Romeo And Juliet Act 2

Mercutio states, "Love that is blind cannot hit the mark." By this statement, Mercutio means that misdirected "blind love" does not reach it's intended target, as in the case of Rosaline.

Romeo uses a metaphor to compare Juliet to the sun. Romeo then compares her eyes to two absent stars in the sky.

There are many ways to interpret this statement. Romeo is referring to her talking on the balcony, yet he is does not hear all of her words because he is struck by her incredible beauty. Romeo refers to her eyes and the "volumes" they speak without regard to her words.

Romeo states, "Oh that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek."

Juliet asks that Romeo would deny his father and "refuse thy name." Juliet is lamenting over the fact that Romeo is a Montague.

Juliet is expressing that it does not matter what a person's name is, a rose would still be a sweet smelling flower if it were called by another name. She is comparing Romeo to a rose and states that it is just a name and not the person within.

Romeo states that it was love that allowed him to leap over the orchard walls. He also states that love will protect him from her kinsmen because with "love, a man can do anything."

Juliet is embarassed because Romeo has heard her talking out loud. She was not aware that he was in the tree line and could hear her.

Juliet intends to send a messenger to see if Romeo's intentions of marriage are true. She also wishes for her messenger to gather the details of the marriage and return to her so that she may prepare and be ready.

- Romeo hears Juliet talking - Juliet professes her love and so does Romeo - They plan to marry

Friar Lawrence is gathering herbs and flowers in order to make medicine.

Friar Lawrence assumes that something is on his mind that caused him to awaken so early in the morning. The Friar then determines that he has not been to bed and thinks that he has spent the evening with Rosaline.

Friar Lawrence is stating that young men often "lust" after the beauty of women; in other words, men fall in love with the way a woman looks and not the person the woman truly is.

Friar Lawrence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet because he feel it will unite the two families that have been fighting for many years.

- Romeo goes to see Friar Lawrence - Friar Lawrence questions him about his love for Rosaline and then Juliet - Romeo asks the Friar to marry Juliet and him as soon as possible.

Mercutio states he is the Prince of Cats and a skilled fighter. Mercutio thinks he is very "sneaky" like a cat. Mercutio also thinks that he is a "fashion-monger" and one who is extremely well-mannered.

The nurse is questioning Romeo's intentions with Juliet. The nurse is trying to determine if Romeo is genuine and truly wishes to marry Juliet.

Romeo will use a rope ladder to climb over the walls at night. The nurse will have to hang the ladder over the wall for Romeo to do this. Romeo will get the nurse to help him and his man (servant).

- Tybalt has sent a challenge to Romeo - Mercutio expresses his dislike for Tybalt and the way he carries himself - Mercutio insults the nurse - Romeo and the nurse prepare for the wedding night

The nurse is gone for almost three hours. The endless waiting is frustrating to Juliet who states that if the nurse were younger, she would move much more quickly. Thus is one of the only times that Juliet will speak ill of the nurse. This statement may demonstrate her lack of maturity based on her impatient attitude.

The nurse is stalling and is not answering Juliet's questions. Juliet is becoming upset at the game the nurse is playing. The nurse begins by telling her wait until she catches her breath. Then she tells Juliet information that she knows.

- Juliet waits impatiently for the nurse - learn of the wedding plans - See some of Juliet's "kid" tendencies

Friar Lawrence makes this statement to serve as a warning. He tells the two lovers they should love slowly in order for their love to grow and last for a long time. He warns that loving too quickly leads to a "burned" out love. This is an ironic statement that he makes that seems to go against everything that he has just done.

- Romeo and Juliet are married by the Friar - Juliet tells her family she has gone to confession (another example of irony)

A play on words, one that wittily exploits a double meaning

Putting two contradicting words together

A fourteen-line poem, usually in iambic pentameter

A speech delivered by a lone character that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings

A comparison using "like" or "as"

Example: But, soft, what light through yon-der

Iambic pentameter is the name given to a line of verse that consists of five iambs (an iamb being one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed, such as "before").