Act Four
Standards Focus: Irony and Pun
Irony is an inconsistency between appearance and reality. There are several types of irony:
Verbal irony occurs when a speaker or writer says one thing but actually
means the opposite. For example, when your mom walks into your filthy
bedroom and says, “I see you’ve cleaned your room!” Sarcasm, overstatement
(also called hyperbole), and understatement, are all types of verbal irony.
Situational irony occurs when the outcome of a situation is inconsistent
with what we expect would logically or normally occur. An example of
situational irony would be if a thief’s house was broken into at the same time
he was robbing someone’s house.
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or the reader is aware of
something that a character does not know. For example: Juliet speaks with
Paris at Friar Lawrence’s cell, giving him the impression she still intends to
marry him, although she has no intention to and has already married Romeo.
The use of dramatic irony helps increase the tension and excitement of the
play, and draws the audience more deeply into the story.
Pun is a play on words, especially those that sound alike, but have different meanings.
For example, as Mercutio is dying in Act Three, he says “Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a
grave man.” Shakespeare makes a pun using the word grave with two meanings: 1) serious, and 2)
buried in his grave, dead.
Both irony and pun rely on inconsistencies in order to emphasize a point. Writers such as
Shakespeare deliberately use these ambiguities to enhance their writing and make the story more
enjoyable. Both 17th Century and modern audiences alike were and are able to enjoy these witticisms
in Romeo and Juliet.
Directions: Read each of the following quotes or situations from Romeo and Juliet. First, decide
whether the ambiguity is irony (verbal, situational, or dramatic) or a pun. Then explain the irony or
play on words. Two examples have been done for you.
Ex. When they meet at Friar Lawrence’s cell, Paris still thinks that Juliet is going to marry him.
a. Type of Ambiguity: dramatic irony
b. Explanation: The audience knows that Juliet is already married to Romeo and that she has
absolutely no intention of marrying Paris.
Ex. Romeo says to Mercutio: Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes / With nimble soles: I have a
soul of lead / So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.
a. Type of Ambiguity: pun
b. Explanation: The pun is using the homophones “sole” and “soul.” In this case, Romeo is saying that
he is sad and depressed, making a play on the idea that not only is his soul heavy, but his soles (of his
shoes) are heavy as well.
1. In Act Four, although she plans to take the potion Friar Lawrence gave her, Juliet begs her father’s
forgiveness and tells him that she is happy to marry Paris.
a. Type of Ambiguity:
b. Explanation:
2. In Scene Three of Act Four, Juliet asks the nurse to leave her alone that evening so that she can
pray for forgiveness for her behavior.
a. Type of Ambiguity:
b. Explanation:
3. Before entering the party, Romeo says: Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; / Being but
heavy, I will bear the light
a. Type of Ambiguity:
b. Explanation:
4. After Juliet is found “dead,” Friar Lawrence arrives and asks, Come, is the bride ready to go to
church?
a. Type of Ambiguity:
b. Explanation:
5. In Act Three, despite Romeo’s efforts to stop the fight and establish peace, both Mercutio and
Tybalt are killed.
a. Type of Ambiguity:
b. Explanation:
6. Juliet says to Lady Capulet in Act Three: That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof, / Soon sleep in
quiet. O, how my heart abhors / To hear him named, and cannot come to him.
a. Type of Ambiguity:
b. Explanation:
7. Before entering the party, Romeo tells Mercutio he had a dream.
ROMEO I dream'd a dream to-night.
MERCUTIO And so did I.
ROMEO Well, what was yours?
MERCUTIO That dreamers often lie.
ROMEO In bed asleep, while they do dream things true.
a. Type of Ambiguity:
b. Explanation:
8. How does dramatic irony build suspense in Romeo and Juliet?
9. What effect do puns have on the play? How effective are Shakespeare’s puns, in
your opinion?