Romeo and Juliet Study Questions
1. Do a detailed character analysis for each of the following characters. Indicate both their actions and their motives. Also, point out their state of mind and what significant actions of their own, or others, affected them: Romeo • Juliet • Lord Capulet • Mercutio • Friar Laurence
Romeo, an emotional teen who is struck by Cupid’s arrow. Driven by the dream to one day forever be with his Juliet. Due to his family 's circumstances, Romeo does wild things to be with his love, he even kills himself to be alongside her in heaven.
Juliet, a jubilant only child who loves her dear Romeo, she kills herself when she sees Romeo dead beside her and is deeply affected by her family 's constant feuding.
Lord Capulet, …show more content…
Friar Laurence, the classy friar with an excellent vocabulary. He wants what 's best for Romeo and Juliet and is deeply distressed when he learns of their death. Also very keen and observant.
2. Prove or disprove the following statement by referring to incidents in the play: “Violence begets more violence.”
Throughout Romeo and Juliet, an act of violence has always led to more violence. For example in the very first act when a few members of opposing households begin to brawl, it leads to a bunch random civilians brawling alongside them. Every time something violent happened, more violence soon followed it.
3. To what extent is Romeo an example of Aristotle’s tragic hero? Try to see both sides of the question. What quality/ies prevent him from being a prime example of such?
Romeo, while meeting most of the criteria in order to be a prime example of Aristotle’s tragic hero, falls just short just by a few traits. Although he is noble in nature, physically and mentally wounded from his past and present endeavours, intelligent, and has most of the other traits that would make up the ideal tragic hero, he is not doomed from the …show more content…
Choose another Scene and do the same.
In this scene with weeping Juliet and her mother, Lady Capulet wrongly associates Juliet’s tears with the recent death of her cousin Tybalt. However Juliet is really crying over the banishment of her lover, Romeo. Similar to the very last scene of act 5 when Romeo mistakenly kills himself because he believes that Juliet is dead.
8. One motif developed throughout the play is the contrast between light and dark (or day and night). What do darkness and light represent? Consider, in your response, the many instances in which Romeo and Juliet seek to turn day to night, or to shun the light in favor of darkness.
Personally, I feel that Romeo and Juliet only wanted light the day they were going to get married, with Juliet saying stuff like “daytime can’t come fast enough” while most of the time they wanted the cover of night because night time was the only time they could meet.
9. Discuss how Shakespeare’s writing reveals social class and develops character. Pay particular attention to the contrasting language styles of such characters as Juliet and the
Nurse, Mercutio, the Friar, and the servants. Use specific passages to support your
1. Do a detailed character analysis for each of the following characters. Indicate both their actions and their motives. Also, point out their state of mind and what significant actions of their own, or others, affected them: Romeo • Juliet • Lord Capulet • Mercutio • Friar Laurence
Romeo, an emotional teen who is struck by Cupid’s arrow. Driven by the dream to one day forever be with his Juliet. Due to his family 's circumstances, Romeo does wild things to be with his love, he even kills himself to be alongside her in heaven.
Juliet, a jubilant only child who loves her dear Romeo, she kills herself when she sees Romeo dead beside her and is deeply affected by her family 's constant feuding.
Lord Capulet, …show more content…
Friar Laurence, the classy friar with an excellent vocabulary. He wants what 's best for Romeo and Juliet and is deeply distressed when he learns of their death. Also very keen and observant.
2. Prove or disprove the following statement by referring to incidents in the play: “Violence begets more violence.”
Throughout Romeo and Juliet, an act of violence has always led to more violence. For example in the very first act when a few members of opposing households begin to brawl, it leads to a bunch random civilians brawling alongside them. Every time something violent happened, more violence soon followed it.
3. To what extent is Romeo an example of Aristotle’s tragic hero? Try to see both sides of the question. What quality/ies prevent him from being a prime example of such?
Romeo, while meeting most of the criteria in order to be a prime example of Aristotle’s tragic hero, falls just short just by a few traits. Although he is noble in nature, physically and mentally wounded from his past and present endeavours, intelligent, and has most of the other traits that would make up the ideal tragic hero, he is not doomed from the …show more content…
Choose another Scene and do the same.
In this scene with weeping Juliet and her mother, Lady Capulet wrongly associates Juliet’s tears with the recent death of her cousin Tybalt. However Juliet is really crying over the banishment of her lover, Romeo. Similar to the very last scene of act 5 when Romeo mistakenly kills himself because he believes that Juliet is dead.
8. One motif developed throughout the play is the contrast between light and dark (or day and night). What do darkness and light represent? Consider, in your response, the many instances in which Romeo and Juliet seek to turn day to night, or to shun the light in favor of darkness.
Personally, I feel that Romeo and Juliet only wanted light the day they were going to get married, with Juliet saying stuff like “daytime can’t come fast enough” while most of the time they wanted the cover of night because night time was the only time they could meet.
9. Discuss how Shakespeare’s writing reveals social class and develops character. Pay particular attention to the contrasting language styles of such characters as Juliet and the
Nurse, Mercutio, the Friar, and the servants. Use specific passages to support your