Participles and Participial Phrases
This is a verb form ending in –ing or –ed that functions as an adjective.
What is a participle?
This means using the same grammatical form for ideas in a sentence.
What is parallel structure?
This type of character highlights another character’s traits through contrast.
What is a foil?
This occurs when the audience knows something the characters do not.
What is dramatic irony?
These are two storylines that develop at the same time.
What are parallel plots?
Identify the participial phrase in this sentence:
“Trembling with fear, Juliet drinks the potion.”
What is "Trembling with fear"?
Fix this sentence:
“Romeo likes fighting, to sneak into parties, and writing love poems.”
What is “Romeo likes fighting, sneaking into parties, and writing love poems.”?
This character acts as a foil to Romeo by being calm and rational.
Who is Benvolio?
In Act I, the audience learns this in the Prologue, but the characters do not know it yet.
What is Romeo and Juliet will die (“star-cross’d lovers take their life”)?
The two major parallel plots in the play are these.
What are the feud and the love story?
What is wrong with this sentence?
“Running through the streets, the feud frightened Romeo.”
What is a dangling participle? (It sounds like the feud is running.)
Identify the parallel structure in this line:
“O brawling love! O loving hate!”
What is the repeated adjective + noun structure (“brawling love” / “loving hate”)?
This character foils Juliet by being more practical and less romantic.
Who is the Nurse?
In Act II, Scene 2, Juliet fears Romeo may be married, but the audience knows this truth about Romeo.
What is Romeo is not married?
This event connects the feud plot to the love plot.
What is Tybalt recognizing Romeo at the Capulet party?
Rewrite this sentence correctly:
“Hiding in the orchard, the moon watched Romeo.”
*Answers will vary.* Possible answer: “Hiding in the orchard, Romeo looked up at the moon.”
Why does Shakespeare use parallel structure in emotional speeches?
To emphasize ideas and create rhythm.
How does Mercutio serve as a foil to Romeo?
What is Romeo is romantic and emotional; Mercutio is witty and cynical?
In Act III, Scene 1, Mercutio jokes and fights, but the audience senses this serious outcome is likely.
What is someone may die?
How does Mercutio’s death shift both plots?
What is it turns the love story tragic and escalates the feud?
Create a sentence about Romeo using a participial phrase correctly.
*Answers will vary.*
Rewrite this sentence using parallel structure:
“Juliet values love, being loyal, and honesty.”
What is “Juliet values love, loyalty, and honesty.”?
Explain how Tybalt acts as a foil to Benvolio.
What is Tybalt is aggressive and hot-tempered; Benvolio is peaceful and diplomatic?
In Act II, Scene 6, the audience already knows this warning may come true, even though Romeo ignores it.
What is “These violent delights have violent ends.”?
Explain how the ending resolves both parallel plots.
What is Romeo and Juliet die (love plot ends), and the families reconcile (feud ends).