Handouts on Act 2 Scene 3 and Scene 5

Romeo and Juliet, Act 2 Scene 3: Friar Lawrence’s Soliloquy

In this scene, we meet Friar Lawrence who is collecting medicinal plants and herbs in a garden. Read his soliloquy, monologue spoken by a single character which shows character’s inner thoughts. Underline and look up unfamiliar words and note the literary devices.

FRIAR LAWRENCE	Literary Device (personification, metaphor, simile, allusion, symbolism, oxymoron, irony)	Analysis/Interpretation
1 The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night, Checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light, And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels: 5 Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry, I must up-fill this osier cage of ours With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers. 9 The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb; What is her burying grave that is her womb, And from her womb children of divers kind We sucking on her natural bosom find, Many for many virtues excellent, None but for some and yet all different. 15 O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities: For nought so vile that on the earth doth live But to the earth some special good doth give, Nor aught so good but strain'd from that fair use Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse: 21 Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied; And vice sometimes by action dignified. Within the infant rind of this small flower Poison hath residence and medicine power: 25 For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart. Two such opposed kings encamp them still In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will; And where the worser is predominant, 30 Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.	ex.personification	Morning is smiling because the sun is rising but the night is frowning because she is leaving.

What is Friar Lawrence’s central idea about nature? Do you agree or disagree with him? Why?

Name: __________________________________________  Class: _________ Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Scene 5     

Juliet

Paraphrase

1   The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse;  2   In half an hour she promised to return.  3   Perchance she cannot meet him: that's not so.  4   O, she is lame! Love's heralds should be thoughts,  5   Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams,  6   Driving back shadows over louring hills:  7   Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw Love,  8   And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.  9   Now is the sun upon the highmost hill 10   Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve 11   Is three long hours, yet she is not come. 12   Had she affections and warm youthful blood, 13   She would be as swift in motion as a ball; 14   My words would bandy her to my sweet love, 15   And his to me: 16   But old folks — many feign as they were dead; 17   Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.

What is happening in this scene? Where does it take place?

What is Juliet thinking and feeling at this point in the play? Write a poem or diary entry from her point of view, using language from the text.