1. L.O.: To revise the character of Juliet by analysing language.
Juliet - Revision
Do now!
Thursday, 08 November 2018
Language
Themes
Do now: make a list of the key events for Juliet in the order they happen in the play.
meets and falls in love with Romeo at the ball (I. 5).
proclaims her love for Romeo from her balcony (II. 2).
marries Romeo without telling her parents (II. 6).
spends a first and last night with Romeo, knowing he is banished for murder (III. 5).
disobeys her parents who have arranged for her to marry Paris (III. 5).
takes the potion the Friar has supplied (IV. 3).
wakes in the tomb and, seeing Romeo’s dead body, kills herself (V. 3).

2. Key Quote ‘My grave is like to be my wedding bed.’
L.O.: To revise the character of Juliet by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘My grave is like to be my wedding bed.’
Annotate with:
words to describe Juliet
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Themes: fate
When: at the feast when she sees Romeo and asks if he is married.
Analysis: Partly shows the depth of her devotion to him – she will marry no one else and will die unmarried if she can’t be with him. But also connects her marriage to her early and tragic death. Foreshadowing and creates a sense of foreboding.

3. L.O.: To revise the character of Juliet by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Annotate with:
words to describe Juliet
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Themes: conflict, family honour.
When: at the start of the balcony scene when she is talking to herself.
What does it mean? Still thinking about names, Juliet expresses a very modern idea. Your name does not define you or create any worth or true meaning. In her world, your name — or the family that you come from — sets out how people view you. The idea that you should be judged solely on your own merit is a progressive idea for the setting that showcases Juliet's rebellious and modern streak. Exposes the ridiculousness of the feud between the families over who they are. Trying to reason with herself that Romeo’s name doesn’t matter?

4. Add anything you’ve missed!
L.O.: To revise the character of Juliet by analysing language.
Add anything you’ve missed!
Young, sensitive, resourceful, defiant, determined, disobedient, headstrong, independent, loyal, courageous.
When writing about Juliet it is crucial to take into account her age and the conventions and duties her society would place upon her as the (only) daughter of a noble family.
Capulet has no son and so when he dies, his lands, property and wealth would pass to whomsoever Juliet marries. In this sense, we can see why Capulet is anxious to secure a noble marriage for her.
Juliet is confident, decisive, brave, but also capable of secrecy and deception – showing that she is quite able to defy the conventional expectations of girls of this time.

5. L.O.: To revise the character of the Nurse by analysing language.
The Nurse - Revision
Do now!
Thursday, 08 November 2018
Do now: make a list of the key events for the Nurse in the order they happen in the play.
Language
Themes
She is involved in the first discussions about Juliet’s marriage to Paris.
She is sent to Romeo to organise the marriage ceremony.
She arranges for Romeo to come to Juliet after he has been banished.
She unwisely suggests that Juliet marry Paris after Romeo’s exile.
She discovers the ‘dead’ body of Juliet.

6. Key Quote ‘Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed.’
L.O.: To revise the character of the Nurse by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed.’
Annotate with:
words to describe the Nurse
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Act 1 Scene 3
Loving
Affectionate
Maternal
True connection
Prettiest - superlative

7. L.O.: To revise the character of the Nurse by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘Let me tell ye, if ye should lead her in a fool’s paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour, as they say.’
Annotate with:
words to describe the Nurse
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Act 2 Scene 4
When the Nurse finds Romeo and warns him against deceiving Juliet. Romeo then enlists the Nurse’s help in getting Juliet to come to confession that afternoon to be married.
She wants to discover Romeo’s true intentions. She threatens him and takes on the role of the parent here. She is concerned for Juliet and doesn’t want Romeo to be a bad choice. Protective.
Repetition of ‘as they say’ highlights her lack of confidence when speaking to Romeo and shows she is rambling on. She isn’t well educated and is of a lower class so she speaks with colloquial phrases.

8. Key Quote ‘You shall bear the burden soon at night.’
L.O.: To revise the character of the Nurse by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘You shall bear the burden soon at night.’
Annotate with:
words to describe the Nurse
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Act 2 Scene 5
After the meeting with Romeo. Initially she torments Juliet by not giving her the news straight away.
She then explains about the marriage and that she will help Romeo into the house for the wedding night.
The Nurse is loyal, but doesn’t think about the consequences of the marriage.
The Nurse explains that she will fetch a ladder so Romeo can climb to Juliet’s room, and that she is working hard for Juliet’s pleasure. But then she remarks that it is Juliet who will be working at night.
Crude and vulgar. Demonstrates a different view of love and contrasts with Romeo and Juliet’s purer vision of their relationship. For her love is physical.

9. Add anything you’ve missed!
L.O.: To revise the character of the Nurse by analysing language.
Add anything you’ve missed!
Brought Juliet up from when she was a baby.
Juliet’s closest friend and confidante until the point when Juliet is to be forced into marrying Paris.
The Nurse occupies a similar position to the Friar.
She indulges Juliet’s sudden love for Romeo and arranges the marriage, even though she knows her hand has been promised to Paris.
When things go wrong, she lacks the courage to face the consequences of her actions and instructs Juliet to marry Paris. This betrayal of trust (telling Juliet to marry Paris) isolates Juliet completely.

10. L.O.: To revise the character of Mercutio by analysing language.
Mercutio - Revision
Do now!
Thursday, 08 November 2018
Do now: make a list of the key events for Mercutio in the order they happen in the play.
Language
Themes
accompanies Romeo to the masked ball (I. 4).
attempts to cheer up Romeo who is suffering because of his love (I. 4).
Duels with Tybalt (III. 1).
is stabbed as a result of Romeo’s intervention (III. 1).
utters a curse on both the Capulets and Montagues in his dying breaths.

11. "Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down"
L.O.: To revise the character of Mercutio by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
"Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down"
Annotate with:
words to describe Mercutio
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Themes: love
When: before the Capulet feast.
Analysis: When Romeo says love pricks like a thorn, Mercutio says he should prick it back. Translation: The solution to heartache is to go out and have sex. Mercutio is an anti-romantic; for him, love is a physical pursuit, which he emphasizes through his bawdy wordplay: "Prick love for pricking and you beat love down." Mercutio's repeated references to the sexual aspect of love casts Romeo's transcendent love in a more spiritual light. Source of humour and comedy in the play. Mercutio comes across as opposed to the whole idea of love between a man and a woman. When Romeo complains about the heartache of his unrequited love for Rosaline, Mercutio tells him to get over it already.

12. “Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?”
L.O.: To revise the character of Mercutio by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
“Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?”
Annotate with:
words to describe Mercutio
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Themes: conflict
When: before the fight
Analysis: violent and antagonistic. Hot-headed and short-tempered. Slang for prince of cats. Inflammatory and deliberately insulting. Challenging him to a duel. Mercutio says to Tybalt 'will you walk?' questioning whether Tybalt will fight with him. This is insulting, as Mercutio is questioning Tybalt's honour and integrity and masculinity. Mercutio calls Tybalt a 'rat-catcher' highlighting the cunning side of Tybalt's personality - he is ridiculing him.

13. ‘A plague on both your houses’
L.O.: To revise the character of Mercutio by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘A plague on both your houses’
Annotate with:
words to describe Mercutio
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Themes: conflict / death / fate
When: after the fight
Analysis: Helped by Benvolio, Mercutio leaves the stage, uttering the haunting curse ‘A plague a’ both your houses!’ (line 106) – a curse that is soon to be carried out. Mercutio’s death offstage effectively puts an end to the Friar’s plan to simply reunite the warring families. Mercutio was the bridge between the two houses and that bridge has been destroyed. By killing Mercutio, Shakespeare points out the extent of the death and destruction caused by the feud. However, could be read as pointing out that both families are already cursed. The plague is actually what prevents the letter from being delivered to Romeo, so the curse comes true. Mercutio himself doesn’t believe in fate – he blames specific people.

14. Add anything you’ve missed!
L.O.: To revise the character of Mercutio by analysing language.
Add anything you’ve missed!
Lively, passionate, volatile, bawdy, hot headed, quick tempered, keen to uphold honour.
What is the impact of Mercutio’s character – what does he change or influence because he is in the play? What would the difference be to the story if he wasn’t there?
Acts as a foil (a contrasting character) to Romeo’s romantic, lovesick ways.
‘Mercutio is used to show the feud is silly and pointless” Discuss. What is Shakespeare’s purpose for including the character of Mercutio?

15. L.O.: To revise the character of Tybalt by analysing language.
Tybalt - Revision
Do now!
Thursday, 08 November 2018
Do now: make a list of the key events for Tybalt in the order they happen in the play.
Language
Themes
Insists on fighting in Act 1 Scene 1.
Overhears Romeo at the ball – has to be stopped from challenging him by Capulet himself.
Challenges Romeo in the street, which is met by Mercutio instead.
Kills Mercutio and is killed by Romeo in revenge, leading to Romeo’s banishment.

16. L.O.: To revise the character of Tybalt by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word as I hate hell.’
Annotate with:
words to describe Tybalt
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Act 1 Scene 1 speaking to Benvolio.
Language full of hatred. One of the main catalysts in continuing the feud. Introduces the key theme of masculine honour.

17. Key Quote ‘By the stock and honour of my kin
L.O.: To revise the character of Tybalt by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘By the stock and honour of my kin
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.’
Annotate with:
words to describe Tybalt
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Act 1 Scene 5 – Capulet ball when he sees Romeo.
Tybalt's notion of honour is all bound up in the masculine code of revenge: if he doesn't fight back against the teeniest, tiniest little insult, then his reputation as a man is in danger. Notice how male reputations are all about what they do (fight) and women's are all about what they don't do (have sex)?

18. L.O.: To revise the character of Tybalt by analysing language.
Key Quote
New Learning
‘Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me’
Annotate with:
words to describe Tybalt
when it’s said
what it shows
key words to zoom in on
themes
links to context
Act 3 Scene 1 – the fight scene.
Tybalt is argumentative when he speaks to any of the Montague family. He fuels the conflict and rift between the two families. When he seeks Romeo for a fight, he is argumentative when Romeo refuses to fight him.
This shows Tybalt's anger towards Romeo. The fact that Tybalt is calling Romeo a 'boy' is an insult and illustrates how Tybalt is instigating the conflict, wanting Romeo to react to the insult. Tybalt is also being instructive in this quotation, telling Romeo that he must 'turn and draw.' This also illustrates how Tybalt is passionate and likes to be in control.
Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt because he's just married to Juliet, Tybalt's cousin. According to Tybalt, Romeo has dishonoured himself by refusing to fight.

19. Add anything you’ve missed!
L.O.: To revise the character of Tybalt by analysing language.
Add anything you’ve missed!
Macho, aggressive, fiery, powerful, feisty, strong willed, argumentative, passionate, loyal, violent, impulsive.
Contrast him with Romeo and Benvolio – Tybalt takes every opportunity to use violence to keep the feud alive. Even Capulet at the feast is benevolent towards Romeo.
Represents the underlying violence and vengeful nature of Veronese society.
What is the impact of Tybalt’s character – what does he change or influence because he is in the play? What would the difference be to the story if he wasn’t there?
‘Tybalt is used to show the danger of conflict and male aggression” Discuss. What is Shakespeare’s purpose for including the character of Tybalt?