ENGLISH

Chapter - 1
Romeo And Juliet
William Shakespeare

Romeo:
‘Romeo and Juliet’ is the tragic story of two young lovers. They belong to two powerful noble families
of Verona the Capulets and the Montagues. But the families grudge each other and are staunch
enemies. Though Romeo belongs to the family of Montagues he attends the supper hosted by Lord
Capulet, Juliet’s father. He comes there in disguise to see Roseline but there he sees Juliet on the
dance floor and is fascinated by her beauty. His description of Juliet’s beauty is rich in imagery. The
moment Romeo sees Juliet he is enchanted by her flawless beauty. He describes her as being
capable of teaching the torches to burn bright. The brightness she spreads around is described in the
lines
“It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.”
The phrases ‘cheek of night’ and ‘Ethiope’ refer to darkness. It appears as the she hangs upon the
cheek of night just like a bright jewel that hangs in an Ethiope’s ear. Romeo is enchanted by her
divine beauty. He says that her beauty is profuse and adorable. It is not common among the earthly
beings. Her exceptional beauty is heavenly. He then describes her as a dove, which is often regarded
as symbol of love and beauty, that’s moving among the crows. The other women on the dance floor
are described as crows. Romeo decides to watch the place of her stand and after the dance he wishes
to touch Juliet’s hand and make his rude hand blessed. At this point he has a rhetorical question if his
heart has known love till then. He then swears in the name of sight that he has never seen true
beauty till that night.
Juliet:
Romeo and Juliet get married secretly and can meet only in the safety of the night as they belong to
rival families. Juliet’s desperate longing to meet him is presented in her plea to the night to come
quickly so that her beloved can come to her. She refers to Romeo as ‘day in night’ because when the
whole world is filled with darkness, her world comes to life, becomes bright and joyful, by saying
him. She feels his presence will shine out against the darkness. She compares the night to the raven,
a black bird, and Romeo to the new snow on the raven’s back. She visualizes Romeo coming to her
gliding on the wings of night like ‘new snow on the raven’s back’.
To her, the dark black browed night is gentle and loving as it allows her to meet her beloved. Juliet
wishes to immortalize Romeo after her death. She wants him to be transformed into little stars. She
wishes that after her death Romeo will be little stars in the night sky. It will make the heaven so
beautiful that the world will fall in love with the night sky and stop liking the shining sun. By speaking
of life after death Juliet exhibits her intense love for Romeo and her desire to make their love
immortal.

Answer the following questions chosen from II PU question bank.

1. What according to Romeo does Juliet teach to burn bright?

2. Who according to Romeo teaches the torches to burn bright?
3. Who according to Romeo seems to hang upon the cheek of night?
4. Who is compared to a ‘rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear’ by Romeo?
5. Who is compared to a ‘snowy dove’ by Romeo?
6. Whom does Romeo address as ‘yonder lady’?
7. Whose beauty according to Romeo is too rich for use?
8. When according to Romeo would his hand be blessed?
9. After the dance is over, Romeo intends to
a) meet and talk to Juliet.
b) touch Juliet’s hand.
c) watch Juliet’s place of stand.
10 Whose rude hand would be made blessed by touching Juliet’s hand?
11. What according to Romeo will happen when he touches Juliet’s hand?
12. What according to Romeo was not seen by him until he saw Juliet?
13. Who are compared to crows by Romeo?
14. What does Romeo want to do after the dance?
15. What does Juliet ask the loving, black browed night?
16. When does Juliet expect Romeo to come?
17. Who according to Juliet will lie upon the wings of night?
18. Where according to Juliet will Romeo lie upon?
19. Who according to Juliet is whiter than new snow?
20. Who according to Juliet is ‘day in night’?
21. When does Juliet want Romeo to be cut out in little stars?
22. What does Juliet want Romeo to be cut out into after her death?
23. What according to Juliet will Romeo make so fine?
24. When Romeo shines as stars in the face of heaven, the world will _ according to Juliet.
a) worship the garish sun
b) fall in love with night
c) keep staring at the heaven
25. When according to Juliet would all the world be in love with night?
26. When would the world pay no worship to ‘the garish sun’ according to Juliet?

4 Mark Questions
1. How does Romeo glorify Juliet’s flawless beauty?
2. Romeo’s appreciation of Juliet’s beauty is expressed through images. Explain.
3. How does Juliet express her love for Romeo?
4. How does Juliet intend to make Romeo immortal?

6 Mark Questions
1. Both Romeo and Juliet employ contrasting images in their expression of appreciation
and admiration for each other. Elaborate.
2. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ provides an insight into the use of poetic devices in expressing
human feelings. Explain.
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