romeo and juliet mla essay

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How to Cite Shakespeare in MLA | Format & Examples

Published on January 22, 2021 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on March 5, 2024.

The works of Shakespeare, like many plays , have consistently numbered acts, scenes, and lines. These numbers should be used in your MLA in-text citations, separated by periods, instead of page numbers.

The Works Cited entry follows the format for a book , but varies depending on whether you cite from a standalone edition or a collection. The example below is for a standalone edition of  Hamlet .

If you cite multiple Shakespeare plays in your paper, replace the author’s name with an abbreviation of the play title in your in-text citation.

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Citing a play from a collection, citing multiple shakespeare plays, quoting shakespeare in mla, frequently asked questions about mla citations.

If you use a collection of all or several of Shakespeare’s works, include a Works Cited entry for each work you cite from it, providing the title of the individual work, followed by information about the collection.

Note that play titles remain italicized here, since these are works that would usually stand alone.

If you cite several works by Shakespeare , order them alphabetically by title, and replace “Shakespeare, William” with a series of three em dashes after the first one.

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If you cite more than one Shakespeare play in your paper, MLA recommends starting each in-text citation with an abbreviated version of the play title, in italics. A list of the standard abbreviations can be found here ; don’t make up your own abbreviations.

Introduce each abbreviation the first time you mention the play’s title, then use it in all subsequent citations of that play.

Don’t use these abbreviations outside of parentheses. If you frequently mention a multi-word title in your text, you can instead shorten it to a recognizable keyword (e.g. Midsummer for A Midsummer Night’s Dream ) after the first mention.

Shakespeare quotations generally take the form of verse  or dialogue .

Quoting verse

To quote up to three lines of verse from a play or poem, just treat it like a normal quotation. Use a forward slash (/) with spaces around it to indicate a new line.

If there’s a stanza break within the quotation, indicate it with a double forward slash (//).

If you are quoting more than three lines of verse, format it as a block quote (indented on a new line with no quotation marks).

Quoting dialogue

Dialogue from two or more characters should be presented as a block quote.

Include the characters’ names in block capitals, followed by a period, and use a hanging indent for subsequent lines in a single character’s speech. Place the citation after the closing punctuation.

Oberon berates Robin Goodfellow for his mistake:

No, do not use page numbers in your MLA in-text citations of Shakespeare plays . Instead, specify the act, scene, and line numbers of the quoted material, separated by periods, e.g. (Shakespeare 3.2.20–25).

This makes it easier for the reader to find the relevant passage in any edition of the text.

If you cite multiple Shakespeare plays throughout your paper, the MLA in-text citation begins with an abbreviated version of the title (as shown here ), e.g. ( Oth. 1.2.4). Each play should have its own  Works Cited entry (even if they all come from the same collection).

If you cite only one Shakespeare play in your paper, you should include a Works Cited entry for that play, and your in-text citations should start with the author’s name , e.g. (Shakespeare 1.1.4).

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Book Citations / Learn how to cite “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare

Learn how to cite “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare

Learn how to create in-text citations and a full citation/reference/note for Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare using the examples below. Romeo and Juliet  is cited in 14 different citation styles, including MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, APA, ACS, and many others.

If you are looking for additional help, try the EasyBib citation generator .

Popular Citation Styles

Here are Romeo and Juliet  citations for five popular citation styles: MLA, APA, Chicago (notes-bibliography), Chicago (author-date), and Harvard style.

Additional Styles

Here are Romeo and Juliet  citations for 14 popular citation styles including Turabian style, the American Medical Association (AMA) style, the Council of Science Editors (CSE) style, IEEE, and more.

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How to Cite Quotes From the Play "Romeo & Juliet" in MLA Format

A well written paper does not guarantee a good grade if the original text is not cited properly. A strong essay about Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" requires thoughtful analysis of the text and citing the source material to establish your argument is often necessary. The Modern Language Association, or the MLA, has very specific standards for citing Shakespearean verse in academic papers. Quotes that are not properly cited could be mistaken for plagiarism, and it's important to learn how to reference the quotes properly.

In-Text Citations

Write the title of the work and the location of the quotation in parentheses after each quote. If none of this information is given in the text before the quote, then this information should be formatted: (Play. Act number. Scene number. Verse numbers).

For example, if you are using text from Act 3, Scene 1 of Romeo & Juliet, this information should be formatted: (Romeo & Juliet. 3.1.22-23).

Omit the title from the parenthetical citation if the name of the work is already known to the reader or can be inferred from context. For example if you are using text from Act 3, Scene 1 and have established that you are writing about Romeo & Juliet, this information can be formatted:

(3.1.22-23)

Use only the verse numbers in parenthetical citations if your paper goes into detail about a specific section of the text.

For example, if you establish that Mercutio has a long speech at the beginning of the first scene of Act 3 and you pull a quotation from that speech, the parenthetical citation can be formatted:

Formatting Quotes

Place the quote within the text of the paragraph when using less than three lines from the play. If you are quoting more than one line from "Romeo & Juliet," indicate the line breaks with a slash, leaving a space on each side. The in-text citation should appear before the end punctuation of the sentence.

Use block quotations for quotes that are four lines or longer. Format block quotations by beginning a new line and indenting one tab to the right for each verse and maintaining the original formatting from the text. Do not use quotation marks, and precede the block quotation with a colon. In-text citations for block quotations should appear after the end punctuation of the quote.

Indent dialogue quotations to the right and adhere to the original text formatting. Indicate speech by writing the character name in all capital letters, followed by a period. The character's line follows. If the character's speech goes beyond one line, indent the next lines by another one-quarter inch.

Works Cited Page Format

Start a new page for the Works Cited. Remember that this page is part of your complete essay and should be formatted like the rest of your paper. Include page numbers, name and any other information you use to number the rest of the pages in your essay.

Title the page Works Cited in plain font. Center the title, leaving an inch-long margin at the top of the page.

Format the citation as follows if you are using a copy of Romeo & Juliet in book form:

Shakespeare, William. Romeo & Juliet (italicized). Location of publisher: Publishing company name, year of publication.

If the citation entry is longer than one line, subsequent lines should be indented and double-spaced.

Format the citation as follows if you referenced an anthology version of Romeo & Juliet:

Shakespeare, William. Romeo & Juliet (italicized). Name of anthology. Editor of anthology. Location of publisher: Publishing company name, year of publication. Page numbers of referenced material.

Note that the editor's name in the citation should be preceded by "Ed." to signify that he is the editor of the volume.

• Washington State University: Shakespeare in MLA Format
• Essay Info: Critical Essay

Sorah Lee has been a freelance writer since 2005. She began her career as a copywriter for a digital media agency in Los Angeles. In 2005 Lee was nominated for the James Kirkwood Literary Prize for her short fiction. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Romeo and Juliet : MLA Citation and Annotated Bibliographies

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How Do I Cite?

The Hun School uses the  MLA  form of citation. You can consult the English Department's Composition Handbook for a simple explanation. Or click here for a brief, online style guide .   Remember that citations come in two forms:

• In the body of your paper or letter you need to  add a brief citation in parentheses   when quoting or using ideas from sources. 
• Your  bibliography  (AKA  Works Cited  Page ) will include the full citation in the specified form. See example here , or look at your English Composition Handbook.
• Quoting and Paraphrasing   OWL has an easy-to-understand explanation of how to paraphrase.  Click here !     see OWL's handout to see the difference between  paraphrasing, quoting and summarizing.

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What is an Annotated Bibliography?

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How to Create an Annotated Bibliography--MLA Style Format

Sample below from the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University...

Lamott, anne.  bird by bird: some instructions on writing and life . anchor books, 1995., lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in lamott's book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's own internal critic., in the process, lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun. lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of writing, but her main project seems to be offering the reader a reality check regarding writing, publishing, and struggling with one's own imperfect humanity in the process. rather than a practical handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable because of its honest perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its encouraging approach., chapters in this text could easily be included in the curriculum for a writing class. several of the chapters in part 1 address the writing process and would serve to generate discussion on students' own drafting and revising processes. some of the writing exercises would also be appropriate for generating classroom writing exercises. students should find lamott's style both engaging and enjoyable..

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Answered By: Kathryn Park Last Updated: Jul 09, 2019     Views: 21071

For your Works Cited page, when citing a play from a book you'll need to include both the book publication information and the play information. The examples below are for a print book. If the book is an eBook, it will also require the location of the eBook, generally the database provider and URL.  

Structure: Play author. "Play Title."  Title of book , author(s) or editor(s), publisher, year of publication, page number(s).

Example: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. The Riverside Shakespeare, edited by G.  Blakemore  Evans et al., vol. 2, Houghton Mifflin, 1974, pp. 1307-42.

Here is  advice from the Modern Language Association (MLA) for scripts and performances of plays , including works cited and in text citation.

You might like our  MLA Style guide . 

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Romeo and Juliet

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• MLA Guide - OWL In-Text, Formatting Quotations, Works Cited, Sample MLA Paper and Sample Works Cited Page. Purdue University's Online Writing Lab.

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Romeo and Juliet

By william shakespeare, romeo and juliet essay questions.

In what way do Romeo and Juliet break gender conventions? How do these roles fluctuate throughout the play?

At the beginning of the play, the young lovers' behavior reverses common gender conventions – Romeo acts in a way that his friends call feminine, while Juliet exhibits masculine qualities. Romeo is by no means an archetypal Elizabethan man; he is disinterested in asserting his physical power like the other male characters in the play. Instead, Romeo chooses to stew in his pensive melancholy. On several instances, Romeo's companions suggest that his introspective behavior is effeminate. On the other hand, Juliet exhibits a more pronounced sense of agency than most female characters in Shakespeare's time. While the women around her, like her mother, blindly act in accordance with Lord Capulet's wishes, Juliet proudly expresses her opinion. Even when she has lost a battle (like when Lord Capulet insists she consider marrying Paris), she demonstrates a shrewd ability to deflect attention without committing to anything. In her relationship with Romeo, Juliet clearly takes the lead by insisting on marriage and proposing the plan to unite them. As the play progresses, Romeo starts to break out of his pensive inaction to the point that Mercutio notices this change. Romeo also makes a great shift from his cowardly attempt at suicide in Act III to his willful decision in Act V. Overall, Romeo and Juliet are arguably a good match because they are so distinct. Juliet is headstrong, while Romeo is passive until passion strikes and inspires him to action.

Contrast Romeo's attempted suicide in Act 3 with his actual suicide in Act 5. How do these two events reveal changes in his character and an evolving view of death?

Romeo considers suicide in both Act 3 and Act 5. In Act 3, Romeo's desire to take his own life is a cowardly response to his grief over killing Tybalt. He is afraid of the consequences of his actions and would rather escape the world entirely than face losing Juliet. Both Friar Laurence and the Nurse criticize Romeo for his weakness and lack of responsibility - taking the knife from his hands. In contrast, Romeo actually does commit suicide in Act V because he sees no other option. He plans for it, seeking out the Apothecary before leaving Mantua, and kills himself out of solidarity with Juliet, not because he is afraid. While suicide is hardly a defensible action, Romeo's dual attempts to take his life reveal his growing maturity and his strengthened moral resolve.

Several characters criticize Romeo for falling in love too quickly. Do you believe this is true? Does his tendency towards infatuation give the audience occasion to question Romeo's affection for Juliet?

This question obviously asks for a student opinion, but there is evidence to support both sides of the argument. In Act 2, Friar Laurence states his opinion that Romeo does indeed fall in love too quickly. Romeo is arguably in love with being in love more than he is in love with any particular woman. The speed with which his affections shift from Rosaline to Juliet – all before he ever exchanges a word with the latter – suggests that Romeo's feelings of 'love' are closer to lust than commitment. This interpretation is supported by the numerous sexual references in the play, which are even interwoven with religious imagery in Romeo and Juliet's first conversation. However, it also possible to argue that Romeo's lust does not invalidate the purity of his love. Romeo and Juliet celebrates young, passionate love, which includes physical lust. Furthermore, whereas Romeo was content to pine for Rosaline from afar, his love for Juliet forces him to spring into action. He is melancholy over Rosaline, but he is willing to die for Juliet. Therefore, a possible reading is that Romeo and Juliet's relationship might have been sparked by physical attraction, but it grew into a deep, spiritual connection.

Examine the contrast between order and disorder in Romeo and Juliet . How does Shakespeare express this dichotomy through symbols, and how do those motifs help to underline the other major themes in the play?

The contrast between order and disorder appears from the Prologue, where the Chorus tells a tragic story using the ordered sonnet form. From that point onwards, the separation between order and disorder is a common theme. Ironically, violence and disorder occurs in bright daylight, while the serenity of love emerges at night. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet is uncomplicated without the disorderly feud between their families, which has taken over the streets of Verona. The contrast between order and disorder underscores the way that Shakespeare presents love - a safe cocoon in which the lovers can separate themselves from the unpredictable world around them. At the end of the play, it becomes clear that a relationship based on pure love cannot co-exist with human weaknesses like greed and jealousy.

Many critics note a tonal inconsistency in Romeo and Juliet . Do you find the shift in tone that occurs after Mercutio's death to be problematic? Does this shift correspond to an established structural tradition or is it simply one of Shakespeare's whims?

After the Prologue until the point where Mercutio dies in Act III, Romeo and Juliet is mostly a comic romance. After Mercutio dies, the nature of the play suddenly shifts into tragedy. It is possible that this extreme shift is merely the product of Shakespeare's whims, especially because the play has many other asides that are uncharacteristic of either comedy or tragedy. For example, Mercutio's Queen Mab speech is dreamy and poetic, while the Nurse's colorful personality gives her more dimension than functional characters generally require. However, it is also possible to see the parallels between this tonal shift and the play's thematic contrast between order and disorder. Shakespeare frequently explored the human potential for both comedy and tragedy in his plays, and it is possible that in Romeo and Juliet , he wanted to explore the transition from youthful whimsy into the complications of adulthood. From this perspective, the play's unusual structure could represent a journey to maturity. Romeo grows from a petulant teenager who believes he can ignore the world around him to a man who accepts the fact that his actions have consequences.

Eminent literary critic Harold Bloom considers Mercutio to be one of Shakespeare's greatest inventions in Romeo and Juliet . Why do you agree or disagree with him? What sets Mercutio apart?

One of Shakespeare's great dramatic talents is his ability to portray functional characters as multi-faceted individuals. Mercutio, for example, could have served a simple dramatic function, helping the audience get to know Romeo in the early acts. Then, his death in Act 3 is a crucial plot point in the play, heightening the stakes and forcing Romeo to make a life-changing decision. Mercutio barely appears in Arthur Brooke's Romeus and Juliet , which Romeo and Juliet is based on. Therefore, Shakespeare made a point of fleshing out the character. In Mercutio's Queen Mab speech, Shakespeare has the opportunity to truly delve into the bizarre and often dangerous sexual nature of love. Further, Mercutio's insight as he dies truly expresses the horrors of revenge, as he declares a plague on both the Montague and Capulet families. He is the first casualty of their feud - and because he transcends functionality, the audience mourns his untimely death and can relate to Romeo's capricious revenge.

How does Shakespeare use symbols of gold and silver throughout the play? What does each element represent?

Shakespeare uses gold and silver as symbols to criticize human folly. He often invokes the image of silver to symbolize pure love and innocent beauty. On the other hand, he uses gold as a sign of greed or desire. For example, Shakespeare describes Rosaline as immune to showers of gold, an image that symbolizes the selfishness of bribery. Later, when Romeo is banished, he comments that banishment is a "golden axe," meaning that banishment is merely a shiny euphemism for death. Finally, the erection of the golden statues at the end of the play is a sign of the fact that neither Lord Capulet nor Lord Montague has really learned anything from the loss of their children. They are still competing to claim the higher level of grief. Romeo, however, recognizes the power of gold and rejects it - through him, Shakespeare suggests a distinction between a world governed by wealth and the cocoon of true love.

Do a character analysis of Friar Laurence. What motivates him? In what ways does this motivation complicate his character?

Friar Laurence is yet another character who transcends his functional purpose. When Romeo first approaches the Friar to plan his marriage to Juliet, the older man questions the young man's sincerity, since Romeo openly pined for Rosaline only a few days before. However, the Friar shows a willingness to compromise by agreeing to marry the young lovers nevertheless. What ultimately motivates Friar Laurence is his desire to end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, and he sees Romeo and Juliet's marriage as a means to that end. While his peaceful intentions are admirable, his devious actions to achieve them – conducting a marriage that he explicitly questions – suggests he is more driven by politics than by an internal moral compass. The fact that a religious figure would compromise one of the Church's sacraments (marriage) further suggests that the Friar wants his power to extend beyond the confines of his Chapel. He also displays his hubris by helping Juliet to fake her death, rather than simply helping her get to Mantua to be with Romeo. While Friar Laurence is not an explicit villain, his internal contradictions speak to Shakespeare's ability to create multi-faceted characters.

Should Romeo and Juliet be considered a classical tragedy (in which fate destroys individuals)? Or is it more a tragedy of circumstance and personality? Moreover, could the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet have been avoided?

In classical tragedy, an individual is defeated by Fate, despite his or her best efforts to change a pre-determined course of events. A classical tragedy both celebrates an individual's willpower while lamenting the fact that the universe cannot be bested by mankind. The tragic elements in Romeo and Juliet are undeniable - two young lovers want nothing more than to be together and fall victim to an ancient feud and rigid societal conventions. However, while Romeo and Juliet's deaths result from human folly, the immovable power of fate also has a hand in sealing their destinies. For instance, Romeo and Juliet had many opportunities to simply run away together instead of being separated after Romeo is banished from Verona. Furthermore, many of the tragic occurrences are contingent on antagonistic characters running into one another, and then choosing to pursue vengeance rather than simply walk away. Based on this evidence, it is possible to read Shakespeare's intent as suggesting that behavioral adjustment can often prevent tragic events.

How is Romeo and Juliet a criticism of organized religion? Examine the play's secularism to develop your answer.

While Romeo and Juliet does not present explicit attacks against religion, Shakespeare reveals his skepticism of Christianity in subtle ways. In many ways, Romeo and Juliet must reject the tenets of Christianity in order to be together. In their first meeting, they banter, using religious imagery to share their sexual feelings. In this exchange, the lovers acknowledge the omnipresence of Christianity, but cheekily use religious images in an unexpected context. Further, Christian tradition would have required Juliet to submit to her father's desire, but instead, she manipulates his expectations to distract him from her real agenda. Even Friar Laurence, an explicitly religious figure, uses Christianity as a tool towards his own ends. In this way, the play implicitly suggests that the rigid rules of religion often work in opposition to the desires of the heart - and to pursue true happiness, one must throw off the shackles of organized faith.

Romeo and Juliet Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Romeo and Juliet is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Can you find verbal irony in the play? Where?

One example of verbal irony would be Romeo's reference to the poison he has purchased as a "sweet medicine". A cordial is a sweet liquor or medicine.

Come, cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.

What do we learn about Mercutio in queen man speech?

The whole speech is based on pagan Celtic mythology. Mercutio’s speech is laced with sexual innuendo. The words “queen” and “mab” refer to whores in Elizabethan England. As his speech goes on we notice the subtext get increasingly sexual...

What does Romeo fear as he approaches Capulet house? What literary device would this be an example of?

Romeo feels something bad is going to happen.

I fear too early, for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars

Looks like foreshadowing to me!

Study Guide for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet Summary
• Romeo and Juliet Video
• Character List

Essays for Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

• Unity in Shakespeare's Tragedies
• Fate in Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet: Under the Guise of Love
• The Apothecary's Greater Significance in Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo and Juliet: Two Worlds

Lesson Plan for Romeo and Juliet

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Romeo and Juliet
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Romeo and Juliet Bibliography

E-Text of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet e-text contains the full text of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

• List of Characters

Wikipedia Entries for Romeo and Juliet

• Introduction
• Date and text

114 Romeo and Juliet Essay Titles & Examples

Looking for Romeo and Juliet essay titles? The world’s most tragic story is worth writing about!

🥀 Best Romeo and Juliet Essay Titles

🖤 romeo and juliet essay prompts.

• 🏆 Best Romeo and Juliet Essay Examples

📌 Interesting Romeo and Juliet Essay Topics

🎭 easy titles for romeo and juliet essays, 👍 exciting romeo and juliet title ideas, ❓ romeo and juliet essay questions.

Romeo and Juliet is probably the most famous tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is a story of two young lovers whose deaths reconcile their feuding families. Whether you are assigned an argumentative, persuasive, or analytical essay on this piece of literature, this article will answer all your questions. Below you’ll find Romeo and Juliet essay examples, thesis ideas, and paper topics.

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• Theme of love in “Romeo and Juliet”
• What role does the theme of fate play in “Romeo and Juliet”?
• “Romeo and Juliet”: dramatic structure analysis
• Analyze the balcony scene in “Romeo and Juliet”
• “Romeo and Juliet”: feminist criticism
• The most famous adaptations of “Romeo and Juliet”
• “Romeo and Juliet” in the world culture

Keep reading to learn the key points you can use to write a successful paper.

• Original Italian Tale vs. Shakespeare’s Tragedy

The story described in Shakespeare’s tragedy is based on the Italian tale that was translated into English in the sixteenth century. Original version represents situations and lines from Romeo and Juliet lives.

Shakespeare added a few more main characters: Mercutio, Paris, and Tybalt. Numerous researches state that Shakespeare used three sources to write his tragedy: a novella Giulietta e Romeo by Matteo Bandello, written in 1554; a story Il Novellio, by Masuccio Salernitano; and the Historia Novellamente Ritrovata di Due Nobili Amanti, written by Luigi Da Porto.

You can learn more about these novels to find out similarities and differences between primary sources and Shakespeare’s work

• Love and Fate in Romeo and Juliet

If you’re going to write Romeo and Juliet essay on fate, read this paragraph. Fate is the fundamental concept of the plot. It makes us look at Romeo and Juliet affair as a single tragedy.

At the same time, another core element of the story is love. From the very beginning of the drama, you will clearly understand that the story will end in tragedy.

Shakespeare shows us the value of fate events.

However, love remains a crucial thematic element. The roles of Nurse, Paris, and Romeo show us a physical attraction, sympathy, and romantic affection while being the embodiment of love. Analyze what type of love is represented by each character in your essay. Explain, what do you think real love is.

• Value and Duality in Romeo and Juliet

Among the central idea to consider for your Romeo and Juliet essay titles is an issue of value and duality. Shakespeare actively uses duality in his tragedy by representing the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as reasons of tragedy in Verona, which brought new order to the city.

Friar Laurence also reveals ambiguity when he helped Romeo and thus forced young lovers to suffer in the end. The decision to marry couple had a reason to end the conflict between Montague and Capulets.

Romeo and Juliet’s example discloses happiness and blame brought by key episodes and change in society. In your writing, you may analyze how the effect of adoration had influenced Romeo, Juliet, and other people lives.

• Masculinity in Romeo and Juliet

A lot of Romeo and Juliet essay examples analyze the role of gender and masculinity in the tragedy. Mercutio is shown as a classic example of a real man: active, brave citizen.

He is a person of action. On the other hand, Romeo is described as a boy who seeks for love. Romeo and Juliet love thrown into quarreling world.

You can analyze the reasons why Romeo fights and kills Paris when finding him near Juliet body.

Covering all of the points mentioned above will help you to produce an outstanding Romeo and Juliet essay. Check the samples below to get inspiration and more ideas that you can use in your own paper.

🏆 Best Romeo and Juliet Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

• Different Types of Love Portrayed in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Term Paper In regards to this communication, the issue of romantic love between Romeo and Juliet is highlighted7. The concept of true love is no where to be seen in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.
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• Symbolism and Foreshadowing in “Romeo and Juliet” The love of Juliet to Romeo at the early stages is described as the “bud love, expected to grow into a beauteous flower” when the two meet later.
• The Renaissance Time During Romeo and Juliet Men and women performed different roles in the household; the man was responsible for farming while the woman took care of the poultry and dairy. In the upper-class, marriages were arranged and the parents chose […]
• Breaking the Rules: Romeo and Juliet’s Quest for Independence Finally, the death of Romeo and Juliet puts an end to their love and is powerful enough to reconcile their feuding families.
• Romeo and Juliet’s Analysis and Comparison With the Film Romeo Must Die It can be concluded that, in the case of the original Romeo and Juliet, the main heroes are dying, but their families reconcile.
• Analysis of the Play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Another interesting scene of the production that makes it real understanding of the authors work is the casting of the romantic love between Romeo and Juliet, the physical love of the nurse and the contractual […]
• Franco Zeffirelli’s “Romeo and Juliet” Adaptation As the plot of the play develops and the reader gets more involved in the reading of the play, the constant need to read the stage directions has a disruptive effect on the reader’s interaction […]
• The Portrayal of Fate in “Romeo and Juliet” Thus, the play Romeo and Juliet demonstrates that fate is the invisible, unavoidable force behind the entirety of the human experience.
• Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: Act 1 Scene 4 Review In this speech alone we see Mercutio in direct opposition to all of the characters in Romeo and Juliet while at the same time we are provided an alternate point of view to the ideals […]
• William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” in Baz Luhrmann’s Interpretation The fragility of love in this work is contrasted with its hardness – it can be compared in quality and beauty to a cut diamond.
• “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare: Play’s Concept In Romeo and Juliet, the development of characters eventually led to the tragedy of the main characters. The love of Romeo and Juliet is a remarkable love as they have to undergo many obstacles to […]
• Forbidden Love in Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare From Freud’s perspective, the characters’ problems can be perceived as the result of a conflict between their superego, id and ego.
• Romeo and Juliet: Analysis of Play Being a tragedy, the story narrates the challenges two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, go through due to the enmity between their respective families. For example, the story of Juliet and Romeo presents a romantic and […]
• Love and Sadness in the First Act of “Romeo and Juliet” The love story of Romeo and Juliet is well known to most people, but one might forget that Romeo was initially not in love with Juliet; he met her later.
• Carlo Carlea’s Film “Romeo and Juliet” The new adaptation of my play generally made a controversial impression: the actors look suitable for their roles, but the internal theme of the play seems to be not so profoundly got.
• Analysis of “Romeo and Juliet” Directed by Simon Godwin The actors played in the theater without an audience, and the shooting itself took two and a half weeks, but also due to the director’s attempt to combine the action on the theater stage and […]
• “Romeo and Juliet” Staged in Greek Style According to the analysis, it is evident that even though the story, plot, and characters stay the same, the change in the style of “Romeo and Juliet” will have a significant difference from the original […]
• Personality and Maturity in the Romeo and Juliet Play by W. Shakespeare While this idea is not always true in specific cases, it can be assumed to be true in the case of Romeo and Juliet because of the ways in which they act.
• Oh Tae-Suk’s Romeo and Juliet Oh Tae-suk is a South-Korean playwright and director, well-known for his masterful portrayal of modern Korean life and the use of the elements of the traditional Korean theater in his plays.
• What Shapes More Lovers’ “Story of Romeo and Juliet?” In Romeo and Juliet, love is the central theme of the tragedy, and the images of the protagonists are mostly shaped by the relationships and challenges they had to face.
• Friar Lawrence in “Romeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare The strengths of such friendships can be seen in the way Friar Laurence accepts and anticipates Romeo’s actions, showing that he is ready to hear him as a friend not as a priest, “Doth couch […]
• Nurse and Friar Laurence in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” The way Friar Laurence supported Romeo and Juliet to get Married, The way the Nurse is opposing in her regards of Romeo and Paris, When Friar Laurence clandestinely married them, the way the Nurse is […]
• Character Analysis of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” The Renaissance in Italy was a time in which historians and writers were most active, sparking a new wave of literacy in the Italian world, said to be the father of Renaissance Europe.
• “Analysis of Causes of Tragic Fate in Romeo and Juliet Based on Shakespeare’s View of Fate” by Jie Li The article is easy to read and makes a compelling case for the reasons that precipitated the tragedy in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
• “Romeo and Juliet”: Play and Film Preminger et al.claim that poetry is to be educative and pleasurable and both versions of “Romeo and Juliet” meet this criterion regardless of the fact that they had to appeal to the audience of a […]
• “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Winter’s Tale” Comparison Because of the importance of the role of plants and trees in the two abovementioned plays, it would be reasonable to consider each of the plays in detail.
• Romeo and Juliet: The Twentieth Century This is the first scene of the play. In the mean time, Capulet learns that Juliet has fallen in love with Romeo, and he is infuriated with the behavior of her daughter.
• Relationships Among Individuals in Shakespeare’s Plays The events that take place in Athens are symbolic in the sense that they represent the sequence of events during the day whereas the events in the forest represent the dream like circumstances.
• The Saga as Old as Time: Romeo and Juliet, Vampire Style Basing partially on the plot of Romeo and Juliet story and partially on the problems that modern teenagers face, The Twilight Saga offers a number of issues that are quite topical nowadays, such as the […]
• The Interpretation of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” by Baz Luhrmann and Franco Zeffirelli
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• The Perceptions of Love and the Use of Language and Structure in “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
• The True Meaning and Experience of Love in “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
• The Relationship Between Parents and Children Presented in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
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• The Role of Fate and Coincidence in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• Comparing the Characters of Tybalt and Mercutio in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• The Role and Representation of the Nurse in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
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• The Underlying Theme and Message in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
• The Unselfish Character of Benvolio in “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
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• Timeless Appeal of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story”
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• The Use of Verbal, Situational, and Dramatic Irony in William Shakespeare’s Play “Romeo and Juliet”
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• The Use of Imagery in the Play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
• How Does Shakespeare Create a Sense of Tragedy in the Final Scene of “Romeo and Juliet”?
• Are Romeo and Juliet Responsible for Their Deaths?
• How Does Shakespeare Create Drama and Tension in “Romeo and Juliet”?
• Why Does Shakespeare Create Sympathy for “Romeo and Juliet”?
• Is “Romeo and Juliet” Relevant to Modern Life?
• How Does Shakespeare Create a Dramatic Conclusion in Act Five Scene Three of “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Are Adults Presented in “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Are the Main Themes Presented in the Opening Sequence of Baz Luhrman’s Film “Romeo and Juliet”?
• Does “Romeo and Juliet” Deserve to Be Considered Pop Culture in the Elizabethan Era?
• Why Does “Romeo and Juliet” Attract Teenagers?
• How Did Shakespeare Introduce the Characters of “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Does Act One Scene One Provide an Effective Opening to “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Did Hate Cause Major Events in “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Does Bas Luhrman’s Staging of Key Scenes “Romeo and Juliet”?
• Did Baz Luhrmann Manage to Gain Sympathy for “Romeo and Juliet” and Interest a Modern Audience?
• How Does Baz Lurhmann Make “Romeo and Juliet” More Accessible to a Modern Audience?
• How Does Conflict Manifest Itself in “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Does Fate Affect “Romeo and Juliet”?
• Why Did Fate Lead to the Tragic Conclusion of “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Does Lord Capulet Change Through the Course of the Play “Romeo and Juliet”?
• Why Does Love Change Romeo and Juliet’s Life?
• How Do Shakespeare Introduce Romeo and Juliet’s Relationship?
• Did Romeo and Juliet Ever Have Control Over What Happened to Them or Was It All Fate?
• How Does Shakespeare Make Romeo and Juliet Dramatically Effective?
• How Do Juliet’s Decisions Affect Her Growth and Her Relationships in “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Does Shakespeare Portray Ambiguity in the Play “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Are the Relationships in “Romeo and Juliet” Represented and Developed?
• Does the Film “Romeo and Juliet” Have the Same Dramatic Impact on the Audience as the Original Play?
• How Does Shakespeare Portray Love in “Romeo and Juliet”?
• How Does Shakespeare Present Conflict at the Start of “Romeo and Juliet”?
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Works cited page - romeo and juliet, create a works cited page using noodletools. this page should include a citation for the play itself, the graphic novel and any other web pages you use in your essay., go to  noodletools  to create mla citations and a works cited page. , to create an account:, step 1: click log in., step 2: click register, step 3: create an account using our subscription information., school/library username: erochester, school/library password: library, web articles, example sites, personification, foreshadowing, dramatic irony.

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• Romeo and Juliet

Graham Hamilton (Romeo), Edward Gero (Friar Laurence), and Nicole Lowrance (Juliet),  Romeo and Juliet , directed by PJ Paparelli, Folger Theatre, 2005. Photo: Carol Pratt.

Introduction to the play

In  Romeo and Juliet , Shakespeare creates a violent world, in which two young people fall in love. It is not simply that their families disapprove; the Montagues and the Capulets are engaged in a blood feud.

In this death-filled setting, the movement from love at first sight to the lovers’ final union in death seems almost inevitable. And yet, this play set in an extraordinary world has become the quintessential story of young love. In part because of its exquisite language, it is easy to respond as if it were about all young lovers.

Read full synopsis

The Folger Shakespeare

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But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun.

Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet       sorrow That I shall say “Good night” till it be morrow.

From the audio edition of Romeo and Juliet

Full recording available from  Simon & Schuster Audio  on CD and for download.

Romeo and Juliet in our collection

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Essays and resources from The Folger Shakespeare

Learn more about the play, its language, and its history from the experts behind our edition.

About Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet An introduction to the plot, themes, and characters in the play

Reading Shakespeare’s Language A guide for understanding Shakespeare’s words, sentences, and wordplay

An Introduction to This Text A description of the publishing history of the play and our editors’ approach to this edition

Textual Notes A record of the variants in the early printings of this text

A Modern Perspective An essay by Gail Kern Paster

Further Reading Suggestions from our experts on where to learn more

Shakespeare and his world

Learn more about Shakespeare, his theater, and his plays from the experts behind our editions.

Shakespeare’s Life An essay about Shakespeare and the time in which he lived

Shakespeare’s Theater An essay about what theaters were like during Shakespeare’s career

The Publication of Shakespeare’s Plays An essay about how Shakespeare’s plays were published

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Early printed texts

Romeo and Juliet was first printed in 1597 (Q1) as a quarto that is markedly different than any subsequent early printing: it is shorter, the wedding scene is radically different, and the language widely differs in the last three acts. The play appeared as a quarto in 1599 (Q2) in a text that seems to have had a different source than the one behind Q1; this version of the play was reprinted in 1609 (Q3) and in 1623 (Q4). The play is included in the 1623 First Folio, with a text that differs from Q3 beyond what we would expect typesetters to change. Most modern editions, like the Folger, are based on Q2.

See more primary sources related to  Romeo and Juliet on Shakespeare Documented

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How do I cite the prologue of a play?

When the prologue—or author’s preface—to a play is in prose, provide a page number for a quotation from or reference to the work if it is given. 

“Money is the most important thing in the world,” declares Shaw in his prologue to Major Barbara (19), as if we didn’t already know that. Work Cited Shaw, George Bernard. “First Aid to Critics.” Major Barbara , Brentano’s, 1917, pp. 5–48.

No number is needed if the work is online or otherwise available electronically.

In defiance, Shaw describes his play as “intensely and deliberately didactic.” Work Cited Shaw, George Bernard. Preface. Pygmalion . Project Gutenburg , 19 Jan. 2005, www.gutenberg.org/app/uploads/sites/3/3825/3825-h/3825-h.htm.

If the prologue is in verse, you have the option of providing a line number instead of a page number.

In the play’s prologue, Shakespeare tells his audience upfront how long Romeo and Juliet will take: “the two hours’ traffic of our stage” (line 12). Shakespeare tells his audience in the prologue that in Henry V Harry is now “warlike” (line 5).

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• Approaches to Teaching World Literature
• Approaches to Teaching Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Approaches to Teaching Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

• Editor: Maurice Hunt
• Pages: xi & 219 pp.
• Published: 2000
• ISBN: 9780873527583 (Paperback)
• ISBN: 9780873527576 (Hardcover)

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“ Romeo and Juliet is obviously hospitable to pedagogic discussion: everybody has taught it, everybody has problems teaching it, and yet everybody finds that on some level it is still a satisfying play to teach. This Approaches volume is very smart about its audience, offering practical suggestions for confronting the familiar obstacles that students perennially raise and also providing fresh commentary from recent scholarship and performance.” —Russ McDonald, author of The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare

• Description

Taught widely in high school and college, Romeo and Juliet may be Shakespeare’s most accessible work. Teenagers and young adults identify with the play’s interfamilial conflict, the love story, and the defiance of parental authority. Nevertheless, readers of all ages are often perplexed by the Bard’s poetic language, the “unrealism” of the characters’ eloquence, and the embedded sonnets. Essays in this book address these challenges and others and offer instructors imaginative strategies for dealing with them.

The first part, “Materials,” reviews the most widely used anthologies of Shakespeare’s plays and the many available editions of Romeo and Juliet , as well as background materials for the instructor and recommendations for student reading. The second part, “Approaches,” presents practical ideas for the classroom. A final section describes scenarios for teaching the play through dramatic technique and for using Romeo and Juliet’s many adaptations, including the popular Zeffirelli and Luhrmann films.

• British Literature
• Shakespeare

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Romeo and Juliet Themes Sheet - Essay Ideas

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

9 April 2024

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This resource provides top-grade essay ideas for exam questions about Shakepeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Revising ‘Romeo and Juliet’ themes is made simple, with three points on each theme (11 themes total) that are designed to make three high-level paragraphs for your Romeo and Juliet essays.

This resource suits anyone who:

• would like to feel prepared for any theme question that could come up in their exams (all exam boards considered)
• is unsure how they would make three points out of a harder theme question (e.g. time or youth)
• wants to feel confident discussing all characters
• is looking to double check their notes or read through some essay content ideas before a mock or exam
• struggles to integrate context into their essays and would like some comprehensive context ideas.

We hope this helps! :)

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Friar Lawrence Persuasive Quotes

This essay about the persuasive quotes of Friar Lawrence in “Romeo and Juliet,” showcasing his profound insights into love, fate, and human nature. Through his cautionary words on the dangers of unchecked passion, his advice advocating prudence and deliberation, and his metaphorical reflections on the interconnectedness of life, Friar Lawrence emerges as a moral guide in the play. His wisdom serves as a beacon amidst the chaos of conflicting emotions, offering invaluable counsel to the star-crossed lovers and reminding audiences of the enduring relevance of his words.

How it works

Throughout William Shakespeare’s renowned tragedy “Romeo and Juliet,” Friar Lawrence emerges as a pivotal character whose words hold profound persuasive power, shaping the destiny of the star-crossed lovers. His wisdom, though often overshadowed by the youthful passion of the protagonists, offers crucial insights into the themes of love, fate, and the consequences of impulsive actions.

One of Friar Lawrence’s most compelling quotes revolves around the nature of love itself: “These violent delights have violent ends.” In this poignant statement, he warns Romeo about the dangers of unchecked passion.

By likening love to a “violent delight,” the Friar underscores its intoxicating allure, which can lead to reckless decisions and tragic outcomes. This quote serves as a sobering reminder of the turbulent nature of love, urging caution and restraint in matters of the heart.

Furthermore, Friar Lawrence’s advice to Juliet encapsulates his role as a moral guide in the play: “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.” Through these words, he advocates for prudence and deliberation, cautioning against impulsive actions driven by haste. By urging Juliet to proceed “wisely and slow,” the Friar emphasizes the importance of thoughtful consideration and foresight in navigating life’s challenges. This quote highlights Friar Lawrence’s role as a voice of reason amidst the chaos of conflicting emotions, offering invaluable counsel to those ensnared in the throes of passion.

Additionally, Friar Lawrence’s reflection on the dual nature of herbs serves as a metaphor for the complexities of human existence: “For naught so vile that on the earth doth live / But to the earth some special good doth give.” Through these lines, he speaks to the interconnectedness of life, suggesting that even the most seemingly insignificant aspects of existence possess inherent value and purpose. This quote underscores the Friar’s philosophical insight, encouraging contemplation of the deeper meanings concealed within the fabric of reality.

In conclusion, Friar Lawrence’s persuasive quotes in “Romeo and Juliet” offer profound insights into the complexities of love, fate, and human nature. From cautionary tales about the perils of unchecked passion to wise counsel on the virtues of prudence and deliberation, his words resonate with timeless wisdom that transcends the boundaries of the stage. As a moral compass guiding the protagonists through the tumultuous landscape of their forbidden love, Friar Lawrence’s influence reverberates throughout the play, reminding audiences of the enduring power of his words.

Cite this page

Friar Lawrence Persuasive Quotes. (2024, Apr 14). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/friar-lawrence-persuasive-quotes/

"Friar Lawrence Persuasive Quotes." PapersOwl.com , 14 Apr 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/friar-lawrence-persuasive-quotes/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Friar Lawrence Persuasive Quotes . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/friar-lawrence-persuasive-quotes/ [Accessed: 16 Apr. 2024]

"Friar Lawrence Persuasive Quotes." PapersOwl.com, Apr 14, 2024. Accessed April 16, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/friar-lawrence-persuasive-quotes/

"Friar Lawrence Persuasive Quotes," PapersOwl.com , 14-Apr-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/friar-lawrence-persuasive-quotes/. [Accessed: 16-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Friar Lawrence Persuasive Quotes . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/friar-lawrence-persuasive-quotes/ [Accessed: 16-Apr-2024]

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