Romeo and Juliet Act 4

Sc. 2 Lines 1-8: Think about the purpose that comic relief serves. Why might Shakespeare have chosen to begin this scene with a light, humorous conversation?

Comic relief is to lighten the mood of the tense scene. Shakespeare might have chosen to begin this scene with a humorous conversation because the audience knows that Juliet is in a dire situation, but he wants to brighten the mood and add some good things to the scene.

Sc. 5 Lines 12-29: What ideas and feelings does Lord Capulet's convey in the simile in lines 28-29?

He is saddened that his daughter is dead. Him calling her a precious "flower" shows his fondness of her.

Sc. 3 Lines 30-58: What does Juliet list in her speech? What image motivates her to drink the potion in spite of her imaginings? Why?

Juliet lists her fears in her speech. She is motivated to drink the potion because she has a vision of Tybalt's ghost looking to kill Romeo.

Sc. 1 Lines 18-25: Explain the double meanings in Juliet's exchange with Paris by citing text evidence.

Juliet says, "'I will confess to you that I love him'" (4.1.25). Paris thinks that Juliet is talking about Friar Laurence, but Friar Laurence knows that she is talking about Romeo. She also says, "... when I may be a wife" (4.1.19). She means that she wants to be a wife to Romeo, but they are separated. Paris thinks she is excited to be a wife to him.

Sc. 1 Lines 50-59: How does Juliet view her marriage bond to Romeo? Explain. How is it similar to Romeo's reaction in Act 3?

Juliet views her marriage bond to Romeo as a bond of life. If she does not get advice, she will kill herself to solve the problem. It is similar to Romeo's reaction because it is overly dramatic and they would die for each other.

Sc. 2 Lines 45-47: What does moving up the wedding one day do to Friar Laurence's plan?

Moving up the wedding one day moves up Friar Laurence's plan, so Juliet has to take the potion that same day. It doesn't give them very much time to think everything through.

Sc. 1 Lines 115-126: Explain what the risks of Friar Laurence's plan might be, What is an essential component of the plan?

Romeo's and Juliet's lives are at risk. The letter getting to Romeo is an essential part of the plan so that he knows she is not really dead, and he can take her safely to Mantua.

Sc. 3 Lines 14-29: What do the first six lines of the speech reveal about Juliet's conflict? What do you think about Juliet's questioning of Friar Laurence's motives in giving her the potion? Does evidence suggest she is serious about her fears?

The first six lines of the speech reveals that Juliet is scared about her situation. Juliet questioning Friar Laurence shows that she is thinking more logically and shows that she is more level-headed.

Sc. 1 Lines 44-69: What details suggest that the friar views the situation as seriously as Juliet does? Infer why Friar Laurence is motivated to help Juliet any way that he can. Consider what you know about Friar Laurence's vocation.

The friar says, "'It strains me past the compass of my wits'" '94.1.47). He is motivated to help Juliet because he was the officiant of her marriage to Romeo, and he does not want her to be forced into the sin of marrying two people.

Sc. 1 Lines 89-114: How were the elements of the friar's plan foreshadowed when the friar first appeared in the play? Why is the timing of the friar's plan critical?

The friar talked about plants and how they mix to make evil or good potions when he first appeared. The timing of the friar's plan is critical because Juliet has to be "dead" for long enough, but not too long that she gets locked in the tomb before Romeo can get to her.

Sc. 5 Lines 65-83: What do the friar's first lines reveal about the setting and his initial purpose? What is the highest form of human achievement? Why does he tell them this? Why does he urge them to get Juliet to the church for her funeral in the last lines of husband scenes?

The friar's first lines reveal that the people in the room are being extremely emotional. His initial purpose is to calm them down and tell them that Juliet is in heaven. The highest form of human achievement is to go to heaven. He tells them this because he wants them to look at it in a better perspective. He urges them to get Juliet to the church for her funeral so he can be in control of her body.

Sc. 1 Lines 1-15: What is the friar's motive for wanting to slow down the marriage preparations for Paris and Juliet? What does Paris say is Lord Capulet's motive for hurrying the wedding along?

The friar's motive for wanting to slow down the marriage preparations is because he doesn't think Juliet shouldn't be married to another man. Paris says Lord Capulet's motive for hurrying the wedding along is to make Juliet happy and to distract others from the sadness of Tybalt's death.

Sc. 5 Lines 110-124: What does the lightheartedness of this scene suggest to the audience who knows the truth of Juliet's apparent death?

The lightheartedness of this scene shows that not everyone is taking the situation seriously.

Sc. 5 Lines 96-99: Note that the musician is talking about the case for his instrument. What "case" is the nurse referring to?

The nurse is referring to the situation, or case, that they are in.

Sc. 1 Lines 71-88: Consider how calmly Friar Laurence listens to Juliet threaten to kill herself in lines 50-67. How does that speech motivate him to share his plan with her? Do you think Juliet dislikes Paris so intensely that she is willing to go on these lengths to avoid marrying him? Explain.

The speech motivates him to share his plan because he cares about Romeo and wants Romeo's wife to stay alive. Juliet dislikes Paris so intensely because she is already in love with Romeo, and does not want to be married twice.

Sc. 4 Liens 9-28: How does this scene increase the emotional impact of Juliet's action in the previous scene,

This scene increases the emotional impact of Juliet's action because they are ready for the happy event to occur, but instead they are met with death.

Sc. 5 Lines 32-42: How is Capulet's description of Death an example of dramatic irony in this situation?

it is dramatic irony because having married Romeo, she dedicated her life to him. She would die for him, and in this case, she did, without her father knowing of Romeo.

Sc. 2 Lines 17-37: What is ironic about Capulet's reaction to Juliet's change of heart? What is ironic about Capulet's comments that "afore God, this reverend holy friar,/ Our whole city is much bound to him"?

it is ironic that Capulet reacts this way because Juliet is tricking him. Juliet is trying to make him happy, like he is trying to do for her, before she goes through with the plan. Capulet's comments are ironic because the friar is in on the plan.