Act II scene information “Romeo and Juliet” Act II scene information

Prologue v.2.0 In second prologue - Both young lovers are invigorated and given power by their love Their love is felt equally and powerfully enough to overcome their obstacles

Act II i.-ii. Information In II.i. - Mercutio makes fun of the absent Romeo Romeo goes walkabout In II. ii. - Romeo offers a good comeback and can’t go home - he finds Juliet’s balcony instead Juliet thinks aloud concerning names and Romeo decides to answer Juliet worries about speed and decides to send an emissary in the morning Romeo leaves to find a priest

Scene Information for II.iii.-.iv. In II.iii. - The Friar is a really good gardener and worries about Romeo’s sleeping habits Romeo gives him wedding planning as an alternate worry The Friar thinks love is fickle but agrees to go ahead with it In II.iv. - Benvolio and Mercutio complain about being given the slip by Romeo Mercutio wonders if Romeo’s man enough to answer the Prince of Cats’ challenge The Nurse shows up and Mercutio taunts her After being given the third degree Romeo clues the Nurse into the wedding plans

Scene Information for II.v.-.vi. In II.v. - Juliet waits impatiently for the Nurse to arrive The Nurse thinks that Romeo’s not too bad but still manages to give Juliet a hard time before revealing the secret wedding plans In II.vi. - Juliet offers words of wisdom before the young lovers wed

Sonnet v. 2.0 Considerations: What changes are discussed in quatrain 1 of Act II’s prologue? What is the problem introduced in this sonnet? What solution is presented in the couplet?

Misquoted Examine Romeo’s speech in Act II ii. Considerations: Examine Romeo’s speech in Act II ii. What comparisons does he make in the speech? What is being compared? Review Juliet’s unknowing responses in Act II ii. What questions does she ask? What does the word “wherefore” really mean?

Text and Subtext Examples: One common problem in studying Shakespeare is distinguishing text (what’s written) from the subtext (what’s meant). Examples: Text: the Friar’s speech in Act II scene iii “The grey-ey’d morn….” Subtext: he’s gardening and gathering plants Possible actions: moving about gathering plants, shifting the physical action to a different activity/plant as the end punctuation changes.

Further Examples More Examples: One common problem in studying Shakespeare is distinguishing text (what’s written) from the subtext (what’s meant). More Examples: Text: the Nurse’s lines of “Now afore God…” and end with the Nurse’s line “This afternoon sir? Well, she shall be there.” Subtext Scene: An exchange between a Son/daughter that is trying to persuade the parent of their fiance who might not approve of the upcoming marriage. Text: Juliet’s lines of “Now good sweet nurse…” and end with the Nurse’s speech starting “Then hie you hence…” Subtext Scene: An exchange between a Son/daughter that has been waiting impatiently for their parent to come home with news about something that they want badly.