By: Catherine Arnold

Uses

• Shakespeare uses verbal irony in Romeo and juliet’s speeches to their parents, in order to keep their feelings secret from their parents

• He also uses it show sarcasm, which is used frequently by Tybalt and Mercutio

“Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch: marry, ‘tis enough.-”

Mercutio (III.i.90)

Verbal Irony

• This quote is verbal irony because Mercutio calls his deep cut a scratch, but he knows it will kill him. He is being sarcastic

“I will confess to you that I love him”Juliet(IV.I.25)

Verbal Irony

• This is an example of verbal irony because Juliet tells Paris she loves him. Paris thinks that Juliet means him, but she is actually talking about Romeo.

“My life is my foe’s debt”Romeo(I.v.116)

Verbal Irony

• This is verbal irony because Romeo is in love with Juliet, who is a Capulet and his life sworn enemy.

“My grave is like to be my wedding-bed”

Juliet(I.v.133)

Verbal Irony

• This is verbal irony because Juliet loves her enemy. If she marries Romeo and her parents find out, they would kill her.

“Indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him-dead-” Juliet(III.v.93-94)

Verbal Irony

• Juliet’s mother thinks she wants to kill Romeo for slaying Tybalt, her cousin. Juliet actually, yearns to see her true love, Romeo.

“I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear it shall be romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris;- these are news

indeed!” Juliet(III.v.121-123)

Verbal Irony

• Juliet makes her mother believe that she hates Romeo, but would still rather marry him than Paris

• Juliet has married Romeo, but she tells her mother she is not married