2. Act II, Scenes i-ii Notes I. Prologue I. Shakespearean Sonnet (Poem) I. 14 lines II. Abab cdcd efef gg rhyme scheme III. Three quatrains (four-lined stanza) and one couplet IV. Organization: problem/solution I. Problem takes up the bulk of the poem II. Solution/fresh perspective is usually contained in the couplet or last quatrain/couplet III. Sometimes a “cause” is included in the middle as well II. Prologue I. Problem: Romeo and Juliet’s courtship (period of time before marriage) will be strained… II. Solution: …But “passion lends them power,” i.e. they love each other so much that they will make it happen.

3. Act II, Scenes i-ii Notes I. Scene i A. Romeo leaves behind Mercutio and Benvolio to see Juliet B. Mercutio mocks Romeo, saying they can “conjure” him with speaking of Rosaline (they think he’s still in love w/ her)

4. Act II, Scenes i-ii Notes II. Scene ii A. Romeo’s soliloquy (lines 1-25) A. NOT a monologue; no other characters can hear him even though Juliet is onstage (line 11-14); somewhat internal thoughts (10-11) B. More Romeo figurative language: compares Juliet to the sun (line 4-6), compares/contrasts her eyes to stars (line 15-22), wishes to be a glove to touch her cheek (lines 24-5) B. Juliet’s soliloquy (lines 35-51) A. NOT a monologue; even though Romeo can hear her, she didn’t know (55- 6), so she felt comfortable revealing internal thoughts. B. Line 35 sounds like she knows she’s talking to Romeo, but it’s an apostrophe (addressing someone, in imagination, as if they are there) C. Theme/internal thoughts revealed: She gives herself to Romeo (51) and questions whether his name or any other labels we give are important. A. Metaphor: A rose by any other name would smell as sweet (line 44-6) C. Juliet’s monologue (lines 89-110) A. NOT a soliloquy; she now knows Romeo is there.

5. I. Scene ii continued A. Juliet’s monologue (lines 89-110) 1. NOT a soliloquy; she now knows Romeo is there. 2. Theme: She wants to know if Romeo is true; embarrassment for revealing her feelings too soon. B. Juliet’s characterization in this scene 1. Intelligent/wise a. She doesn’t rush into vows (lines 94-97) i. Reference/allusion to Jove/Jupiter laughing at “lover’s perjuries” b. Calls Romeo’s bluff, proposes they get married if he’s true (lines 149-152) 2. Chafing at her parents’ control over her a. Nurse does not give her space and calls her back constantly (140-158) b. She references it in her figurative language a. Lines 189-94: She says she’s jealous of a figurative bird/Romeo that has more liberty b. Lines 169-70: “Bondage (Imprisonment) is hoarse (cannot speak) and may not speak aloud. (Personfiication) a. Basically says she cannot speak loudly in this moment/speak her mind in general because she’s so strictly watched.

6. I. Scene iii A. Friar Lawrence’s soliloquy (He doesn’t seem to notice Romeo walking in; he’s thinking aloud) 1. Theme: Bad can turn to good/vice versa. It’s ok; it’s the cycle of life. 1. Contrasts to Romeo’s view (Romeo is confused by this idea as presented earlier in Act I) 2. Example/metaphor (lines 23-26) a) A flower can be both medicinal/good (if smelled) but poisonous/bad if eaten b) Paradox (line 9-10): The earth is a tomb AND a womb i. Nature both kills and creates life. B. Friar Lawrence chides (scolds) Romeo 1. Believes he changed too quickly(line 66-81) 2. Believes his “love did read by rote” (line 91) A. “Rote” learning = memorization, not true learning B. Saying words he didn’t mean, Romeo read too many love poems. 3. Agrees to marry Romeo to end the feud (line 94-5)

7.  Scene iv 1. Theme: Gender expectations: Masculinity Masculinity is a very defined concept in the play A. Mercutio relates that Tybalt has challenged Romeo in a letter B. He doesn’t believe Romeo is “man” enough (Line10) 1. Line12-16: Love makes one unmanly 2. Line 36: Reading makes one unmanly (Petrarch=famous poet) 3. Fighting/defending honor makes one manly C. Mercutio and Romeo have a long battle of wits/bawdy jokes and make fun of the Nurse 1. Shows male bravado: it’s unmanly to back down (Line 62-5) 2. Romeo does it for show; apologizes for Mercutio (Lines 129-31) 3. Suggests Romeo has trouble with gender expectations, like Juliet earlier

8.  Scene iv continued I. Theme: Class issues A. There is a division of rank in their society B. The Nurse is being emphasized as lower class: 1. She speaks in prose (paragraphs) a) Romeo (upper class)speaks in verse (poetry) b) Romeo says “thou” to her (informal, like Spanish “tu”) 2. She’s illiterate (Lines 183-185) a) She’s laughed at for her bad vocab. (Lines 111, 188) i. Malapropisms (accidental jokes made by using the wrong words) 3. Romeo offers to pay her (Line 161-3) 4. Class becomes important for Juliet later

9.  Scene v I. Theme: Old vs. Young A. Opposites are a reoccurring idea B. Nurse’s tiredness contrasts to Juliet’s liveliness 1. Juliet is impatient throughout (Lines 12-17, 27, 31-37, 58-61, etc.) 2. The Nurse dallies throughout (Lines 25-26, 30, 48-52, etc.)

10.  Scene vi I. Dramatic irony I. Lines 1-2 II. Lines 6-8 III. Line 9 IV. Line 16-17 II. Tragic flaw I. Line 14-15: Friar Lawrence recommends moderation I. Moderation: a balanced, non-extreme approach to life II. Romeo and Juliet are clearly NOT moderate I. Lines