Question

Act II, Scene ii opens with a series of soliloquies before Romeo and Juliet speak to each other. What is the best description of the effect these soliloquies have on the scene?

The soliloquies make the entire scene feel more realistic.
The soliloquies make the balcony scene more tragic.
The soliloquies create a romantic, intimate mood.
The soliloquies suggest that the scene is not real, but only a dream.

Answer 1

The best description is: The soliloquies create a romantic, intimate mood.

They let Romeo and Juliet speak their private thoughts aloud, heightening emotional intensity and making the audience feel like a confidant. The language is lyrical and idealizing, which deepens the sense of intimacy and romance before they actually speak to each other.