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Romeo & Juliet:

1. What plan does Friar Lawrence devise to help Juliet avoid marrying Paris?

2. How does Juliet’s behavior towards her parents and the Nurse reflect her determination to follow through with Friar Lawrence’s plan?

3. What use of comic relief do you see in Act 4, Scene 2?

4. What fears does Juliet express before taking the potion? How does she rationalize taking the potion despite these fears?

5. What is the name for the kind of dramatic speech Juliet gives at the end of Scene 3? How Is this different from a monologue?

3 answers

Certainly! Here are the answers to your questions regarding Romeo and Juliet:

  1. Friar Lawrence's Plan: Friar Lawrence devises a plan for Juliet to avoid marrying Paris by giving her a potion that will make her appear dead for 42 hours. The idea is that after she takes the potion, her family will believe she has died, and they will place her in the Capulet tomb. Meanwhile, Friar Lawrence will inform Romeo of the plan so that he can rescue her when she wakes up.

  2. Juliet’s Behavior: Juliet's behavior towards her parents and the Nurse reflects her determination to follow through with Friar Lawrence's plan in that she becomes increasingly defiant and resolute. She expresses her unwillingness to marry Paris and dramatically declares that she would rather be with her dead ancestors than marry him. This fierce determination and refusal to comply with her parents’ wishes indicate her commitment to the plan. In Act 4, Scene 1, she even threatens to kill herself if the Friar cannot help her, demonstrating her desperation and resolve.

  3. Comic Relief in Act 4, Scene 2: The use of comic relief in Act 4, Scene 2 can be seen through the interactions of the Capulet household as they prepare for the wedding. Characters like the Nurse and Capulet’s jovial comments provide levity amidst the dark themes of the play. The humorous banter about how they will celebrate and the bustling preparations create an ironic contrast to Juliet’s dire situation.

  4. Fears Expressed by Juliet: Before taking the potion, Juliet expresses several fears: she worries that the potion might actually be lethal or that it might not work at all. She is also terrified of waking up in the tomb surrounded by the dead bodies of her ancestors and having to deal with the thought of being buried alive. Despite these fears, she rationalizes taking the potion by convincing herself that it is her only option to avoid marrying Paris and achieving her love for Romeo. She places her faith in Friar Lawrence’s plan and believes that death, though frightening, may be better than life without Romeo.

  5. Type of Dramatic Speech: The type of dramatic speech that Juliet gives at the end of Scene 3 is called an aside or sometimes considered a soliloquy. An aside is a remark that is spoken by a character directly to the audience, revealing their thoughts or feelings, which other characters cannot hear. A soliloquy, on the other hand, is delivered when a character is alone on stage, allowing them to express their inner thoughts. The key difference is that asides are generally shorter and aimed at the audience, while soliloquies are longer and reflect a character's inner conflict. In Juliet's case, her speech reveals her inner turmoil and decision-making process as she prepares to take the potion.

simplify your answer

Sure! Here’s a simplified version of the answers:

  1. Friar Lawrence's Plan: He gives Juliet a potion to make her appear dead for 42 hours, so her family will think she’s dead, allowing her to avoid marrying Paris.

  2. Juliet’s Behavior: Juliet acts defiantly towards her parents and the Nurse, showing she won't marry Paris. She even threatens to kill herself if she doesn't get help from Friar Lawrence, demonstrating her commitment to his plan.

  3. Comic Relief in Act 4, Scene 2: The comic relief comes from the humorous interactions among the Capulet family as they prepare for the wedding, providing a light-hearted contrast to the serious events surrounding Juliet.

  4. Fears Expressed by Juliet: Juliet fears the potion might be poisonous, that it might not work, or that she’ll wake up in the tomb among dead bodies. Despite these fears, she decides to take it because she sees it as her only chance to be with Romeo.

  5. Type of Dramatic Speech: Juliet’s speech at the end of Scene 3 is called a soliloquy, where she speaks her thoughts aloud, reflecting her inner conflict as she prepares to take the potion. This is different from an aside, which is a shorter remark meant for the audience.