Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:

perdues3
perdues3
Student
High School - 10th Grade

What humorous episode takes place in Act 2, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet?

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Posted by perdues3 on Tuesday March 3, 2009 at 12:15 PM and tagged with benvolio, humor, lovesick, mercutio, romeo, romeo and juliet, rosaline, shakespeare.

Answers:

  1. ms-charleston-yawp
    ms-charleston-yawp Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    Romeo avoids his friends who know what Romeo is doing and, therefore, make jokes at his expense.  Romeo leaps over the Capulet's wall in order to be closer to Juliet saying, "Can I go forward when my heart is here?"  Meanwhile, Benvolio and Mercutio continue to look for Romeo, knowing full well that Romeo is lovesick.  Mercutio takes full advantage of this by making fun of Romeo.  "The ape is dead, and I must conjure him. / I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes, / By her high forehead and her scarlet lip, . . and quivering thigh."  Mercutio here jokes that Romeo is "the ape" and that he can conjure him by using parts of Rosaline who, little does Mercutio know, has already been cast aside by Romeo in favor of Juliet.  When Mercutio takes his joke a bit too far, Benvolio admits, "And if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him."  Considering Romeo only seems to think of love, I doubt he would be angered.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/act-ii-scenes-1-2-summary-ana...
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/mercutio-character-analysis

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    Posted by ms-charleston-yawp on Tuesday March 3, 2009 at 12:40 PM