When the audience knows more than the characters
Dramatic Irony
“A plague a’ both your houses!
They have made worms’ meat of me”
Mercutio
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet"
Juliet
Juliet’s cousin. Hot-head and is quick to anger.
Tybalt
How do Romeo and Juliet die?
Romeo drinks poison, Juliet stabs herself
A character that is present to bring out the characteristics of another character
Foil Character
“If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace”
Prince
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?"
Romeo
Romeo turns to this person for advice. He marries Romeo and Juliet in hope to end the feud.
Friar Laurence
Why is Romeo so depressed at the beginning of the play?
Rosaline does not love him
Character talks directly to the audience while the cast ‘doesn’t’ hear it
Aside
“For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households’ rancor to pure love”
Friar Laurence
“Now, by the stock and honor of my kin, to strike him dead I hold not a sin”
Tybalt
Romeo’s best friend. Larger than life character.
Mercutio
What is the purpose of the prologue?
To give the audience a summary or a glimpse of what is going to happen in the play
Rhymed iambic pentameter, used when something emotional or highly important is happening
Rhyming verse
“There is no world without Verona walls, but purgatory, torture, hell itself”
Romeo
“Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do.”
Benvolio
Romeo’s cousin. Wants to keep the peace between the families.
Benvolio
At the beginning of Act II, Scene 2 Romeo is giving a long speech that reveals his emotions to the audience (no other characters can hear him). This is called a...
Soliloquy
Unrhymed iambic pentameter, used when nobles speak
Blank verse
“There’s no trust, no faith, no honesty in men; all perjured, all forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers"
Nurse
"For never was a story of more woe, Than this of Juliet and her Romeo,"
Prince
A young nobleman who wants to marry Juliet
Paris
Paraphrase the advice Friar Laurence gave to Romeo and Juliet before their wedding
This love is very rash and sudden. Now that you are married, take it slow and enjoy each other and the new marriage that you have.