AQA GCSE English Literature Romeo and Juliet Quote Bank
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Course
English
Institution
GCSE
Here is a selection of quotes from the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare that are commonly used in the study of English Literature for GCSE examinations. These quotes cover key themes, characters, and significant moments in the play. If you learn these, you are guaranteed a grade 9 due...
Context:
● Romeo and Juliet is a play first performed in 1597. It is a Shakespeare Tragedy.
● The play is set in Verona which is in modern-day Italy.
● Italy was known to England for its Catholicsism. England was a Protestant country so
viewed Catholicism negatively as it was known for its apparent corruption and its
excess of passion.
● Verona is built on a patriarchal society with misogyny being a major issue.Women
were expected to be subordinate to men. Juliet transcends the patriarchal boundaries
and defies misogyny showing how headstrong and determined she is.
● Romeo is presented as an idealised Petrarchan lover.
● Superstition was central to the lives of Elizabethans. Fate, itself a form of
superstition, was a central concept in Elizabethan society. Most believed that some
greater force (be it God, the stars etc.) would or has already controlled their destiny.
Structure & Form:
● “A Plague o'both houses” (Foreshadowing) - Climactic point in Act 3 Scene 1 which
acts as a catalyst (structure) to the downfall of Romeo and Juliet in the play.
● Sonnet form is used throughout the play. Sonnets are poetry of love and
Shakespear’s use of the form adds to the romance of the two lovers’ growing
romance.
● There is a very regular rhyme scheme and rhythm.
● The element of foreshadowing is used by Shakesepare to reinforce the idea that
everything in the world is planned and predestined and that nothing we can do is
ever spontaneous because it is already written in the stars somewhere.
● The first two-thirds of the play pretty much read like a comedy. Romeo is a bit of a player
who loves Rosalind and then suddenly Juliet, and there's all kinds of fun tomfoolery.
Then, in the last third the play gets very dark, and ultimately ends in tragedy. Yet
structurally, it is not a conventional tragedy. Macbeth isn't a romcom for the first two
thirds, nor is Hamlet. Is there room to comment on how Shakespeare experimented with
genre like this? Is it a statement on how quickly life can go from rose-tinted glasses to
abject misery? He's certainly saying something.
,Overview of each scene
Prologue
Prologue The prologue sets the scene and prepares us for the story
which is about to take stage. It is a dramatic device used to
create tension and anticipation within the audience.
Act 1
Act 1 Scene 1 The action starts with a fight on the streets of Verona
between the Montagues and Capulets. The fight breaks up
and the Prince threatens the patriarchs of the families that if
another fight like this breaks out they will pay with their
"lives"
Act 1 Scene 2 After this, Paris, a young nobleman, asks Lord Capulet for
Juliet's hand in marriage. Lord Capulet believes Juliet is too
young but invites Paris to a feast that he is throwing,
giving Paris an opportunity to "woo" Juliet.
Act 1 Scene 3 The audience is then introduced to Lady Capulet, Juliet and
her Nurse. They have a conversation about marriage and
Juliet reflects that it is a fate that "1 dream not of."
Act 1 Scene 4 The audience is then introduced to a lovesick Romeo who
through the encouragement of Mercutio chooses to go to
, Capulet's feast to distract himself from how much he
misses Rosaline.
Act 1 Scene 5 The two lovers meet in this scene at Capulet's feast and fall
in love, but quickly find out that they belong to the opposing
families.
Act 2
Act 2 Scene 1 Mercutio and Benvolio are looking for Romeo after the
“feast”
Act 2 Scene 2 This is the iconic balcony scene where Romeo and Juliet
confess their love for each other and plan to be married.
Act 2 Scene 3 Romeo meets with the Friar to ask if he will marry Romeo
and Juliet. Despite the Friar’s reservations he agrees to
marry the couple, hopeful about the peace it could bring to
the families.
Act 2 Scene 4 The Nurse meets with Romeo, Romeo tells her that Juliet
should meet him in Friar Laurence’s cell. They make plans to
consummate the marriage.
Act 2 Scene 5 The Nurse tells Juliet about what she and Romeo had
discussed.
Act 2 Scene 6 In this scene, Romeo and Juliet are secretly married by the
Friar.
Act 3
Act 3 Scene 1 Tybalt challenges Romeo to a fight but Romeo refuses.
Mercutio steps in and is killed by Tybalt. Romeo is then filled
with a murderous rage which kills Tybalt. The Prnce hears
about this from Benvolio and then banishes Romeo.
Act 3 Scene 2 While Juliet waits at home for her new husband, the Nurse
returns to tell Juliet the news about Romeo’s banishmnet.
Juliet is distraught about it.
Act 3 Scene 3 The Friar tells Romeo about his banishment and Romeo is
troubled and threatens to kill himself. The Nurse comes with
news saying Juliet is in the same state. The Friar comes
through with a plan to save the couple. He sends Romeo to
Mantua.
Act 3 Scene 4 In light of Tybalt’s death, Capulet decides (in hopes of
making Juliet feel happier) that his daughter must marry
Paris without asking her opinion.
Act 3 Scene 5 Juliet is told about her fate to marry Paris. She refuses to
marry him which leads to her father threatening to disown
her. Juliet goes to the Friar to help.
Act 4
Act 4 Scene 1 Paris goes to the Friar in preparation for the wedding; Juliet
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