romeo and juliet essay on love gcse

Romeo And Juliet Essay for Students and Children

500+ Words Essay on Romeo And Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love tragedy written by William Shakespeare. This is a story of love and fate. Furthermore, the basis of this tragic love story is the Old Italian tale translated into English in the sixteenth century. The story is about two young star-crossed lovers whose death results in reconcile between their feuding families. Moreover, Romeo and Juliet is among the most frequently performed plays by Shakespeare .

Lessons of Love from Romeo and Juliet

First of all, Romeo and Juliet teach us that love is blind. Romeo and Juliet belonged to two influential families. Furthermore, these two families were engaged in a big feud among themselves. However, against all odds, Romeo and Juliet find each other and fall in love. Most noteworthy, they are blind to the fact that they are from rival families. They strive to be together in spite of the threat of hate between their families.

Another important lesson is that love brings out the best in us. Most noteworthy, Romeo and Juliet were very different characters by the end of the story than in the beginning. Romeo was suffering from depression before he met Juliet. Furthermore, Juliet was an innocent timid girl. Juliet was forced into marriage against her will by her parents. After falling in love, the personalities of these characters changed in positive ways. Romeo becomes a deeply passionate lover and Juliet becomes a confident woman.

Life without love is certainly not worth living. Later in the story, Romeo learns that his beloved Juliet is dead. At this moment Romeo felt a heart-shattering moment. Romeo then gets extremely sad and drinks poison. However, Juliet was alive and wakes up to see Romeo dead. Juliet then immediately decides to kill herself due to this massive heartbreak. Hence, both lovers believed that life without love is not worth living.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Legacy of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. Furthermore, the play was very popular even in Shakespeare’s lifetime. Scholar Gary Taylor believes it as the sixth most popular of Shakespeare’s plays. Moreover, Sir William Davenant of the Duke’s Company staged Romeo and Juliet in 1662. The earliest production of Romeo and Juliet was in North America on 23 March 1730.

There were professional performances of Romeo and Juliet in the mid-19th century. In 19th century America, probably the most elaborate productions of Romeo and Juliet took place. The first professional performance of the play in Japan seems to be George Crichton Miln’s company’s production in 1890. In the 20th century, Romeo and Juliet became the second most popular play behind Hamlet.

There have been at least 24 operas based on Romeo and Juliet. The best-known ballet version of this play is Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. Most noteworthy, Romeo and Juliet have a huge impact on literature. Romeo and Juliet made romance as a worthy topic for tragedy. Before Romeo and Juliet, romantic tragedy was certainly unthinkable.

Romeo and Juliet are probably the most popular romantic fictional characters. They have been an inspiration for lovers around the world for centuries. Most noteworthy, the story depicts the struggle of the couple against a patriarchal society. People will always consider Romeo and Juliet as archetypal young lovers.

Q1 State any one lesson of love from Romeo and Juliet?

A1 One lesson of love from Romeo and Juliet is that love brings out the best in us.

Q2 What makes Romeo and Juliet unique in literature?

A2 Romeo and Juliet made romance as a worthy topic for tragedy. This is what makes it unique.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Which class are you in?

Download the App

• TOP CATEGORIES
• AS and A Level
• University Degree
• International Baccalaureate
• Uncategorised
• 5 Star Essays
• Study Tools
• Study Guides
• Meet the Team
• English Literature
• William Shakespeare
• Romeo and Juliet

How is love presented throughout Romeo and Juliet ?

Shakespeare foreshadows, in the prologue, that Romeo and Juliet’s relationship is already destined to a harsh fate. Shakespeare implies the idea that because of the ‘continuance of their parents’ rage’ the death of both Rome and Juliet is necessary to bring their families feud to an end. And nothing else except their ‘children’s’ death ‘could remove’.  Shakespeare has done this to hint the idea of their relationship is subjected to an undesirable outcome.

When Shakespeare says ‘A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life’ he may also be implying something else rather than just the idea that their fate is written in the stars to die. The word ‘Cross’d’ could have been a religious reference derived from Christianity and when Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross.

Different readers would gather the idea that because of the long-lasting ‘ancient grudge’ between the Capulet and Montagues, that something bad instinctively will happen to Romeo and Juliet. This links to the theme of love and relationships because the relationship between Romeo and Juliet has already been jinxed from the moment they were born.

In their first impressions, Shakespeare has used a metaphor to exaggerate on how much Romeo is infatuated by Juliet. ‘O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright’ gives the impression that Juliet is so bright that she even lightens up other light sources, and that she is Romeo’s light source. However, this poetic exaggeration is clearly wrong as torches can’t be taught how to ‘burn bright’. So Shakespeare could have done this to make you question whether Romeo’s love is genuine love-at-first-sight or just a result of short-term infatuation based on her physical looks.

This point also links to when Romeo questions his past love with Rosaline to his current ‘love’ with Juliet ‘did my heart love till now?’ The audience could react to this either thinking that this is genuine love-at-first-sight as its strong enough to overpower his last love for Rosaline. Or that this is just another example of where Romeo thought he was in love, like with Rosaline, but not genuinely in love. Shakespeare might have put this character Rosaline in the play before Juliet so you can see that Romeo’s love for Juliet may or may not be different.

In contrast to this, Shakespeare has given Juliet a completely different first impression to Romeo’s which is ‘My only love sprung from my only hate’.  The juxtaposition between ‘love’ and ‘hate’ suggests that Juliet is more realistic and more future-planning than Romeo by having both emotions and potential outcomes in her head (even if she isn’t very well-planned herself).  

The use of the world ‘Only’ also foreshadows the feeling that this could be her first and only relationship.  Shakespeare may have done this to remind the audience that their relationship is destined for doom. This links to parts of the prologue which also evokes this idea.

This is a preview of the whole essay

Different readers could also be confused on which emotion is stronger, either the ‘love’ or the ‘hate’ part. Shakespeare may have done this to suggest the idea of weighing scales between the ‘love’ and ‘hate’ and which are both respectively in conflict with each other. This reminds the audience that because of the same conflict between the two families that Romeo and Juliet’s relationship doesn’t bode well.

When Romeo and Juliet first meet Shakespeare creates a lot of religious imagery between the two characters, linking them to the idea of sin and doing something wrong. Juliet instinctively knows that kissing would be a comparative to a sin as she implies that Romeo is a saint (a good person who obtains from the opposite sex) but needs to stay within his rights and not kiss her. Whereas Romeo insists upon it and says ‘let lips do what hands do’ so he can pray to her (his holy shrine) in the form of kissing. And if this doesn’t happen, his ‘faith’ will be left to ‘despair’.

Shakespeare has done this to present Romeo as someone who is impulsive and doesn’t consider things carefully whereas Juliet does. This also links to when Shakespeare uses the metaphor to compare Romeo’s personality with his palms and his ‘lips’ to ‘pilgrims’. Shakespeare presents Romeo here with piety but also of a lower class to Juliet ‘ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss’.  Shakespeare may of done this to remind us that yet again, they aren’t compatible together because of their different ‘class’ and family background which hinders their relationship.

Different readers might think that Romeo’s and Juliet’s love here is true love-at-first-sight as both are willing to kiss despite of their social classing. Shakespeare has done this to show that their love could be something strong enough to overpower everything that stands against them.  Also other readers may have noticed that Shakespeare has used a sonnet for their first interpretation which is also traditionally a ‘love’ poem. Shakespeare has clearly done to highlight their love-at-first-sight.

Shakespeare once again highlights this idea of true love and love-at-first-sight when Juliet says to Romeo ‘I’ll prove more true than those that have more cunning to be strange’. This shows Juliet knows it’s far too soon, however she’ll be more faithful and loving that anyone else who’d consider things longer. Shakespeare has clearly done this so show that Juliet’s already considered this and her love for Romeo is genuine love-at-first-sight.

The fact that she has already decided to marry him evokes the idea that their love is stronger than any other relationship which would consider things more carefully beforehand. However, Shakespeare might have also done this so different readers could start to question whether their love is down to love-at-first-sight or a merely a product of them both being impulsive and naïve.  Shakespeare may have done this so the audience could start to pity them as they’re both young and foolish. And then later the audience could feel even sorrier for them as their young and foolishness caused them to die.

Shakespeare also presents Romeo to be less patient than Juliet ‘O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied’. This makes us question whether Romeo’s love yet again is as genuine as Juliet’s, or whether it’s more lust and desire from wanting something physical.

During the wedding Shakespeare foreshadows something very bad will happen as he states through Friar Laurence that ‘these violent delights have violent ends’. The use of ‘violent’ in this context is to portray the idea of something that is intense but quick and short-lasting.  Shakespeare has clearly done this to evoke the idea that rushing into their relationship out of passion too soon will also finish quickly as well.

Shakespeare has also used this dramatic irony as the audience can know guess that something very bad will happen despite Romeo and Juliet still being ignorant to the future events. This piece of text relates back to the prologue where it originally states a ‘pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life’ which implies that their love is destined for doom. This also links to the theme of love and relationships as Shakespeare presents their love as transient and destructive.

After the death of Tybalt Shakespeare starts to show how there may be faults within Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. Shakespeare uses a series of oxymoron’s such as ‘a damned saint, an honourable villain’ to describe how Juliet is in confusion whether she still likes him or not. The oxymoron shows that the two contrasting feelings about Romeo are still in her mind and that she cannot currently decide whether to forgive him or not. Shakespeare has done this to undermine the faults within their relationship and to remind the audience that things will go wrong.

The use of ‘honourable’ with ‘villain’ suggests how Romeo is a good person who she still respects, but at the same time has done a terrible thing. Shakespeare then uses a series of hyperbolic phrases such as ‘that one word banished, hath slain ten thousand Tybalts’ to show how really confused she is. Different readers could think that this is far to exaggerated and now the first fault in their relationship has been discovered, it shows how naïve and foolish Juliet really was. However, she still doesn’t realise this because out of ‘love’ she still chooses to forgive him for Tybalt’s death.  Shakespeare again presents her as someone who considers things carefully as later on she realises if Romeo is banished he won’t be able to take her virginity and she’ll die widowed with her marriage meaning nothing. Throughout everything that has happened so far, Shakespeare is still presenting their love as genuine true-love because she’s still willing to forgive him even after murdering her cousin.

During Juliet’s soliloquy, Shakespeare once again highlights where Juliet could start to question her love for Romeo as she starts considering the what ifs if something goes wrong. She says to the audience ‘I have faint cold fear thrills through my veins what If this mixture do not work at all?’ By this she starts to question just how far she’s willing to go for Romeo. Shakespeare has done this to remind the audience again that it is Juliet who considers things more carefully but Romeo who acts without thinking.

However, it’s perfectly normal to consider the ‘what ifs’ with something as scary as this, because Juliet also knows that it would be easier for Friar Laurence to kill her. Rather than go against his religion to remarry her with pairs later on. Different readers might think she is questioning her love for Romeo here, but as she still ends up taking the potion we know that she’s still willing to dedicate everything she has for him. Shakespeare wants us to realise the lengths that both of them are willing to take just to be together, so their love has to be truelove.

In the final scene, Shakespeare wants us to see how much Romeo is still infatuated by Juliet’s physical appearances regardless of her personality even when she’s dead. He thinks that even death can’t take away her beauty noticing there is still ‘crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks’. Shakespeare has done this to remind us that even now, Romeo first notices her physical attractions before he realises he realises that he has possibly lost her.

The use of ‘crimson’ tells us that her crimson lips and cheeks are more apparent to him than anything else yet. Shakespeare is suggesting to us that even though they’re nearing the end of their relationship, both Romeo and Juliet’s relationship is based on physical attractions and not personality. This also links to after Tybalt’s death when Juliet first sentence to describe him is ‘O, serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!’ Throughout these lines of both Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare continuously highlights the main factors of why their love was really so strong, which was because of their appearances.

In comparison to Romeo’s final speech, Shakespeare has presented Juliet’s as much shorter and that she partially wishes to kill herself because her Romeo is gone ‘O, churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after?’  Shakespeare has used poetic devices here almost personifying and using an oxymoron to describe what Juliet thinks about the items of their death e.g. ‘friendly drop’ and ‘O happy dagger!’ Shakespeare has used these oxymorons to show how Romeo and Juliet’s love was always doomed because of the contrasting factors involved.  A dagger can’t possibly be ‘happy’ but to Juliet it is, as it’ll reunite her with her husband. However, this could be interpreted differently. As she sacrificed her life to be with her Romeo again, but without her realising this also links back to the prologue. That is the idea that without their deaths neither the Montagues nor Capulets could ever make peace. So Shakespeare may have done this to remind the audience again about their deaths being necessary.

Differently readers would now be at the climax of their thoughts about Romeo and Juliet’s relationship with either pity or admiration. Some would pity them as they were young, foolish and naïve which has ultimately brought them to death. But on the contrary, even admiration as their ‘love’ may have been so powerful it was strong enough for them to both willingly sacrifice themselves for each other. Through these ends scenes Shakespeare presents their love and relationship as something which was traumatic, transient and very sad.

At the end of the play, Shakespeare reminds us how unhappy and unfortunate Romeo and Juliet’s relationship was destined for.  Shakespeare uses poetic devices such as rhyming to finish it off ‘for never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo’ which leaves the audience with that for their last thoughts about the play. Shakespeare has done this to leave the audience thinking that despite everything about their relationship that may have been impulsive, foolish or naïve it’s still a very tragic unfortunate end for them. This also relates back to the initial prologue ‘death mark’d love’ when it foreshadowed about their death, which reminds us how tragic it is for Romeo and Juliet’s fates is to die.

Document Details

• Author Type Student
• Word Count 2196
• Page Count 4
• Subject English
• Type of work Exam preparation

Related Essays

How love is presented in Romeo and Juliet

How is love presented in Romeo and Juliet?

How is love presented in the early acts of Romeo and Juliet?

Discuss how the theme of love is presented in Romeo & Juliet.

• Written for
• Document information
• Related courses

Exam (elaborations)

Grade 9 essay on love in romeo and juliet.

• Institution

This is a grade 9 essay on how love is portrayed by Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet. I have included contextual knowledge. You can use this as inspiration and take ideas from this essay.

Preview 1 out of 2  pages

•   Report Copyright Violation

Preview 1 out of 2 pages

Also available in package deal (1)

GCSE English deal

• 1. Summary - How does shakespeare present the relationship between lord capulet and juliet?
• 2. Summary - Grade 9 notes on romeo and juliet
• 3. Exam (elaborations) - Grade 9 essay on love in romeo and juliet

More courses for GCSE > GCSE

• Religious education
• Separate biology
• 2023 papers and markschemes

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do i get when i buy this document.

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

You can get your money back within 14 days without reason. You fill in a form and our customer service team will take care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller arshiasajjad. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for £4.39. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

106849 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 13 years now

Romeo and Juliet

By william shakespeare, romeo and juliet essay questions.

In what way do Romeo and Juliet break gender conventions? How do these roles fluctuate throughout the play?

At the beginning of the play, the young lovers' behavior reverses common gender conventions – Romeo acts in a way that his friends call feminine, while Juliet exhibits masculine qualities. Romeo is by no means an archetypal Elizabethan man; he is disinterested in asserting his physical power like the other male characters in the play. Instead, Romeo chooses to stew in his pensive melancholy. On several instances, Romeo's companions suggest that his introspective behavior is effeminate. On the other hand, Juliet exhibits a more pronounced sense of agency than most female characters in Shakespeare's time. While the women around her, like her mother, blindly act in accordance with Lord Capulet's wishes, Juliet proudly expresses her opinion. Even when she has lost a battle (like when Lord Capulet insists she consider marrying Paris), she demonstrates a shrewd ability to deflect attention without committing to anything. In her relationship with Romeo, Juliet clearly takes the lead by insisting on marriage and proposing the plan to unite them. As the play progresses, Romeo starts to break out of his pensive inaction to the point that Mercutio notices this change. Romeo also makes a great shift from his cowardly attempt at suicide in Act III to his willful decision in Act V. Overall, Romeo and Juliet are arguably a good match because they are so distinct. Juliet is headstrong, while Romeo is passive until passion strikes and inspires him to action.

Contrast Romeo's attempted suicide in Act 3 with his actual suicide in Act 5. How do these two events reveal changes in his character and an evolving view of death?

Romeo considers suicide in both Act 3 and Act 5. In Act 3, Romeo's desire to take his own life is a cowardly response to his grief over killing Tybalt. He is afraid of the consequences of his actions and would rather escape the world entirely than face losing Juliet. Both Friar Laurence and the Nurse criticize Romeo for his weakness and lack of responsibility - taking the knife from his hands. In contrast, Romeo actually does commit suicide in Act V because he sees no other option. He plans for it, seeking out the Apothecary before leaving Mantua, and kills himself out of solidarity with Juliet, not because he is afraid. While suicide is hardly a defensible action, Romeo's dual attempts to take his life reveal his growing maturity and his strengthened moral resolve.

Several characters criticize Romeo for falling in love too quickly. Do you believe this is true? Does his tendency towards infatuation give the audience occasion to question Romeo's affection for Juliet?

This question obviously asks for a student opinion, but there is evidence to support both sides of the argument. In Act 2, Friar Laurence states his opinion that Romeo does indeed fall in love too quickly. Romeo is arguably in love with being in love more than he is in love with any particular woman. The speed with which his affections shift from Rosaline to Juliet – all before he ever exchanges a word with the latter – suggests that Romeo's feelings of 'love' are closer to lust than commitment. This interpretation is supported by the numerous sexual references in the play, which are even interwoven with religious imagery in Romeo and Juliet's first conversation. However, it also possible to argue that Romeo's lust does not invalidate the purity of his love. Romeo and Juliet celebrates young, passionate love, which includes physical lust. Furthermore, whereas Romeo was content to pine for Rosaline from afar, his love for Juliet forces him to spring into action. He is melancholy over Rosaline, but he is willing to die for Juliet. Therefore, a possible reading is that Romeo and Juliet's relationship might have been sparked by physical attraction, but it grew into a deep, spiritual connection.

Examine the contrast between order and disorder in Romeo and Juliet . How does Shakespeare express this dichotomy through symbols, and how do those motifs help to underline the other major themes in the play?

The contrast between order and disorder appears from the Prologue, where the Chorus tells a tragic story using the ordered sonnet form. From that point onwards, the separation between order and disorder is a common theme. Ironically, violence and disorder occurs in bright daylight, while the serenity of love emerges at night. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet is uncomplicated without the disorderly feud between their families, which has taken over the streets of Verona. The contrast between order and disorder underscores the way that Shakespeare presents love - a safe cocoon in which the lovers can separate themselves from the unpredictable world around them. At the end of the play, it becomes clear that a relationship based on pure love cannot co-exist with human weaknesses like greed and jealousy.

Many critics note a tonal inconsistency in Romeo and Juliet . Do you find the shift in tone that occurs after Mercutio's death to be problematic? Does this shift correspond to an established structural tradition or is it simply one of Shakespeare's whims?

After the Prologue until the point where Mercutio dies in Act III, Romeo and Juliet is mostly a comic romance. After Mercutio dies, the nature of the play suddenly shifts into tragedy. It is possible that this extreme shift is merely the product of Shakespeare's whims, especially because the play has many other asides that are uncharacteristic of either comedy or tragedy. For example, Mercutio's Queen Mab speech is dreamy and poetic, while the Nurse's colorful personality gives her more dimension than functional characters generally require. However, it is also possible to see the parallels between this tonal shift and the play's thematic contrast between order and disorder. Shakespeare frequently explored the human potential for both comedy and tragedy in his plays, and it is possible that in Romeo and Juliet , he wanted to explore the transition from youthful whimsy into the complications of adulthood. From this perspective, the play's unusual structure could represent a journey to maturity. Romeo grows from a petulant teenager who believes he can ignore the world around him to a man who accepts the fact that his actions have consequences.

Eminent literary critic Harold Bloom considers Mercutio to be one of Shakespeare's greatest inventions in Romeo and Juliet . Why do you agree or disagree with him? What sets Mercutio apart?

One of Shakespeare's great dramatic talents is his ability to portray functional characters as multi-faceted individuals. Mercutio, for example, could have served a simple dramatic function, helping the audience get to know Romeo in the early acts. Then, his death in Act 3 is a crucial plot point in the play, heightening the stakes and forcing Romeo to make a life-changing decision. Mercutio barely appears in Arthur Brooke's Romeus and Juliet , which Romeo and Juliet is based on. Therefore, Shakespeare made a point of fleshing out the character. In Mercutio's Queen Mab speech, Shakespeare has the opportunity to truly delve into the bizarre and often dangerous sexual nature of love. Further, Mercutio's insight as he dies truly expresses the horrors of revenge, as he declares a plague on both the Montague and Capulet families. He is the first casualty of their feud - and because he transcends functionality, the audience mourns his untimely death and can relate to Romeo's capricious revenge.

How does Shakespeare use symbols of gold and silver throughout the play? What does each element represent?

Shakespeare uses gold and silver as symbols to criticize human folly. He often invokes the image of silver to symbolize pure love and innocent beauty. On the other hand, he uses gold as a sign of greed or desire. For example, Shakespeare describes Rosaline as immune to showers of gold, an image that symbolizes the selfishness of bribery. Later, when Romeo is banished, he comments that banishment is a "golden axe," meaning that banishment is merely a shiny euphemism for death. Finally, the erection of the golden statues at the end of the play is a sign of the fact that neither Lord Capulet nor Lord Montague has really learned anything from the loss of their children. They are still competing to claim the higher level of grief. Romeo, however, recognizes the power of gold and rejects it - through him, Shakespeare suggests a distinction between a world governed by wealth and the cocoon of true love.

Do a character analysis of Friar Laurence. What motivates him? In what ways does this motivation complicate his character?

Friar Laurence is yet another character who transcends his functional purpose. When Romeo first approaches the Friar to plan his marriage to Juliet, the older man questions the young man's sincerity, since Romeo openly pined for Rosaline only a few days before. However, the Friar shows a willingness to compromise by agreeing to marry the young lovers nevertheless. What ultimately motivates Friar Laurence is his desire to end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, and he sees Romeo and Juliet's marriage as a means to that end. While his peaceful intentions are admirable, his devious actions to achieve them – conducting a marriage that he explicitly questions – suggests he is more driven by politics than by an internal moral compass. The fact that a religious figure would compromise one of the Church's sacraments (marriage) further suggests that the Friar wants his power to extend beyond the confines of his Chapel. He also displays his hubris by helping Juliet to fake her death, rather than simply helping her get to Mantua to be with Romeo. While Friar Laurence is not an explicit villain, his internal contradictions speak to Shakespeare's ability to create multi-faceted characters.

Should Romeo and Juliet be considered a classical tragedy (in which fate destroys individuals)? Or is it more a tragedy of circumstance and personality? Moreover, could the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet have been avoided?

In classical tragedy, an individual is defeated by Fate, despite his or her best efforts to change a pre-determined course of events. A classical tragedy both celebrates an individual's willpower while lamenting the fact that the universe cannot be bested by mankind. The tragic elements in Romeo and Juliet are undeniable - two young lovers want nothing more than to be together and fall victim to an ancient feud and rigid societal conventions. However, while Romeo and Juliet's deaths result from human folly, the immovable power of fate also has a hand in sealing their destinies. For instance, Romeo and Juliet had many opportunities to simply run away together instead of being separated after Romeo is banished from Verona. Furthermore, many of the tragic occurrences are contingent on antagonistic characters running into one another, and then choosing to pursue vengeance rather than simply walk away. Based on this evidence, it is possible to read Shakespeare's intent as suggesting that behavioral adjustment can often prevent tragic events.

How is Romeo and Juliet a criticism of organized religion? Examine the play's secularism to develop your answer.

While Romeo and Juliet does not present explicit attacks against religion, Shakespeare reveals his skepticism of Christianity in subtle ways. In many ways, Romeo and Juliet must reject the tenets of Christianity in order to be together. In their first meeting, they banter, using religious imagery to share their sexual feelings. In this exchange, the lovers acknowledge the omnipresence of Christianity, but cheekily use religious images in an unexpected context. Further, Christian tradition would have required Juliet to submit to her father's desire, but instead, she manipulates his expectations to distract him from her real agenda. Even Friar Laurence, an explicitly religious figure, uses Christianity as a tool towards his own ends. In this way, the play implicitly suggests that the rigid rules of religion often work in opposition to the desires of the heart - and to pursue true happiness, one must throw off the shackles of organized faith.

Romeo and Juliet Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Romeo and Juliet is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What do they use to make Juliet look dead in the play?

Though the exact ingredients of the sleep potion are never revealed, it is believed that nightshade (a deadly plant) was likely used in the concoction.

Why does shakesphere speak like a goofy goober? Like bruh just speak normally my guy

This is poetry as well as Old English. It is the sam reason lyrics in music sound as they do, so full of symbolisn, metaphor....

What risks does Romeo take in the play Romeo and Juliet? Please include quotes from the play

Falling for Juliet was a pretty big risk. Jumping into the Capulet orchard to see juliet at night could have gotten Romeo killed, If they do see thee they will murder thee.

Study Guide for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet Summary
• Romeo and Juliet Video
• Character List

Essays for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

• Unity in Shakespeare's Tragedies
• Fate in Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet: Under the Guise of Love
• The Apothecary's Greater Significance in Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet: Two Worlds

Lesson Plan for Romeo and Juliet

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Romeo and Juliet
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Romeo and Juliet Bibliography

E-Text of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet e-text contains the full text of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

• List of Characters

Wikipedia Entries for Romeo and Juliet

• Introduction
• Date and text

• International
• Schools directory
• Resources Jobs Schools directory News Search

Romeo and Juliet AQA 2023 Grade 9 Model Answer

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

1 November 2023

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

A grade 9 model answer to the AQA 2023 question on Romeo and Juliet. The question was as follows:

Starting with this speech, explore how Shakespeare presents Juliet’s feelings towards Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Write about: • how Shakespeare presents Juliet’s feelings towards Romeo in this speech • how Shakespeare presents Juliet’s feelings towards Romeo in the play as a whole.

The model answer starts with a thesis statement. It moves on to analyse the youthful, idealistic nature of Romeo’s feelings for Romeo early in the play. The second half of the essay moves on to explore the growing maturity of Juliet’s feelings later in the play.

The word count for the response is 1014 words.

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 67%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Romeo and Juliet Grade 9 Model Responses

A collection of grade 9 model answers to AQA questions on Romeo and Juliet. 1. Romeo's feelings for Juliet. 2. Juliet's feelings for Romeo. 3. Romeo and Juliet's relationship. 4. Relationships betweens adults and children.

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:

Read this excerpt from the prologue to act II of Romeo and Juliet: CHORUS: Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair for which love groan'd for and would die, With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair. Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, Alike betwitched by the charm of looks, But to his foe supposed he must complain, And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks: Being held a foe, he may not have access To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; And she as much in love, her means much less To meet her new-beloved any where: But passion lends them power, time means, to meet Tempering extremities with extreme sweet. Which of the following sentences best summarizes the purpose of the excerpt? A: It tells the audience exactly what will happen at the end of the play B: It reveals the conflicting feelings Romeo has for Juliet and his family C: It foreshadows the death of the lovers in the next section of the play D: It explains that Romeo and Juliet will face many obstacles because of their families' hatred

📚 Related Questions

A(n) ______ Occurrs when the speaker restates the opponentsame view in a distored way 1- false casuality fallacy 2- Straw man fallacy 3- ad hominem fallacy 4- ad hoc fallacy

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier? A. Having been elected by a unanimous vote, the committee congratulated the nominee. B. Many kinds of plants grow well in my garden, but in the summertime they require a lot of care. C. By this time the boat was obviously sinking, and most of the passengers were already aboard life rafts. D. She wrote essays about three topics: flowers, letters, and friends and family.

What must happen for a nation’s standard of living to improve?

Love existed first or the lover? If you know the answer please explain it briefly.

Details : Love existed first or the lover?If you know the answer please explain

fat is a ____ that stores energy for an organism lipid metabolism producer

I need to add a couple more sentence but I don't know what to add can you guys help me? The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie was written in April 19, 1998 and published in Los Angeles Times April 12 2011. In the article, Sherman said that reading books is what saved his lives. At a young age, Sherman, didn’t know how to read but he still picked up a comic book and that’s where he learned to read. His love of reading came from his father who read and collected many books and since his father loved to read he was going to love to read also. His family is like any other Indian family living in their tribe or reservation. But he was not going to let soviety have his way with him and he didn’t today he publishes books and visits his old school to teach the kids how to write so they can beat society. But he couldn’t get to some of the kids as they refuse to learn to read and write, but he is not and will not give up on them.

Which sentences in the passage describe Leila's good study habits? Leila has midterms coming up in three weeks, so she made a study plan that lists her priorities to help her prepare. Leila's social calendar is so full that she has very little time to study on weekdays, which she hopes to make up for by studying on the weekend. She plans to spend six hours every weekend studying in the library. Leila justifies not taking time out to study on weekdays by telling herself that she needs to have other interests. She hopes that studying for long periods without a break will help her learn all the important class material.

What is Juliet's role in the play Romeo and Juliet?

Details : What is Juliet's role in the play Romeo and Juliet?

The Prologue to Romeo and Juliet reveals all of the following except: Question 1 options: A. Romeo and Juliet end their lives B. Romeo and Juliet are ill fated C. Romeo’s feelings for Rosaline D. The result of their deaths

all of chemical activities of an organism are the organism`s___ lipid carbohydrate consumer metabolism homeostasis producer

the similarity between 1775 and today

Which word in the following sentence is incorrectly capitalized? “The Corporal will enter the White House immediately following the President of the United States.” [L.11-12.2] A. Corporal B. White C. President D. States

Details : Which word in the following sentence is incorrectly capitalized?

About which idea would Lincoln and lee most likely agree on

is ADHD a sign of immaturity? Help ASAP

What is the definition of tension?

what's the relationship between humans and nature according to Ralph Waldo?

Details : what's the relationship between humans and nature according to Ralph

Why does bullying affect the bully, the bullied, and the bystanders? i already do have an idea of what to write on my essay but can someone please add something? thanks

Do you know the difference between a bystander and an upstander? A bystander is someone that does not speak up or act when they see acts of intolerance taking place. They just go about their business. An upstander is someone who takes action when they see an act of intolerance take place Guilt. After the bullying incident is over, many bystanders are weighed down with guilt. Not only do they feel bad for what happened to the victim, but they also experience overwhelming guilt for not intervening. They also can feel guilty for not knowing what to do, or for being too fearful to step in There are many reasons why youth may or may not intervene or defend the target of bullying. Some reasons bystanders do not intervene or respond to the bullying include: Fear of retaliation and being bullied themselves. ... They do not believe teachers or school staff will address the bullying Bullying can affect mental, physical and emotional health during school years and into adulthood. It can lead to physical injury, social or emotional problems and in some cases, even death. Bullied children and teens are more likely to experience depression, anxiety and sometimes long-term damage to self-esteem.

Explanation:

Where do supporting details usually appear in an essay?

Which of the following essay prompts would require writing a persuasive essay? A. A Day in the Life of an American Teenager B. My First Camping Trip C. Build Playgrounds, Not Shopping Malls D. When I Got Lost at the Mall

ou are writing an editorial for the school newspaper on the best person to choose for student body treasurer. Which of the following is most likely your audience and purpose?

Details : ou are writing an editorial for the school newspaper on the best

can someone help me with writing a supporting point for my thesis statement "Bullying is very negative and creates major problems for our society" i need two more. help would be appreciated thanks

What was the real name of the author we have come to know as george orwell? why did he adopt a pseudonym?

What would a network tree most likely be used for??

Which kind of text structure in a brochure would best help students decide which of two after-school programs would best fits their needs? cause and effect spatial sequential compare and contrast

Compare and contrast

Details : Which kind of text structure in a brochure would best help students

Which of the following best explains the difference between its and it's? The first is a contraction of "it is"; the second is a possessive pronoun. The first is a possessive pronoun; the second is a contraction of "it is." neither of these

Answer: The first is a possessive pronoun; the second is a contraction of "it is."

Who has read the book "Sickened" by Julie Gregory and will help me out with something? Please...

Throughout any story, a character who remains the same is what kind of character? 

plz plz help me plzzzzzzzzzzzz Which sentences contain two words that are related in the same way as the underlined words in the paragraph? The Millers were a strange couple. Mr. Miller was _puritan_ in the way he followed such strict rules. His wife was more _relaxed_ and adaptable. Yet, they obviously cared for and respected each other. Choose exactly two answers that are correct. A. During the lengthy train trip, we gawked out the window, invented games, or slept. B. The syrup trickled onto the pancakes, but the milk splashed onto the floor. C. The beads of water glittered in the sun, sparkling like many shards of glass. D. Our cat was immobile while the puppy pranced around her.

Details : plz plz help me plzzzzzzzzzzzzWhich sentences contain two words that

In a short story, any pronoun that indicates a person or thing spoken of is given in the _______ person. a. first b. second or third c. third d. second

Pen is to writing as trick is to

Other Questions

• my question is (12xy-16x^2y^2-20x^4y^3)/(-xy)
• how did the end of wwi leave germany open to follow a man like adolf hitler and the nazi party?
• A(n) ______ Occurrs when the speaker restates the opponentsame view in a distored way1- false casuality fallacy2- Straw man fallacy3- ad hominem fallacy 4- ad hoc fallacy
• The distance from New York to New Delhi is about 7,500 miles. Flying at a speed of 500 miles per hour, how many hours would it take for an airplane to travel from one city to another?
• Vocabulary word: slogan: a catchy phrase or saying, especially used in advertising or marketing Use the vocabulary word in a sentence:
• 8.Albinism is a harmful mutation where animals are completely white. This mutation is harmful because individuals are more easily seen by predators. The allele frequency for albinism will more than likelya.Increaseb.Stay the samec.Decrease
• help me pls i don't know how to math thank you
• I WILL UPVOTE!!Determine the range of the function f(x) = 7x + 2 when the domain is {-1, 3, 5}.{-7, 21, 35}{-9, 19, 33}{-5, 23, 37}{-1, 3, 5}
• I Need Help On This One. I was able to get the second coordinate / answer, but I am having trouble finding the first coordinate / answer
• What is 19 over 25 as a percent?
• What is the importance of the Bostin Police Strike??
• If a determinant of a 2 x 2 matrix is 0, what can you conclude about the inverse of the matrix?
• Use 'beta particle' in a sentence.
• Please help me with geometry! <3In rhombus ABCD, m<=53*, What is M(*=degrees)
• Please help and explain how
• A _____ is a device that not only provides surge protection, but also furnishes desktop computers and network devices with battery backup power during a power outage. a UPS b USB c UBS d USP
• When ___ proposed the ___ to divide the Nebraska territory, he knew that his bill would deeply upset many people and lead to headed debate in congress
• I WILL THX AND STAR YOU!!!!!!!!valuate the function h(x)=16-x, when x=-4A. 64B. 20C. 12D. -64
• An atomic that gains or loses an electron has a net electric charge and is called a/n A) electron B)neutron C)proton D)ion
• Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?A.Having been elected by a unanimous vote, the committee congratulated the nominee.B.Many kinds of plants grow well in my garden, but in the summertime they require a lot of care.C.By this time the boat was obviously sinking, and most of the passengers were already aboard life rafts.D.She wrote essays about three topics: flowers, letters, and friends and family.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Romeo & Juliet review – slow jams, Asda bags and trackie tops in a Manchester love story

Royal Exchange theatre, Manchester Nicholai La Barrie’s production edits out some of Shakespeare’s characters, but amps up the modern-day relevance of this play about a divided community

R elocating Shakespeare’s Veronese tragedy to modern Manchester gains extra impact on derby weekend. The half-and-half scarves with United and City logos sold near the Royal Exchange are reminders of an ancient grudge dividing this city.

Nicholai La Barrie’s production establishes its setting with plenty of local accents and a servant searching for Wilmslow Road. The costume design favours trackie tops, denim and trainers. When townspeople emerge in the wake of violent acts, it feels as though the theatre’s passersby have been drawn inside.

Maxine Peake fondly shared advice on performing in this intimate space: “Try and avoid the Asda bags on the front row on a Saturday matinee.” This afternoon, they’re carried by actors instead. Gemma Ryan’s Nurse drops hers by the armchair, and tucks in to a giant Flump after a shopping trip. Geoff Aymer’s Chorus hauls his on for the prologue, delivered amid mock confrontation with the audience that immediately recognises our polarised times.

Good Teeth’s design has volcanic fissures and concentric circles that evoke Verona’s walls: here is a theatre that sits, unusually, within a building; a playing space tightened by a ring of floor grates; and at the centre, imposingly lowered from above, a cage-like structure (shades of West Side Story’s fire escape) representing the balcony.

Unusually, Juliet (Shalisha James-Davis) climbs that balcony more often than Romeo (Conor Glean) during their moonlit encounter. She is dynamic throughout the show, with assured movement direction by Jade Hackett. When Romeo first spies her she is atop a table, acting the MC, all chants and shoutouts. With Lord Capulet absent from this production, many of his lines go to Lady Capulet (Kate Hampson), stressing an independence that possibly influences her daughter. The production underlines that Juliet suggests marriage, with Romeo visibly taken aback.

Glean’s Romeo battles with masculinity. He glowers, frustrated by his feelings for Rosaline, foreshadowing his complaint that Juliet’s beauty makes him effeminate. There’s a spectacular amount of front here: Ashley O’Brien is a hard-nut Tybalt, David Judge’s fleet-footed Mercutio delivers “prick love for prickers” like a rap, and the weaponry ranges from baseball bats to an axe (the Nurse’s handbag conceals a Stanley knife). The apothecary is cleverly replaced by a pair of menacing dealers who circle Romeo on bikes.

The thumping bass of Mark Melville’s soundscape can occasionally be a distraction, but his more successful music-driven set pieces include the lovers moving to Floetry’s Say Yes. James-Davis and Glean’s shared scenes are often electric – teasing, tender, sultry as a slow jam – although Juliet’s relationships with her mother and Nurse, and the wider generation gap, are underdeveloped. Adam Fenton’s bruised Benvolio, more torn than usual, stands out. Reducing the character list doesn’t help to make the minor roles more distinctive.

Even with a streamlined ending (no Balthazar, a curtailed Friar, altogether less to-ing and fro-ing), and an occasional rushed speech, it almost reaches three hours’ traffic. The play never quite goes like lightning (despite lighting designer Azusa Ono creating just such a climactic storm), but its closing call for more talk of our tragic divisions lands squarely with the audience.

At the Royal Exchange, Manchester , until 18 November

• Romeo and Juliet
• Royal Exchange

Most viewed