Literary Elements – Act III Romeo & Juliet Literary Elements – Act III
Act 3, Scene 1 “The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, /And, if we meet, we shall not ‘scape a brawl …” Foreshadowing Mercutio lectures Benvolio about quarrelling Irony Romeo to Tybalt: “I do protest I never injured thee, / But love thee better than though canst devise …” Dramatic Irony “…you shall find me a grave man.” pun
Act 3, Scene 1 (cont.) “A plague o’ both / your houses!” Foreshadowing Tybalt’s death Climax / Turning Point “My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding” Irony
Act 3, Scene 2 “Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds ….” Juliet’s speech while she waits alone for Nurse Soliloquy Juliet thinks Nurse is saying that Romeo is dead Dramatic Irony “…I…”, “…eye…”, “…ay… Pun “Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical! Dove-feathered raven! Wolvish-ravening lamb!” Oxymoron
Act 3, Scene 3 “…For exile hath more terror in his look…” Personification “O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!” Apostrophe “flies may do this but I from this must fly …” Pun
Act 3, Scene 4 Between scenes 3 and 4, Romeo visits Juliet’s room. During the same time, Lord Capulet plans Juliet’s marriage to Paris. Dramatic Irony
Act 3, Scene 5 “…and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountaintops.” Personification “…Cynthia’s brow…” Allusion “O Fortune, Fortune! All men call thee fickle.” Apostrophe
Act 3, Scene 5 (cont.) “Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.” Foreshadowing “Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death?” Dramatic Irony Juliet speaks to herself about Romeo while Lady Capulet is present: Aside “…I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate…” Verbal Irony