"These notes refer to the Cambridge GCE O Level Examination held in November in Singapore. However, they are of general interest to anyone preparing to answer essay questions on Romeo & Juliet, in any exam."
" "
"The O Level exam presents a compulsory Context Question,"
"*(See Other Notes - Context Question)"
"followed by a choice of two essay topics. The candidate must answer ONE essay question only in the Shakespeare Section."
" "
"There is a 20% mark allocation for the essay, so about 30 minutes should be allowed for answering this question."
" "
"*Notes on approved essay techniques follow."
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"You are advised to follow these steps in writing your answer."
"*1. "
"Quickly select the topic which seems best suited to the study and preparation you have done. Usually this will be obvious."
"If you have trouble choosing, jot down rough notes about each topic and see which one is easier to give information on."
"*2. "
"Check the question carefully, underlining key words. Be 100% sure that you know exactly what the examiner wants you to do. Many essays are failed because they are off the topic, although the candidate has shown wide knowledge of the play."
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"*3. "
"Now, plan your essay. It may seem that time is very short, but a well-planned essay will be written much more easily than one where you are struggling to think of ideas as you write."
"Any essay topic should fall naturally into some kind of logical form or order. Try to allot one paragraph for each major point you want to make."
"For instance, if you are asked to compare the Nurse and Friar Lawrence, a possible arrangement would be:"
"*SIMILARITIES-both belong to the older generation; experienced -both are trusted as advisers by their young friends -both tend to be talkative"
"*DIFFERENCES -FL is wiser, more thoughtful -Nurse is ignorant, a source of bawdy humour"
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"*PART IN THE PLAY - both are necessary to the plot (esp. FL); contrasts to Romeo and Juliet; both finally seem weak, letting Juliet down."
"*CONCLUSION - They are similar in many ways and play similar parts in the play, although their natures are very different."
" "
"*4. "
"As you plan, try to think of quotations that are relevant to your topic. Jot them down also. It doesn't matter if it is not a long or complete quote, but it should be fully relevant."
"You won't get marks for writng down all the quotations from the play that you have learnt - only those you use to back up some point that you are making."
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"Almost as good as a quotation is a precise example from the text. The body of your essay should fall into the pattern of:"
"*Point - Evidence - Point - Evidence etc."
"If you can help it, never make an unsupported statement."
" "
"Now let's try a sample essay topic."
" "
"I have made up one that deals with one of the major themes of the play."
" "
"*When he sees signs of the brawl in Act I, scene i, Romeo exclaims 'Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.' Explain what he means, and discuss the opposing ideas of love and hate as presented in the play."
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"This topic falls naturally into two parts:"
" - explain what Romeo means"
" -discuss LOVE/HATE"
"*My plan follows."
" ESSAY PLAN"
" "
"*PARA. 1 Explain that the fighting is caused because a family loves and defends its own members."
" "
"*PARA. 2 However, this can lead to violent hate e.g. Tybalt/L.Capulet"
" "
"*PARA. 3 Romantic love (Romeo & Juliet) /special/ideal"
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"*PARA. 4 Physical love e.g. servants violence/ Mercutio and Nurse's bawdiness"
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"*PARA. 5 Apparent love of Juliet's parents turns to hate."
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"*PARA. 6 CONCLUSION Many types of love/Love and Hate are never far apart e.g. 'My only love sprung from my only hate'/Both passionate emotions"
" "
"* MODEL ANSWER"
" "
"At first sight Romeo's words are a paradox, they contradict each other. However, on closer examination, we can see his real meaning."
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"*Model Answer (Cont.)"
"Obviously the signs of the fight which he can see are proof of hate, but how can they also show love?"
"The answer is that the two households are fighting because of their love for each other. If not for family love, there would be no need to continue the feud."
" "
"One of Shakespeare's purposes was to show that Love and Hate are closely related, and the family love mentioned in the previous paragraph can also lead to hate."
"For example, Tybalt defends the Capulet family honour by reacting angrily against Romeo in the Party Scene) he exclaims"
"*Now by the stock and honour of my kin,"
"*To strike him dead I hold it not a sin."
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"*Model Answer (Cont.)"
"Because he believes that Romeo has insulted his family, he seeks him out to avenge the insult, provoking the tragedy of the play."
"Similarly, Lady Capulet bears hate towards Romeo for killing Tybalt, a loved family member. Even Juliet 'hates' Romeo briefly for this."
" "
"The strongest form of love in the play is the passionate and romantic love between Romeo and Juliet. Their love is so strong that it makes them special and sets them apart."
"Because of their love, neither of them is afraid to die, and in fact, death is preferable to living without their partner."
"Romeo even challenges death"
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"*Model Answer (Cont.)"
"*Then love-devouring Death do what he dare,"
"*It is enough I may but call her mine. (II,vi)"
"Another indication of the pure and wonderful nature of their love is the imagery of light used to describe it."
"For example, Romeo exclaims that"
"*It is the East and Juliet is the sun! (II,ii)"
"While she describes him as"
"*Whiter than new snow upon a raven's back. (III,ii)"
" "
"In contrast to the pure love of Romeo and Juliet, is the more physical idea of love presented by other characters."
"For instance, the servants in Act I, scene i consider raping the women of the opposing family."
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"*Model Answer (Cont.)"
"Mercutio and the Nurse also both see love in physical terms, leading to the string of bawdy jokes that each seems so fond of. In fact the Nurse seems incapable of thinking about Juliet's marriage without referring to the sexual side of it."
" "
"Another type of love shown in the play is parental love. For example, Romeo's mother dies of grief when he is banished."
"Juliet's father also seems to love her, referring to her as"
"*...the hopeful lady of my earth (I,ii)"
"However, we see how close love can be to hate, when he later abuses her and threatens (III,v) that she shall"
"*...hang, beg, starve, die in the streets"
"if she does not follow his wishes and marry Paris."
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"*Model Answer (Cont.)"
"What Shakespeare seems to be saying in 'Romeo and Juliet' is that love and hate are similar emotions, and that where there is one, the other is never far away."
"Both are passionate emotions arousing extreme feeling in people such as the 'violent delights' of Romeo and Juliet's love."
"However, as Friar Lawrence warns, such passion can lead to 'violent ends', exactly what happens to the two lovers."
"Moreover, love and hate can exist together, such as when Juliet realises Romeo's identity."
"*My only love, sprung from my only hate! (I,v)"
"To return to Romeo's words quoted in the title, we can agree with him that love is as much to blame as hate when there is fighting and violence."
