1. Escalation of Love Act 2, Scenes 3 & 4
Saturday, 10 November 2018
Escalation of Love
Act 2, Scenes 3 & 4
To analyse Friar Lawrence’s character
To further explore Shakespeare’s use of imagery

2. Act 2, Scene 3 Friar Lawrence Romeo
What does Romeo ask Friar Lawrence to do?
What is Friar Lawrence’s reaction at first? What does he say about Romeo’s feelings for Rosaline?
Why does he eventually change his mind?

3. Friar Lawrence’s Wisdom
O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities: For nought so vile that on the earth doth live But to the earth some special good doth give, Nor aught so good but strain'd from that fair use Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse: Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied; And vice sometimes by action dignified. Within the infant rind of this small flower Poison hath residence and medicine power: For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart. Two such opposed kings encamp them still In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will; And where the worser is predominant, Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.
Mickle = vast, a lot of
Nought = nothing
But = which
Aught = anything
Strain’d = pushed away
Revolts = fights against
Virtue = good quality
Vice = bad quality
Dignified = become noble
Rind = outer skin
Grace = elegance
Predominant = main, major
Canker = cancer
What is Friar Lawrence’s warning about certain plants?
What does he believe each living thing possesses?
What themes could his speech relate to?
How could this be an example of foreshadowing?

4. Act 2, Scene 4
Before Romeo arrives, what does Mercutio say that Tybalt has done? Why has Tybalt done this?
Mercutio again shows his witty personality in this scene. Can you find any quotes which highlight this?
How does Mercutio treat the Nurse when she appears?
What does the Nurse initially say to Romeo?
What is agreed between Romeo and the Nurse at the end of the scene?
Mercutio
Benvolio
Romeo
Nurse
Peter

5. Act 2, Scene 4
Just before nine in the morning, Mercutio and Benvolio wonder what happened to Romeo. Benvolio has learned from a Montague servant that Romeo did not return home; Mercutio says some unkind words about Rosaline. Benvolio also relates that Tybalt has sent a letter to Romeo challenging him to a duel. Mercutio responds that Romeo is already dead, struck by Cupid’s arrow; he wonders aloud whether Romeo is man enough to defeat Tybalt. When Benvolio comes to Romeo’s defense, Mercutio launches into an extended description of Tybalt. He describes Tybalt as a master swordsman, perfectly proper and composed in style. According to Mercutio, however, Tybalt is also a egotistical, and he disdains all that Tybalt stands for.

6. Act 2, Scene 4
Romeo arrives. Mercutio immediately begins to ridicule him, claiming that Romeo has been made weak by love. As a way of mocking what he believes is Romeo’s emotional love for Rosaline, Mercutio takes the part of Romeo and compares Rosaline to all the most famous beauties of ancient times, finding Rosaline far superior. Then Mercutio accuses Romeo of abandoning his friends the previous night. Romeo does not deny the charge, but claims his need was great, and so his actions are forgivable. This is followed by complex, witty, and wildly sexual jokes.
The Nurse enters, followed by Peter. The Nurse asks if any of the three young men know Romeo, and Romeo identifies himself. Mercutio teases the Nurse, implying that she is a whore, which angers her. Benvolio and Mercutio leave to have dinner at Montague’s house, and Romeo says he will follow shortly. The Nurse warns Romeo that he had better not attempt to “deal double” with Juliet, and Romeo assures her he is not. He asks the Nurse to tell Juliet to find some way to attend confession at Friar Lawrence’s cell that afternoon; there they will be married. The Nurse agrees to deliver the message. The Nurse also agrees to set up a cloth ladder so that Romeo might climb to Juliet’s room on their wedding night.

7. FRIAR LAWRENCE Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine
Hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
How much salt water thrown away in waste,
To season love, that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans yet ringing in mine ancient ears;
Lo here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
Of an old tear that is not washed off yet.
If e’er thou wast thyself, and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline.
And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence then:
Women may fall, when there’s no strength in men.
ROMEO Thou chid’st me oft for loving Rosaline.
FRIAR LAWRENCE For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
ROMEO And bad’st me bury love.
FRIAR LAWRENCE Not in a grave,
To lay one in, another out to have
Forsaken = abandoned
Brine = salt-water
Sallow = pale
Season = add flavour
Doth = does
Lo = look
E’er = ever
Wast = was
Pronounce = state, declare
Chid’st = disapprove
Doting = foolishly adoring
Bad’st = command

8. What is Friar Lawrence’s opinion on Romeo’s idea of love?
FRIAR LAWRENCE Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine
Hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
How much salt water thrown away in waste,
To season love, that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans yet ringing in mine ancient ears;
Lo here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
Of an old tear that is not washed off yet.
If e’er thou wast thyself, and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline.
And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence then:
Women may fall, when there’s no strength in men.
ROMEO Thou chid’st me oft for loving Rosaline.
FRIAR LAWRENCE For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
ROMEO And bad’st me bury love.
FRIAR LAWRENCE Not in a grave,
To lay one in, another out to have
What is Friar Lawrence’s opinion on Romeo’s idea of love?
Highlight the metaphors used, then pick the three metaphors from the extract that best represent Friar Lawrence’s opinion
Explain their literal & metaphorical meanings in relation to his message.
Illustrate the three metaphors.

9. In two ShakesPEELA paragraphs, answer the following essay question:
Home Learning
In two ShakesPEELA paragraphs, answer the following essay question:
How does Shakespeare present Friar Laurence’s opinion on Romeo’s love in the extract from Act 2, Scene 3?