Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
ELI M. HUSEBY
Romeo and Juliet has
been immortalised in
ballets, paintings and operas. Most people are familiar with the movie
adaptations with Olivia Hussey as Juliet (1968) and Leonardo diCaprio as
Romeo (1996). Why does Shakespeare's play keep captivating people? Is it
because it raises the always relevant question; does love conquer all?
[1]
Listen
Romeo and Juliet
/
Romeo and Juliet
(Read the text and then go to: Romeo and Juliet Tasks )
The most famous scene in Romeo and Juliet is Act 2,
Scene 2, which is commonly referred to as the balcony
scene, even if Shakespeare did not mention any
balcony in his play. Romeo has just met Juliet at the ball
arranged by her family and instantly falls in love with the
young girl. Because of a feud Romeo's family, the
Montagues, have with Juliet's family, the Capulets,
Romeo is in disguise. In this scene, we meet Romeo
after he has climbed the wall into the Capulets' garden.
Candlelight appears in Juliet's bedroom window and this
enthralls him.
Romeo and Juliet
Search for Romeo, Juliet, balcony scene, 1968 on YouTube. In the 1968 version of the
movie the seventeen year old Olivia Hussey is starring in the role as Juliet. Watch the
scene.
Click here for a vocabulary list.
yonder
over there
that
because
thou her maid art
you her maid is
vestal livery
virginal costume worn by the ancient
Roman goddesses
discourse
entreat
narrate, tell
beg
doth
does
thou art
you are
wherefore
why
bestride
step across
thy
your
thou wilt not
you will not
thyself
yourself
owes
owns
doff
get rid of
and for thy name
and in exchange of
thus bescreened
concealed that way
stumblest on my counsel
talk
if either thee dislike
if you don’t like any of the names
Fagstoff
if either thee dislike
if you don’t like any of the names
how camest thou hither
how did you come here
kinsmen
relatives
henceforth
from now on
o’erpertch
climb over
no stop
no obstacle
alack
alas
enmity
hostility
and but thou love me
unless you love me
prorogued
postponed
wanting
lacking
prompt me to inquire
made me ask
wert thou
were you
else
otherwise
bepaint
paint with colour
fain
willingly
dwell on form
do things correctly
dost thou
do you
Jove
Jove, or Jupiter, was the king of Gods, he
was repeatedly unfaithful
nay
no
too fond
too foolish
havior
behaviour
strange
distant
but that thou overheard'st
except that you overheard it
ere I was ware
before I was aware of it
impute
relate to
discovered
yonder
revealed
the distant
orb
the elliptical path the moon has around the
Earth
lest
for fear that
idolatry
worship of idols
beauteous flow'r
beautiful flower
frank
generous
anon
right now
afeard
afraid
procure
manage
beseech
beg
falc'ner's voice
a person that hunts with falcons calling for
his falcon
to lure this tassel gentle back again
the falcon is lured back by his master's call
Echo
a nymph in Greek mythology who loved
her own voice
attending
listening
wanton
a person that is playful or immoral
gyves
fetters
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What is referred to as the Balcony Scene, is Act II, Scene II. Read the full script here.
Use the vocabulary list and Romeo and Juliet - explanatory notes when necessary.
Romeo and Juliet – plain text
Further Activities
Romeo and Juliet - Tasks
Compare Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story
West Side Story