Romeo and Juliet

End of IV/3

Modern Translation

Romeo and Juliet in modern English

1. What does Romeo say about love and the women he loves .... and how (language, images, rhyme, ... write out some quotes!) does he express it. (Make a table with 2 columns.)
2. How convincing/realistic is Romeo's being in love? (Notes/reasons)
3. How does Benvolio react to Romeo's problem with being in love (p. 17 and 23)? (Notes)
4. Characterize Romeo as lover from what you have read about him! (Complete sentences!)

ad 1) Romeo about Rosaline ... p. 41–45

Romeo

What Romeo says about Rosaline/love	How he says it (language, images, rhyme,...)
Love love makes him sad	"griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast"(15/177)
love is confusing/complicated	"a choking gall, and a preserving sweet"(15/185) - Contradicition
love makes sick	"...a sick man..."(15/193)
Rosaline is beautiful("fair")	"...and she's fair I love."(15/197)
doesn't return his feelings	"...she'll not be hit by cupid's arrow..."
has sworn to live chaste --> wastes her beauty (Romeo)	"...she will still live chaste?" "She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste"(p17/209)
Romeo is totally obsessed with her, doesn't want to meet other "beauties"	"Farewell, thou canst not teach me to forget"(p17/228)

ad 1) Romeo about Juliet ...

What does he say?	Stylistic device	examples
He describes her beauty (fairer than all others, stands for light, is not from this earth)	p.41 metaphor exaggeration	“Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright“ “Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.”
Describes her beauty/says she is very eye-catching (perfect/valuable)	simile	“…As a rich jewel in a Ethiop’s ear.”
Compares her to other women	metaphor/comparison	“So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows.”
Compares her to something divine/holy	p. 43 metaphor	“…This holy shrine…”
asks if he may touch her, wants to kiss her,	metaphor	“If I profane …” “My lips, two blushing Pilgrims, ready stand…”
Calls her a saint (pure, perfect, innocent)	metaphor	“ dear saint …”
Tells her not to move when he tries to kiss her		Then move not while …

ad 2) How convincing/realistic is Romeo's being in love?

Thesis	Notes
Romeo is very confused	p. 15 L.188 “ tut I have lost myself I am not here… “
Romeo is madly in love  he thinks of Rosaline being the most beautiful woman in the world	p.23 L.92 “One fairer than my love! The all seeing sun never saw her match since first the world begun “
Romeo changes his mind from one moment to the other Rosaline was the only one  now Juliet is his “jewel” and he wonders if he has really loved before	p.41 L.45 “ it seems she hangs upon the cheek of night as a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear” p.41 L.51 “ did my heart love till now
Wants to touch and then kiss Juliet the first time he sees her – asks if he (sooo unworthy) may perhaps …..	p.41 L.92 “ if I profane with my unworthiest hand…”
Romeo says she is a saint to show his love  he exaggerates	p. 43 L.102 “ oh then dear saint let lips do what hands do“

Romeo changes his mind from being madly/eternally in love with Rosaline – the only perfect woman in history much too quickly to being in love with Juliet, who he praises in the same exaggerated way as saint, jewel, a dove compared to all the other crows (women around her).

ad 3) Benvolio's advice to Romeo

He

• tells him to forget her: "forget to think of her."[p 17/ 216]
• should look at other women: "Examine other beauties."[p 17/ 218]
• should compare her with other women. "...the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves, With all the admired beauties of Verona..."[p23/ 82-84]
• should not only see her alone but with other people around: "none else beeing by"[p 23/ 94]