Objectives:
* To explore the representation of
Mercutio in Act 2, Scene 1 and Act
2, Scene 4.
* To explain how Shakespeare uses
language and techniques to show
Mercutio’s personality and feelings.
Recap on Act 1, Scene 4
Use arrows to match statements about
Mercutio to quotes that prove the
statements.
 Watch the way that Mercutio
is shown in the Baz Luhrmann
version of Act 2, Scene 1.
* How is he different in this
other modern interpretation?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUtVGMjq
loA
Read Act 2,
scene 1
 How is Mercutio
represented in this scene?
Write notes on your script:
Line 7 : Humours = The changing
mood of a lover – thinks he is silly
and is taking the mickey
Lines 8- 10 Taking the mickey out
of Romeo being obsessive speaking in poetry like a
Petrarchan lover.
Line 17 : Dramatic Irony – the
audience knows he is with Juliet
but Mercutio and Benvolio assume
he’s still obsessed with Rosaline.
Line 18 : Taking the mickey out
of Patrachan poetry which listed
a women’s positive features.
Line 20: Uses sexual innuendo
to annoy Romeo.
Line 25: double entendre spirit = penis /
semen, circle = female genitalia.
Line 26: sexual imagery to upset Romeo –
he’d be upset if a spirit had sex with her
before him.
Line 33 : Double entendre : Romeo is
unlucky in love / his penis can’t meet its
target.
Line 36: medlar = a fruit tree but is a
pun on ‘meddle’ which means to have sex.
Line 38: open arse = slang name for the
fruit that looks like female genitals.
Poperin pear = a fruit that is shaped like
a penis.
Lines 34-38 He is perhaps suggesting
that Romeo should sit under the tree
and masturbate over Rosaline.
Watch the way Mercutio is
presented in Act 2, Scene 4
What is he like?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec8in0yCS
1A
Complete the sheet exploring
the quotes from Mercutio in this
scene.
Lines 4-6 : Shows he hates
Rosaline for hurting his
friend.
Line 10: Being sarcastic
Lines 12-13: Speaking
metaphorically to be sarcastic
and dramatic to show how upset
he is that Romeo is depressed.
Line 13 : Reference to Tybalt’s
name which was a cat in a
popular Elizabethan children’s
story.
Line 14: Uses alliteration to be
sarcastic about Tybalt’s fighting
skills.
‘Like a dried herring’ : simile to
take the mickey out of Romeo
because he looks tired.
Counterfeit = giving them the slip /
sneaking off.
Line 22 : Reference to sex or a
venereal disease that causes men to be
unable to stand up properly.
Line 27: Asking if he’s referring to
female genitals
29: join in with the joke – double
entendre pump = shoe or penis. To
deflower a girl is to take her
virginity.
Line 33 : Gives up on joking because
Romeo is winning in their war of wits.
Line 34: double entendre -goose =
slang word for prostitute.
Line 35: You’re always looking for a
prostitute.
Line 38: Metaphor suggesting
Romeo is clever in his jokes.
Line 40: Complimenting Romeo
Line 42: Glad to see his friend
happy and having a laugh.
‘this drivelling love is like…..’ =
simile / double entendre bauble =
penis, hole = vagina.
Line 44 : double entendre: tale =
penis, hair = vagina / pubic hair.
Line 45: large tale = erection.
Line 46-47 : Double entendre ejaculation inside the vagina.
Lines 48-49: Taking the mickey out of
their colourful clothes.
Line 53: Very rude to an older woman –
disrespectful & cheeky. She’s a
servant and a Capulet
Line 57 : double entendre prick =
penis.
Line 59 sexual innuendo – mar =
destroy his soul with his sins.
Line 65: Deliberately uses the
wrong word to take the mickey – a
woman who invited a man back to
her house was a prostitute – men
invited other men over to tea.
Line 66: bawd = prostitute – being
very disrespectful.
Lines 67-70: double entendre – he’s
calling her an old prostitute that makes
you feel disgusted after you’ve been
with her.
Label the events 1-9 in the order
that they happen in Act 2
Mercutio is very rude and cheeky about Tybalt and…….
e.g. : ‘………………………………………………………………………………….’
This suggests that …………………………………………………………………..
Mercutio is concerned about………………………………………
E.g: ‘……………………………………………………………………………........’
This shows that…………………………………………………………………
Mercutio suggests that Romeo has been…………………………..
He says : ‘………………………………………………………………………………..’
This has connotations that…………………………………………………
Mercutio and Romeo make lots of jokes about…………………
e.g. : ‘……………………………………………………………………………………….’
This shows us that…………………………………………………………………
Mercutio is rude about the Nurse when he says:
‘……………………………………………………………………………………………’
This shows us that he …………………………………………………
Mercutio uses double entendre to suggest that……………………………………
When he says: ‘………………………………………………………………………’
This shows us that he is……………………………………………………..