Cullen's

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Act Two Study Guide
English 110

Chorus
1.  Quote, cite, and explain the personification in lines 1-2.
“Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie.” (Shakespeare, II. prologue. 1)
His desire for his Rosaline is gone
2.  Explain lines 13-14.
Romeo can not marry her but passion gives them power and time give them means to see each other

the fact them are enemies will be difficult to love each other but it will be great to love
Scene 1
3.  Why do Benvolio and Mercutio try to “conjure” Romeo (6)?
they are trying to find Romeo he is conjuring Romeo with images of Rosaline Romeo went on Capulet property


Scene 2
4.  To whom does Romeo refer when he says, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound” (1)?  What
     does he mean?
he refers to Mercutio he is making fun of him and Rosaline and he never actually cared about Rosaline

5.  Explain the conceit in lines 3-9.
he is comparing Juliet to the sun and all the great things

6.  Quote, cite, and explain the paradox in line 12.
“She speaks yet she say nothing.” (Shakespeare, II. ii. 12) her presence is enough so she does not have to speak

7.  Quote, cite, and explain the personification in lines 15-17.
“Two of the fairest stars in all of the heavens having some business, do entreat her eyes.” (Shakespeare, II. ii. 15-17)
her eyes are really bright
8.  Quote, cite, and explain the simile in lines 19-20.
“The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars.” (Shakespeare, II. ii. 19-20)
her cheek is so bright it outshines the sun

10.  An aside is a set of lines that a character speaks to the audience rather than to a character on
       stage.  Why does Romeo use an aside in line 37?
so Juliet does not hear him
to show she has not heard him yet asking the audience a question kind of comical
11.  Quote, cite, and explain the metaphor in lines 43-44.
 “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” (Shakespeare, II. ii. 43-44)


13.   According to Romeo, why is there “more peril in [Juliet’s] eye / Than twenty of [the Capulets’]
        swords” (71-72)?  Why are these lines an example of hyperbole?

if he cannot love Juliet that would be worse than twenty Capulet swords
14.  Quote, cite, and explain the personification in lines 80-81.

“By love that first prompted me to inquire I lent him counsel he lent me his eyes.” (Shakespeare, II ii, 80-81) Romeo give love a thing
15.  Explain the allusion to Jove in lines 91-93.

Zeus has so many different affairs and falls in love very easily like Romeo and Juliet
16.  What does Juliet worry about in lines 95-96?
that Romeo will think that she is to quickly won and to easy of a prize
moving to fast
17.  Why does Juliet tell Romeo not to swear his love by the moon (109-111)?  Of what literary device is
        this an example?
the moon is always changing don’t do that or our love will always change metaphor moon and Romeo’s love

18.  Quote, cite, and explain the simile in lines 119-120.
“Too like the lightning which doth cease to be ere one can say it lightens.” (Shakespeare II. ii. 119-120)
burn short but burn bright
20.  What does Juliet propose (143-144)?
Send word to Juliet tomorrow if she is sincere then they will get married

21.  Quote, cite, and explain the simile in lines 156-157.

“Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books.” (Shakespeare II. ii. 156-157)
when one goes toward the other love is happy boys as sad when they leave love is sad boys are happy

22.  Quote, cite, and explain the paradox in line 183.
“Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing”(Shakespeare, II. ii. 183)

23.  Where does Romeo plan to go when he leaves Juliet at the end of the scene (188)?

he plans on going to the priest

Scene 3
24.  What is Friar Laurence doing as he speaks the opening lines of the scene?
picking herbs and flowers for medicinal purposes

25.  What does the friar reveal in his soliloquy (21-27)?  What do these lines foreshadow?
Virtue itself turns to vice misapplied
And vice sometime by action dignified

theses herbs can help people or kill them

26.  Explain lines 71-72.  What literary device is contained in these lines?
metaphor between water salt water and his tears
how many tears you waste only to find love somewhere else
27.  Why does the friar agree to perform the marriage ceremony of Romeo and Juliet (90-92)?

he thinks their marriage may stop the feud
28.  What does Friar Laurence mean in saying, “they stumble that run fast” (94)?
if you move too quickly you fall
foreshadowing

Scene 4
29.  Why has Tybalt sent a challenge to Romeo (7-10)?
Romeo was at the party

30.  Why do Mercutio, Romeo, and Benvolio shift to prose in this scene?
they are best friends and they are all young and informal around each other

31.  About what do Mercutio and Benvolio kid Romeo (40-49)?
loving Rosaline

32.  What message does Romeo send with the Nurse (176-177)?
tell Juliet to come to confession so she can be married he will send a rope land to Juliet
so he can sneak into her house
33.  Quote and cite two examples of humor in this scene.
she called Romeo a toad


Scene 5
34.  Why does the Nurse delay giving Juliet Romeo’s message (1-64)?
she does not want Juliet to marry him


Scene 6
35.  How much time elapses between Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting and their marriage?

less than twenty four hours
36.  Give two examples of foreshadowing.
violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die
so smile the heavens upon this holy act that after hours with sorrow chide us no
38.  Explain Juliet’s meaning in lines 30-31.

she is comparing love to wealth and she has so much of it she can’t count half her love