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Summary Character and Themes in Romeo and Juliet - GCSE English Literature
This file contains a Character and Themes table from Romeo and Juliet - GCSE English Literature
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Theme: LoveAO1: what’s happening + AO2: lang/form/structure? AO3: contextual comment?
quotation
Depressive love: R (1.2) ‘under loves He is saying love is a heavy burned and he feels like he is being In Elizabethan times,
heavy burden do I sink’ Romeo is weighed down by it. In a sense Romeo may be juxtaposing his
portraying love as painful and romantic feelings that he so quickly once meeting a potential lover people got married much
depressing. earlier than they do today.
Romantic Love: R+J (1.5) "To smooth Romeo suggests that he is 'rough' and not worthy of Juliet's touch. The It would be common
that rough touch with a tender kiss." fact Romeo describes the kiss as 'tender' illustrates Romeo's gentle
When Romeo and Juliet first meet, they and true emotions and feelings for Juliet. This shows that their first
practice to get married at
instantly fall in love. Shakespeare meeting was charged with love and desire for one another. 13 years of age. Normally,
presents their initial meeting as
passionate, flirtatious, and true.
parents chose their child's
partner and this would be
This shows Romeo's determination for avenging Mercutio's death, as based on wealth, potential
Passionate Love: R "Mercutio's soul is he is willing to die to see Mercutio's murder avenged. He tells Tybalt titles and family ties.
but a little way above our heads, staying that either he or Tybalt 'must go with him'. This directly shows how
for thine to keep him company. Either passionate he feels about Mercutio, as someone will be joining
thou or I, or both, must go with him." Mercutio's soul in the journey to heaven.
Romeo and Juliet both
Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, so decide who they are going
Mercutio takes his place. When Tybalt
kills Mercutio unjustly, Romeo swears to to marry - this would have
avenge his best friend's death, thus been highly disrespectful
killing Tybalt.
Emotive Love: R+J "O happy dagger!" This shows that Juliet is happy to die, as she describes the dagger, the
to their families,
Romeo goes to find Juliet in the instrument of her death, as 'happy'. The use of the exclamation mark particularly as they both
Capulet tomb, believing her to be dead. illustrates her emotion - she is both elated and distraught - she cannot
He takes some poison and dies. Juliet cope with life without Romeo so decides to join him in death.
decided to marry their
awakens, finds her love poisoned and family's sworn enemy.
kills herself with Romeo's dagger so they
can be together in the afterlife.
, Theme: Conflict
AO1: quotation + what’s AO2: lang/form/structure? AO3: contextual comment?
happening?
The two warring families- "Two Shakespeare opens his play with the first line, illustrating the "ancient" Shakespeare opens the play with a
households, both alike in dignity, in fair grudge that has been happening in Verona. Shakespeare does this to prologue and it is here that he first
Verona, where we lay our scene, from show that the conflict has been ongoing and isn't likely to stop. He depicts the conflict between the
ancient grudge break to new mutiny, describes it as "ancient"' to illustrate how ingrained the conflict is with Montagues and the Capulets.
where civil blood makes civil hands the families - it is a part of their daily lives.
unclean."
Juliet uses 'must' which indicates that she has no other choice - she When Juliet discovers the true identity
loves Romeo and cannot change the fact. This presents a conflict for of her true love, she is shocked and
Juliet's inner conflict -"That I must love a Juliet, as she cannot change what she feels - despite knowing that she cannot believe she loves someone who
loathed enemy." should. she is supposed to hate.
Conflict between Tybalt and Romeo - This shows that Tybalt believes he has been injured with Romeo's Tybalt believes Romeo to have greatly
"Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries actions. He commands Romeo to 'turn and draw', taking part in a fight. dishonoured his family when he gate-
that thou hast done me; therefore turn crashes the Capulet party. He decides
and draw." that Romeo must pay and offers to duel
with Romeo.
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