Study for an exam - what do you think are the most important quotes from Romeo and Juliet?

Answer 1

I love Romeo & Juliet! My favourite play!

So many great quotes. I love the exchange when they first meet: "If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine the gentle sin in this my lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand to smooth their rough touch with a gentle kiss..." I love the balcony speech: Wherefore (which means why, not where) art thou Romeo? Deny thy father & refuse thy name, or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love & I'll no longer be a Capulet...What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet..." The whole exchange with Romeo & Juliet that night is magical...

It depends what you mean by "important." The introduction sets the tone, explaining how the families despise each other. The closing sums up the tragedy. "Never was a tale of more woe than that of Juliet & her Romeo." There are a number of references to haste, speed, impatience, impetuousness "they stumble that run fast" which foreshadow the tragic ending. In a sense, Romeo & Juliet die of impatience. They are in such a hurry to fall in love, get married, take drastic measures to be together. They don't think logically. When Romeo is being banished, I never understood why they didn't just take off together, elope & live somewhere else. Instead of Juliet faking her death & all that. It's so frustrating. The slow messenger doesn't get to Romeo in time to tell him she's not really dead. So he races there. If Romeo had waited a few minutes more, Juliet would awaken & they'd live happily ever after. But instead he poisons himself & then seconds later she finds him & stabs herself. They were too young & hasty. Juliet's impatience is shown in the scene where she's waiting for the nurse to return with news about her love (before they marry). She complains about old people that are slow & heavy. This speech is important because it shows how hasty she is & hints that she will meet her end much too soon. There is also the scene where she talks about how anxious she is for night to fall so she can be with her love. There are several references to the sun and moon throughout the play. They're always too anxious for the day to end. For time to speed up & bring them together. They wish their lives away.

So many great speeches in the play & I'm at work & don't have it in front of me! I still remember many of the lines because I not only studied it in school & read it on my own but I've seen the movies (the classic Zefferelli version from the 70's & the hip modern version with Claire Danes & Leo DiCaprio from several years back) several times. Plus I always wanted to play Juliet & never got to!

"My only love sprung from my only hate, too early seen unknown & known too late, oh prodigious birth of love it is to me that I should love a loathed enemy" (after she meets Romeo & falls in love.)

There are other hints & references toward death throughout the play for instance when Juliet refuses to marry Paris (some boring loser she doesn't love but that her parents want to fix her up with ) her witchy mother says "I would the fool were married to her grave!" Well she gets her wish soon enough.

Any of the monologues Romeo & Juliet have are important. The Queen Mab speech is interesting, I don't know if it's relevant to the tragedy but does discuss dreams (Romeo & Juliet are certainly impractical dreamers with their heads in the clouds). I think Mercutio is the one that says this speech (I only really focused on Juliet's parts!) Mercutio ends up killed later on by Tybalt in a sense it's Romeo's fault because he gets in the way, trying to help but actually making the situation worse.

Anyway, I'm babbling & I'm not sure what you needed...

Good luck on the exam!

:)

Answer 2

the most important line is Mercutio's dying wish, "A curse on both your houses". The actions of the Montegues and the Capulets, as well as Romeo and Juliet themselves, do indeed cause a curse on both houses.

Answer 3

Romeo! Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

Answer 4

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/quotes.html

That is from sparknotes.com and I love them!!

"It is the east, and Juliet is the sun" . (Act II, Scene II).

"Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." (Act II, Scene II).

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet". (Act II, Scene II).


http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/romeo_juliet_soliloquy.htm

That is a list of important soliloquies.