Quotes from Roemo and Juliet I need help translating them in everyday language.?

Question

Could someone help me with this? I'm not really good at doing this.These quotes are from Romeo and Juliet and I have to take any three of these quotes and then translate these Shakespeare's language into modern, everyday language. Use the slang and "hip lingo" of our day; your translation can be humorous. TY

"By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am. My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself because it is an enemy to thee. Had I it written, I would tear the word."

"These times of woe afford no times to woo."

"...Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir: My daughter he hath wedded. I will die and leave him all. Life, living, all is Death's."

"...Go thither, and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I shall show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow."

"...See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. And I, for winking at your discords too, have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished."

Answer 1

"I don't know how to tell you what my name is my baby girl, cuz I hate it myself and it is my enemy. I would have ripped it in pieces if I wrote it down."


"My son-in-law is going to die and so is my daughter. He married my daughter. I am going to die and leave him everything. Afterall, life and the people living all belongs to death."



"See what has happened cuz of your hate. That the forces of heaven killed your happiness by this love. Even I am crying with you at your looses cuz I also lost a loved one (family member). Everyone is to be punished."

Edit:
4th quote
"Go there and check out the other ladies and compare them with your (Rosaline) and with the girls I will show you, I will make you look like a fool for thinking Rosaline was hot."

Answer 2

1. By a name.... I believe that this is Romeo telling Juliet that he is a Montague, and he wishes that it wasn't because the Montagues are enemies of Juliet's family - the Capulets. He is saying that if he had control over his name he would not be a Montague so that he and Juliet could be together.

2. These times...Because the Montagues and the Capulets are enemies and there is trouble between the two families Romeo cannot court Juliet. Neither family would accept their enemy's children as a potential marriage prospect.

3. Death... This I believe is Juliet's father discovering that Romeo and Juliet have secretly married and he is extremely upset.

4. Go thither.. I don't know who is speaking in this quote nor do I remember what part of the play it is in - Sorry

5. See what a scourge - This is at the end and what is being said is that Romeo and Juliet are an example of how the hate between the 2 families killed each family's child - robbing them of happiness. Since both families have lost lives both families have been punished for their fueding.

Answer 3

Just rough translations so you can get the gist.

"By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am. My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself because it is an enemy to thee. Had I it written, I would tear the word."

He's saying he can't tell her his name because their families are enemies. At that moment he hates his name.

"These times of woe afford no times to woo."

These times of hardship and difficulty allow no time to love and romance.

"...Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir: My daughter he hath wedded. I will die and leave him all. Life, living, all is Death's."

His daughter is dead, he is mourning.

"...Go thither, and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I shall show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow."

Let me show you some *real* hotties, you'll think your crush is ugly after that!

"...See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. And I, for winking at your discords too, have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished."

The rivalry between the Montegue and Capulet houses (your hate) has ended up with the death of their children (your joys). The Prince has lost people close to him. All have been punished for allowing the rivalry to go on.

Hope that helps. :)

Answer 4

our last semester was on romeo and juliet, but i'm not very good at these either, but i'll try to help.

"i don't know how to tell you who i am. my name, beautiful (or some other nickname), is a name i hate 'cause it's your enemy. had i made it, i would rip it up."

"these sad times don't give us time to woo (i don't really know what woo means)"

"...my son-in-law is dead, and so my heir is dad: he would have married my daughter. everything belongs to death"

i think i'm paraphrasing. you should ask someone in your class for help.

Answer 5

Do a google search. There are a lot of websites that offer "modern language" translations of shakespeare. One of my favorites is PinkMonkey.com (though I haven't had to use if for a while). good luck

Answer 6

Here's a web-site that will help in YOUR work.
And a good morrow be to you sir.

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/romeo_and_juliet/commentary/act_ii.htm