‘Romeo and Juliet’

Textual Analysis Act 5, Scene 3

ROMEO

How oft when men are at the point of deathHave they been merry; which their keepers callA lightning before death: O, how may I (90)Call this a lightning? O my love, my wife!Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:Thou art not conquered; beauty's ensign yetIs crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, (95)And death's pale flag is not advanced there.Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?O, what more favour can I do to thee,Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twainTo sunder his that was thine enemy? (100)Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet,Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believeThat unsubstantial death is amorous,And that the lean abhorred monster keepsThee here in dark to be his paramour? (105)For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;And never from this palace of dim nightDepart again: here, here will I remainWith worms that are thy chambermaids; O, hereWill I set up my everlasting rest, (110)And shake the yoke of inauspicious starsFrom this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!Arms, take your last embrace; and, lips, O youThe doors of breath, seal with a righteous kissA dateless bargain to engrossing death! (115)Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!Thou desperate pilot, now at once run onThe dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark!Here's to my love!

[Drinks]

O true apothecary! (120)Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.

[Falls]

1. Why has Romeo brought himself "to the point of death"? Briefly explain the background.(2 Marks)

2. How does the punctuation in lines 90 - 91 reflect Romeo's mood at this point?(3 Marks)

3. "Death, that hath sucked the honey of they breath,Have had no power yet upon they beauty"

Look more closely at the image in lines 92 - 93:Comment on the irony of this image in the context of events.(3 Marks)

4. Shakespeare talks about "Death" having no "power". (lines 92 - 93)Show how this idea of "power" is continued in the few lines which follow. (to 96)(4 Marks)

5. Explain why Tybalt is lying in the vault.(2 Marks)

6. Comment on the effectiveness of the image of death as it is presented in lines 102 -105.(4 Marks)

7. "And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars." (line 111)

Romeo here refers to the idea of his love having been ill-fated. By referring to at least two other relevant areas of the pay, show how Shakespeare has developed the theme of fate.(7 Marks)

Total Marks = 25

‘Romeo and Juliet’

Textual Analysis Act 5, Scene 3

ROMEO

How oft when men are at the point of deathHave they been merry; which their keepers callA lightning before death: O, how may I (90)Call this a lightning? O my love, my wife!Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:Thou art not conquered; beauty's ensign yetIs crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, (95)And death's pale flag is not advanced there.Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?O, what more favour can I do to thee,Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twainTo sunder his that was thine enemy? (100)Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet,Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believeThat unsubstantial death is amorous,And that the lean abhorred monster keepsThee here in dark to be his paramour? (105)For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;And never from this palace of dim nightDepart again: here, here will I remainWith worms that are thy chambermaids; O, hereWill I set up my everlasting rest, (110)And shake the yoke of inauspicious starsFrom this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!Arms, take your last embrace; and, lips, O youThe doors of breath, seal with a righteous kissA dateless bargain to engrossing death! (115)Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!Thou desperate pilot, now at once run onThe dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark!Here's to my love!

[Drinks]

O true apothecary! (120)Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.

[Falls]

1. Why has Romeo brought himself "to the point of death"? Briefly explain the background.(2 Marks)

2. How does the punctuation in lines 90 - 91 reflect Romeo's mood at this point?(3 Marks)

3. "Death, that hath sucked the honey of they breath,Have had no power yet upon they beauty"

Look more closely at the image in lines 92 - 93:Comment on the irony of this image in the context of events.(3 Marks)

4. Shakespeare talks about "Death" having no "power". (lines 92 - 93)Show how this idea of "power" is continued in the few lines which follow. (to 96)(4 Marks)

5. Explain why Tybalt is lying in the vault.(2 Marks)

6. Comment on the effectiveness of the image of death as it is presented in lines 102 -105.(4 Marks)

7. "And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars." (line 111)

Romeo here refers to the idea of his love having been ill-fated. By referring to at least two other relevant areas of the pay, show how Shakespeare has developed the theme of fate.(7 Marks)

Total Marks = 25