AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 2 Romeo and Juliet

Love

Love

Romantic love

Moment 1: Act 1 Scene 1

"Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health"

Language techniques – Petrarchan lover, oxymorons show Romeo's unstable state of mind due to his unrequited love.

Moment 2: Act 1 Scene 5

"O she doth teach the torches to burn bright!"

Language analysis – exaggerated language is again used by Romeo when he first catches sight of Juliet (Petrarchan lover)

Effect on play and audience – their first meeting drives the action of the play, leading to their marriage, and eventually their death

"Did my heart love till now?... For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

NEW INFO – "Young men's love then lies / Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.", Romeo is quick to love, showing he is in love with the idea of being in love (unfaithful)

Platonic love/love between friends

Moment 3: Act 2 Scene 5

"A challenge, on my life."

Language analysis – short, simple sentence shows Mercutio's willingness to step in Romeo's place without hesitation

"I was hurt under your arm"

Effect on play and audience – forces Romeo to kill Tybalt, which has dire repercussions, eventually leading to Romeo and Juliet's death

NEW INFO – love leads to death

Familial love

Look at 'family relationships'