Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer thequestion that follows.At this point in the play two Capulet boys are joking with each other.SAMPSON Gregory, on my word we’ll not carry coals.GREGORY No, for then we should be colliers.SAMPSON I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw.GREGORY Ay, while you live, draw your neck out ofcollar.SAMPSON I strike quickly, being moved.GREGORY But thou art not quickly moved to strike.SAMPSON A dog of the house of Montague moves me.GREGORY To move is to stir, and to be valiant is tostand. Therefore if thou art moved thou runn’staway.SAMPSON A dog of that house shall move me to stand. Iwill take the wall of any man or maid of Montague’s.GREGORY That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakestgoes to the wall.SAMPSON ’Tis true, and therefore women, being theweaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. ThereforeI will push Montague’s men from the wall andthrust his maids to the wall.GREGORY The quarrel is between our masters and ustheir men.SAMPSON ’Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant.When I have fought with the men, I will be civilwith the maids; I will cut off their heads.Starting with this extract, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents comedy as a keytheme in the play.Write about:• how Shakespeare presents comedy in this extract.• how Shakespeare presents comedy in the play as a whole.
Question
Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer thequestion that follows.At this point in the play two Capulet boys are joking with each other.SAMPSON Gregory, on my word we’ll not carry coals.GREGORY No, for then we should be colliers.SAMPSON I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw.GREGORY Ay, while you live, draw your neck out ofcollar.SAMPSON I strike quickly, being moved.GREGORY But thou art not quickly moved to strike.SAMPSON A dog of the house of Montague moves me.GREGORY To move is to stir, and to be valiant is tostand. Therefore if thou art moved thou runn’staway.SAMPSON A dog of that house shall move me to stand. Iwill take the wall of any man or maid of Montague’s.GREGORY That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakestgoes to the wall.SAMPSON ’Tis true, and therefore women, being theweaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. ThereforeI will push Montague’s men from the wall andthrust his maids to the wall.GREGORY The quarrel is between our masters and ustheir men.SAMPSON ’Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant.When I have fought with the men, I will be civilwith the maids; I will cut off their heads.Starting with this extract, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents comedy as a keytheme in the play.Write about:• how Shakespeare presents comedy in this extract.• how Shakespeare presents comedy in the play as a whole.
Solution
In this extract, Shakespeare presents comedy through the playful banter and wordplay between Sampson and Gregory. The two Capulet servants engage in a humorous exchange full of puns and double entendres, such as when Sampson says, "we'll not carry coals," to which Gregory responds, "No, for then we should be colliers." This is a pun on the word 'collier', which means both a coal seller and a ruffian. The humor continues with Sampson's threat to "strike quickly, being moved," and Gregory's teasing retort that Sampson is "not quickly moved to strike."
Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses comedy to lighten the mood and provide contrast to the tragic elements of the story. The Nurse, for example, is a source of comic relief with her bawdy humor and malapropisms. Mercutio's wit and wordplay also add a comedic element to the play. His Queen Mab speech in Act 1, Scene 4, is a fantastical and humorous monologue that serves to entertain the audience.
However, the comedy in Romeo and Juliet is not just for entertainment. It also serves to highlight the absurdity of the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. The humorous exchanges between characters often revolve around the feud, as seen in the extract with Sampson and Gregory. This use of comedy underscores the senselessness of the conflict and makes the tragic outcome even more poignant.
In conclusion, comedy is a key theme in Romeo and Juliet, used by Shakespeare to provide contrast, highlight the absurdity of the feud, and engage the audience.
Similar Questions
how are the montagues presented in the play of romeo and juliet by shakespeare?
Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer thequestion that follows.At this point in the play Capulet is discussing the proposed marriage of Juliet and Paris.CAPULETAnd too soon marred are those so early made.Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;She’s the hopeful lady of my earth.But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart;My will to her consent is but a part.And, she agreed, within her scope of choiceLies my consent and fair according voice.This night I hold an old accustomed feast,Whereto I have invited many a guestSuch as I love; and you among the store,One more, most welcome, makes my number more.At my poor house look to behold this nightEarth-treading stars that make dark heaven light.Such comfort as do lusty young men feelWhen well-appareled April on the heelOf limping winter treads, even such delightStarting with this extract, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents attitudes towardsmarriage.Write about:• how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards marriage in this extract.• how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards marriage in the play as a whole.
Romeo and JulietRead the following extract from the start of Act 3 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet and thenanswer the question that follows.At this point in the play Capulet discusses Juliet’s marriage with Paris.CAPULETSir Paris, I will make a desperate tenderOf my child’s love. I think she will be ruledIn all respects by me. Nay, more, I doubt it not.—Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed.Acquaint her here of my son Paris’ love,And bid her—mark you me?—on Wednesdaynext—But soft, what day is this?PARIS Monday, my lord.CAPULETMonday, ha ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon.O’ Thursday let it be.—O’ Thursday, tell her,She shall be married to this noble earl.—Will you be ready? Do you like this haste?We’ll keep no great ado: a friend or two.For hark you, Tybalt being slain so late,It may be thought we held him carelessly,Being our kinsman, if we revel much.Therefore we’ll have some half a dozen friends,And there an end. But what say you to Thursday?PARISMy lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow.CAPULETWell, get you gone. O’ Thursday be it, then.To Lady Capulet. Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed.Prepare her, wife, against this wedding day.—Farewell, my lord.—Light to my chamber, ho!—Afore me, it is so very late that weMay call it early by and by.—Good night.Starting with this extract, explore how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards marriageRomeo and Juliet.Write about:• how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards marriage in this extract.• how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards marriage in the play as a whole
What does Juliet's mother ask Juliet to do at the party? aTalk to Tybalt about fighting bAvoid dancing with people cSpy on the Montagues
Romeo’s Father from the Romeo and Juliet Stage Play.*1 pointA. BalthasarB. Lord MontagueC. AbrahamD. Gregory
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