Choose one of the following essay prompts.
I. In Act IV, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet cries, “O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris
. . . And I will do it without fear or doubt.”
Both Romeo and Juliet seek out Friar Lawrence for counsel during their difficulties. How does
he affect their decisions, and eventually, the outcome of the play? Write an essay analyzing the
cause-and-effect relationship between the two lovers and Friar Lawrence. You may want to
address why Friar Lawrence marries the two in the first place, and the results of his advice
throughout the story. The introduction of your essay should include an attention-getter and
thesis statement. The body of your essay should explore how and why Friar Lawrence
orchestrates many of the developments in the plot. Close your essay with an overall
conclusion, including a restatement of the thesis.
II. By the end of Romeo and Juliet, Paris and Romeo, both of whom loved Juliet, are dead.
The two characters, however, are very different. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the
two men. The introduction of your essay should include an attention-getter and thesis
statement. The body of your essay should provide examples of similarities and differences
regarding their attitudes toward love, traditions, and fidelity, as well as their actions. Close
your essay with an overall conclusion, including a restatement of the thesis.
1 answer