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Explanations of Romeo and Juliet's symbols, and tracking of where they appear. Romeo and Juliet: Literary Devices Romeo and Juliet 's key literary devices explained and sortable by chapter.
- Plot Summary Plot
The two duel, and Romeo kills Paris. Romeo succeeds in...
- Summary & Analysis
The chorus’s introductory monologue sets the scene and...
- Themes
Though much of Romeo and Juliet is driven by the choices its...
- Quotes
Find the quotes you need in William Shakespeare's Romeo and...
- Characters
Characters - Romeo and Juliet Study Guide | Literature Guide...
- Symbols
Romeo and Juliet complicates traditional notions of light...
- Lit Devices
Lit Devices - Romeo and Juliet Study Guide | Literature...
- Quizzes
Quizzes - Romeo and Juliet Study Guide | Literature Guide -...
- Plot Summary Plot
- PROLOGUE. Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
- PROLOGUE. Enter Chorus. 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,
- SCENE I. A public place. Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, Page, and Servants. BENVOLIO. I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire: The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,
- SCENE I. Friar Laurence’s cell. Enter FRIAR LAURENCE and PARIS. FRIAR LAURENCE. On Thursday, sir? the time is very short. PARIS. My father Capulet will have it so;
Romeo and Juliet complicates traditional notions of light versus dark and day versus night. Light is typically a symbol of openness, purity, hope, and good fortune, while dark often represents confusion, obscurity, and doom.
- Looking For Themes and Symbols in Romeo and Juliet
- Love and Hate
- Fate and Free Will
- Youth and Age
- Death
- Light and Dark
- Oppositions and Oxymorons
Themes are recurring preoccupations that appear within a play. Sometimes these take the form of language, sometimes as imagery. Many of Shakespeare’s plays contain similar overarching themes such as conflict and change; but each play also contains its own ‘fingerprint’ of deeper themes too. Here we explore some of the particular themes you can find...
Romeo and Juliet is possibly Shakespeare’s most famous play, and everyone quickly recognises that love is the central theme. Equally as important though is the idea of opposing forces, and so hate plays a crucial role too. Love is represented in many ways, firstly as the stylized ‘Petrarchan Love’ that lovesick Romeo feels for the unattainable Rosa...
More opposing ideas here too. At the very opening of the play the prologue warns us of this, kicking off with the idea of “A pair of star-crossed lovers” for whom fate has already decided the outcomes. It is in the hands of the stars. Tension is created as Romeo and Juliet experience premonitions of ill-fortune, yet neither lose their ability to ac...
Many times you’ll see that the perceived differences between young an old fuel the events of the play. Contrast is made between the vigorous and sometimes impetuous emotions of youth against the more cautious wisdom which appears to come from maturity. We find this in the relationship between Romeo and Friar Lawrence. “I stand on sudden haste” urge...
All of these themes ultimately tie up with the notion of death versus life. The play is full of references to death, both serious and playful. Life seems to be pretty cheap in Verona, and that death is never far away is reflected in richness of the language used to describe it: “death-mark’d love”, “canker death”, “love-devouring death”, “death-dar...
One of the most arresting and recurring symbols used throughout the play is that of light and dark. Romeo and Juliet meet at night, and much of the time we spend with them together is in the hours of darkness. But time and again Romeo sees nothing but light from Juliet, “Juliet is the sun” he says. So much of their shared language concerns light an...
Along with the oppositions we’ve identified in theme and motif, oppositions also turn up spoken in the form of oxymorons. These literary devices are used within the play’s language to heighten the complexity and intensity of the emotions expressed. For example, confronting his own unrequited love for Rosaline Romeo says “Here’s much to do with hate...
A young man of about sixteen, Romeo is handsome, intelligent, and sensitive. At first sight, he falls in love with Juliet, the daughter of his family’s archenemy, Capulet. Though he is capable of the most intense love, Romeo is no mere pretty-boy: he proves himself to be a fine swordsman in the course of the play.
Romeo and Juliet is a play about the conflict between the main characters’ love, with its transformative power, and the darkness, hatred, and selfishness represented by their families’ feud. The two teenaged lovers, Romeo and Juliet, fall in love the first time they see each other, but their families’ feud requires they remain enemies.
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Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love story in the English literary tradition. Love is naturally the play’s dominant and most important theme. The play focuses on romantic love, specifically the intense passion that springs up at first sight between Romeo and Juliet.
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