Passage Analysis

ROMEO • Where is Romeo located in this scene?

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? How did he get there?
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun. Romeo is hiding beneath Juliet's balcony. He hid under the

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, balcony when he overhears her talking about him

Who is already sick and pale with grief 5

That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid since she is envious.
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.
• What type of figurative language does
It is my lady. O, it is my love! 10
Romeo use in the first lines of this speech?
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks, yet says nothing. What of that? Romeo begins by using the sun as a metaphor for his beloved
Her eye discourses; I will answer it. Juliet.
I am too bold. ’Tis not to me she speaks. "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, 15
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head? • Why might Romeo encourage the sun to
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars 20 “kill the envious moon” (2.2.3)?
As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven
Romeo wants to forget his love for Rosaline by replacing
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night. it with his love for Juliet.

See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.

O, that I were a glove upon that hand, 25
That I might touch that cheek!

• What type of figurative language does

Romeo use when he speaks of Juliet’s
“eyes” and “cheeks” (2.2.16, 20)?
He is comparing her eyes and cheeks to objects/things. He

uses that to express not only that Juliet's eyes are bright,

but also to capture her beauty in celestial terms.

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?

© Rigorous Resources | www.rigorousresources.com
19
 F Act 2, Scene 2: The Balcony Scene
E T H E ME O
TH A ME S ”
“N Passage Analysis
JULIET • What does Juliet mean when she asks,
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? “wherefore art thou Romeo” (2.2.36)?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Juliet's asking why he's Romeo.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

ROMEO [aside]
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? 40

JULIET • Why does Juliet day to Romeo, “Deny thy

’Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face. O, be some other name
Belonging to a man.
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 which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And, for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
father and refuse thy name” (2.2.34)? What does
one’s family “name” stand for or represent?
She says that if he would refuse his Montague name, she would
give herself to him.
45
• What would it mean for a person to relinquish
50
their surname and social identity?
Changing your name and social identity will guarantee that you
won't be found

ROMEO
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be newly baptized.
Henceforth I never will be Romeo. 55
• What does Romeo ask Juliet to call him? How
would he be changed by such a name?
I know not how to tell thee who I am. Juliet wants Romeo to have a different name because his name

My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself.

prevented the two of them from being together. Romeo's

surname identified him as a member of the Montague family.

How does Romeo “tell” Juliet who he is (2.2.59)?

______________________________________
Romeo. By my 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.

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

© Rigorous Resources | www.rigorousresources.com 20