt that he doesn’t want to fight him. / This is an example of dramatic irony, as Tybalt is unaware of the marriage between Romeo and Juliet.
“O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!”(3.1, 72) / Mercutio can’t stand Romeo’s refusal to stand up for himself. / This shows Mercutio’s pride. His inability to stand by ultimately kills him.
“A plague o’ both your houses!” (3.1, 90) / Mercutio curses both houses after he is stabbed by Tybalt. / Mercutio lays equal blame on both families. He is a victim of their senseless feud.
Important Quotes Handout (Continued)
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QUOTE / CIRCUMSTANCES / SIGNIFICANCE“Ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man” (3.1, 96) / Mercutio just before his death / This shows Mercutio’s jocular character. Even in death, he jests.
“O, I am fortune’s fool” (3.1, 135) / Romeo has just killed Tybalt. / Romeo repeatedly refers to the stars and other cosmic forces in the play. He believes in fate.
“Then, I defy you, stars!” (5.1, 24) / Romeo has just learned Juliet is dead. / This again shows Romeo’s belief in fate, but Romeo is determined to buck it.
“Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee to-night” (5.1, 34) / Romeo is in the immediate grief of Juliet’s death. / Romeo intends to kill himself. Again, he is impulsive, emotional, and extreme.
“I dare no longer stay” (5.3) / Friar Lawrence before he runs / This shows Friar Lawrence is cowardly.
“All are punish’d” (5.1, 295) / The Prince addresses the families at the end of the play. / These two quotes effectively summarize the new reality: both families have lost their very best and suffer equally, but mutual loss has brought a new peace and the feud is over.
“A glooming peace this morning with it brings”(5.3, 5)