English 9
Name: ___________________________________
Romeo and Juliet: Group Classwork #5
Act 2, Scenes 1-2
Notes on Act 2, Scene 1
1. In what way are the beginnings of Act 1 and Act 2 similar? _______________________________________
2. When does this scene take place? ____________________________________________________________________
3. Who are Benvolio and Mercutio looking for? ______________________________________________________
Literary Terms
SONNET
Definition: A 14-line poem with 10 syllables per line and a rhyme scheme of
ABABCDCDEFEFGG.
Examples:
1) Prologue to Act 1
2) Act 1, scene 5, lines 93-106: Romeo and Juliet’s first dialogue
3)
Translation
Act 2, Scene 1
Translation
Romeo
Can I go forward when my heart is here?
Turn back, dull earth, and find thy center out.
2.1.1-2
dull earth = Romeo
center = his soul = Juliet
Notes on Act 2, Scene 2 (“The Balcony Scene”)
1. According to Shakespeare’s stage directions, where does this scene take place? ____________
__________________________________________________________
2. In the traditional staging of this play, where is Juliet at the beginning of this scene?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which of the two teenagers seems to be the more practical? __________________________________
4. Which of the two is more in control of the conversation? ______________________________________
Act 2, scene 2
Translation
Romeo
But soft! What light through yonder window
breaks?
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!
2.2.2-3
yonder = that (over there)
Translation
Juliet
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
2.2.33-36
wherefore = why
but = only
Translation
Juliet
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection he owes
Without that title.
2.2.43-47
retain = keep
owes = owns
Translation
Juliet
O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
2.2.109-111
Lest = unless
Literary Terms
SOLILOQUY
Definition: A speech in which a character in a play, alone on stage, speaks his or her
thoughts aloud.
Examples:
1) Act 1, scene 5, lines 44-53: Romeo talks about Juliet
2)
3)