"Two households, both alike in dignity,*In fair Verona, where we lay our scene...", Chorus, Capulet, Montague, Benvolio
"The scene is set for the beginning of the play.",1,1
"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes*A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;",Chorus,Tybalt,Mercutio,Sampson
"The speaker sums up the action of the whole play",1,1
"The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.",Gregory,Sampson,Romeo,Peter
"This minor character describes the feud between the Capulets and Montagues."1,1
"What, are thou drawn among these heartless hinds?*Turn thee Benvolio,look upon thy death.",Tybalt,Montague,Abraham,Capulet
"The speaker mistakenly believes that Benvolio is taking part in the fight.",1,1
"What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word,*As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.",Tybalt,Sampson,Gregory,Mercutio
"A Capulet obviously, the speaker aggressively provokes a fight.",1,1
"On pain of torture, from those bloody hands*Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground,",Prince,Montague,Benvolio,Capulet
"This person has the authority to halt the rioting families and their servants.",1,1
"Three civil brawls bred of an airy word,*By thee old Capulet, and Montague,*Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets,",Prince,Romeo,Lady Montague,Paris
"The angry speaker scolds the heads of the two households.",1,1
"If ever you disturb our streets again,*Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.",Prince,Tybalt,Gregory,Lady Montague
"The speaker uses his authority to issue this grave warning.",1,1
"Black and portentous must this humour prove,*Unless good counsel may the cause remove.",Montague,Benvolio,Romeo,Lady Montague
"The speaker is concerned about the effects of the present state of mind of someone near to him.",1,1
"So far from sounding and discovery,*As is the bud bit with an envious worm,",Montague,Capulet,Romeo,Tybalt
"These words describe someone who keeps the source of his sorrow to himself.",1,1
"Alas that love, so gentle in his view,*Should be so tryannous and rough in proof!",Benvolio,Juliet,Romeo,Sampson
"The speaker sympathises with his companion's experiences with love.",1,1
"O me, what fray was here?*Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.*Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.",Romeo,Juliet,Gregory,Lady Montague
"On seeing signs of a struggle, the speaker is led to ponder on the cause of the fighting.",1,1
"Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,*O any thing of nothing first created!",Romeo,Juliet,Tybalt,Benvolio
"These contradictory words are uttered by someone baffled and confused by love.",1,1
"Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs,*Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes,",Romeo,Benvolio,Paris,Nurse
"The speaker tries in vain to express his opinion of love.",1,1
"O she is rich in beauty, only poor*That when she dies, with beauty dies her store.",Romeo, Benvolio,Sampson,Paris
"The speaker regrets that his love will never be returned.",1,1
"She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow*Do I live dead that live to tell it now.",Romeo,Nurse,Friar Lawrence,Lady Capulet
"The speaker complains of his loved one's coldness.",1,1
"Examine other beauties.",Benvolio,Tybalt,Capulet,Gregory
"This wise advice is scorned by the love-sick young man to whom it is directed.",1,1
"'Tis not hard, I think,*For men so old as we to keep the peace.",Capulet,Montague,Prince,Paris
"The speaker has recently shown that these words are far from the truth.",1,2
"My child is yet a stranger in the world,*She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.",Capulet,Lady Capulet,Nurse,Montague
"The speaker rejects an offer for his daughter's hand.",1,2
"My will to her consent is but a part.",Capulet,Romeo,Paris,Lady Capulet
"This speaker's later actions contradict his words here.", 1,2
"At my poor house look to behold this night*Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light.",Capulet,Montague,Romeo,Prince
"The speaker is expecting many beauties to attend his party.",1,2
"Take thou some new infection to thy eye,*And the rank poison of the old will die.",Benvolio,Friar John,Nurse,Gregory
"Someone is advised to forget his previous futile love.",1,2
"Compare her face with some that I shall show,*And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.",Benvolio,Romeo,Tybalt,Mercutio
"The speaker advises his friend to seek a new love.",1,2
"The all-seeing sun*Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.",Romeo,Paris,Benvolio,Tybalt'
"The speaker believes that his loved one is the most beautiful of all time.",1,2
"I'll lay fourteen of my teeth,"
Nurse,Friar Lawrence,Prince,Lady Capulet
"The speaker is prepared to make a wager on the truth of what has been said.",1,2
"'Wilt thou not Jule?' quoth he,*And, pretty fool, it stinted, and said 'Ay'"
Nurse,Lady Capulet, Juliet,Servant
"The speaker retells a story from many years previously.",1,3
"The valiant Paris seeks you for his love."
Lady Capulet, Nurse, Capulet,Romeo
"Juliet is told of a worthy and appropriate suitor.",1,3
"A man, young lady; lady, such a man*As all the world - why he's a man of wax."
Nurse, Lady Capulet, Friar Lawrence, Capulet
"The speaker has a very high opinion of a prospective husband.",1,3
"Verona's summer hath not such a flower."
Lady Capulet, Romeo, Nurse, Benvolio
"High praise for a very eligible son-in-law.",1,3
"This precious book of love, this unbound lover,*To beautify him only lacks a cover."
Lady Capulet, Juliet, Nurse, Mercutio
"The speaker uses this metaphor to stress the worthiness of the man she praises.",1,3
"But no more deep will I endart mine eye*Than your consent gives strength to make it fly."
Juliet,Romeo, Paris,Mercutio
"Great respect and obedience is shown by the speaker here.",1,3
"But let them measure us by what they will*We'll measure them a measure, and be gone."
Benvolio, Romeo, Mercutio, Tybalt
"This lively young man plans to gate-crash a party.",1,4
"Give me a torch; I am not for this ambling.*Being but heavy, I will bear the light."
Romeo, Friar Lawrence, Benvolio, Paris
"Not willing to dance, the speaker still has the wit to make this pun.",1,4
"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,*Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn."
Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, Paris
"This young man has obviously felt the bitter effects of love.",1,4
"If love be rough with you, be rough with love."
Mercutio, Romeo, Benvolio, Tybalt
"This advice is given to one who has recently suffered the effects of love.",1,4
"Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me."
Mercutio, Romeo, Juliet,Sampson
"The speaker selects a mask to attend a party.",1,4
"I talk of dreams,*which are the children of an idle brain,"
Mercutio, Juliet, Benvolio, Romeo
"The speaker has just entertained his listeners with an imaginative story.",1,4
"for my mind misgives*Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,"
Romeo, Mercutio, Tybalt, Gregory
"The speaker has had a premonition of death.",1,4
"Ladies that have their toes*Unplagued by corns will walk a bout with you."
Capulet, Lady Montague, Nurse, Prince Escalus
"The speaker tries to shame the ladies into dancing.",1,5
"What lady's that which doth enrich the hand*Of yonder knight?"
Romeo, Paris, Prince Escalus, Sampson
"The speaker is suddenly struck by someone's great beauty.",1,5
"O she doth teach the torches to burn bright."
Romeo, Paris, Gregory, Mercutio
"An image of the brightness of this young lady.",1,5
"It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night*As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear;"
Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, Paris
"A striking simile to describe Juliet's beauty.",1,5
"This by his voice should be a Montague.*Fetch me my rapier, boy."
Tybalt, Capulet, Lady Capulet, Juliet
"The speaker responds aggressively when he detects an enemy nearby.",1,5
"My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand*To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
Romeo, Paris, Mercutio, Benvolio
"The speaker apologises for the rough touch of his hand.",1,5
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,*Which mannerly devotion shows in this;"
Juliet, Lady Capulet, Lady Montague, Nurse
"The speaker graciously accepts her companion's apology.",1,5
"Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged."
Romeo, Juliet, Paris, Mercutio
"The speaker kisses a loved one.",1,5
"Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged.*Give me my sin again."
Romeo, Juliet, Sampson, Mercutio
"The speaker seeks an excuse for yet another kiss.",1,5
"I tell you, he that can lay hold of her*Shall have the chinks."
Nurse, Romeo, Capulet, Paris
"The speaker predicts wealth for whoever marries Juliet.",1,5
"His name is Romeo, and a Montague,*The only son of your great enemy."
Nurse, Lady Capulet, Capulet, Tybalt
"The speaker identifies the masked man at the party.",1,5
"My only love sprung from my only hate!*Too early seen unknown, and known too late!"
Juliet, Tybalt, Mercutio,Romeo
"Already in love, the speaker now learns the identity of the loved one.",1,5
"Can I go forward when my heart is here?"
Romeo, Juliet, Paris, Mercutio
"The speaker should go home but is unwilling to pass up the chance to see his love.",2,1
"Blind is his love, and best befits the dark."
Benvolio, Mercutio, Sampson, Gregory
"Unknown to the speaker, the man he talks about has now a new love.",2,1
"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?"
Romeo, Juliet, Paris, Nurse
"To this speaker, the appearance of his loved one seems like a bright light.",2,2
"O that I were a glove upon that hand,*That I might touch that cheek."
Romeo, Paris, Juliet, Mercutio
"The speaker wishes that he could be near his love.",2,2
"Deny thy Father, and refuse thy name."
Juliet, Romeo, Nurse, Mercutio
"Unknown to the speaker, the person addressed is listening to these words.",2,2
"That which we call a rose*By any other name would smell as sweet."
Juliet, Romeo, Lady Capulet, Nurse
"These words reveal the frustration that the speaker feels that people may be judged merely by what family they belong to.",2,2
"I know not how to tell thee who I am."
Romeo, Juliet, Paris, Friar Lawrence.
"The speaker fears that revealing his identity may cause distress to his listener.",2,2
"Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow."
Juliet, Romeo, Gregory, Sampson
"The speaker realises the simultaneous joy and sadness of saying goodbye to a loved one.",2,2
"The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb;*What is her burying grave, that is her womb;"
Friar Lawrence, Friar John, Apothecary, Montague
"These philosophical words reveal the thoughtful character of the speaker, as he considers the cyclical character of Nature.",2,3
"Virtue itself turns vice being misapplied,*And vice sometime's by action dignified"
Friar Lawrence, Lady Capulet, Nurse, Prince
"These thoughtful words refer both to natural things such as plants, and to mankind.",2,3
"What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?"
Friar Lawrence, Juliet, Romeo, Lady Capulet
"The speaker is surprised to see his friend so early in the morning.",2,3
"I have forgot that name, and that name's woe."
Romeo, Gregory, Sampson, Juliet
"The speaker, impulsive by nature, has quickly forgotten the love for which he suffered so much.",2,3
"Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift."
Friar Lawrence, Montague, Prince, Nurse
"The speaker urges his companion to speak more plainly, if he wants helpful advice.",2,3
"Young men's love then lies*Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."
Friar Lawrence, Montague, Mercutio, Juliet
"These words seem to accurately describe the fickle nature of the person whom the speaker addresses.",2,3
"For this alliance may so happy prove,*To turn your households' rancour to pure love."
Friar Lawrence, Nurse, Prince Escalus, Tybalt
"The speaker agrees to a rather dubious course of action in the hope that it may achieve beneficial results.",2,3
"Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast."
Friar Lawrence, Paris, Nurse, Lady Capulet
"The speaker counsels caution to his impulsive friend.",2,3
"That same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline,*Torments him so, that he will sure run mad."
Mercutio, Benvolio, Juliet, Tybalt
"This speaker does not yet realise that Romeo has long forgotten Rosaline.",2,4
"More than Prince of Cats. O he's the courageous captain*of compliments!"
Mercutio, Romeo, Tybalt, Gregory
"The speaker contemptuously mocks a member of the opposing family.",2,4
"O single-soled jest, solely singular for the singleness."
Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, Gregory
"The speaker engages in a verbal battle with his witty friend. Puns flow like water.",2,4
"Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan's the fairer *face."
Mercutio, Romeo, Tybalt, Gregory
"The speaker makes fun of someone who has come as a messenger.",2,4
"I pray you sir, what saucy merchant was this that was *so full of ropery?"
Nurse, Peter, Lady Montague, Mercutio
"This person is offended (or pretends to be), by the cheeky wit of one of Romeo's friends.",2,4
"Loves heralds should be thoughts,*Which ten times faster glides than the sun's beams,"
Juliet, Romeo, Paris,Benvolio
"This person gets very impatient, waiting for good news.",2,5
"I am the drudge, and toil in your delight,*But you shall bear the burden soon at night."
Nurse, Peter, Gregory, Abraham
"The speaker delights in rather coarse jokes such as this one about Juliet's wedding night.",2,5
"So smile the heavens upon this holy act*That after-hours with sorrow chide us not."
Friar Lawrence, Romeo, Montague, Friar John
"Unsure whether his actions are wise, the speaker worries about the possible consequences.",2,6
"Then love-devouring death do what he dare,*It is enough I may but call her mine."
Romeo, Paris, Benvolio, Mercutio
"The speaker is so much in love, he claims he would risk death.",2,6
"These violent delights have violent ends,"
Friar Lawrence, Capulet, Prince, Romeo
"Not for the first time, this speaker warns against hasty actions.",2,6
"Therefore love moderately, long love doth so;*Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow."
Friar Lawrence, Lady Capulet, Juliet, Nurse
"Not for the first time, this speaker warns against hasty actions.",2,6
"They are but beggars that can count their worth;"
Juliet, Mercutio, Friar Lawrence, Nurse
"The speaker implies that one should not measure good fortune simply in material terms.",2,6
"Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the *ears?"
Mercutio, Tybalt, Romeo,Paris
"These taunting words are intended to provoke an opponent into fighting. They succeed.",3,1
"Courage man, the hurt cannot be much."
Romeo,Tybalt, Paris, Mercutio
"The speaker is falsely optimistic about the condition of his friend.",3,1
"No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church*door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve."
Mercutio, Romeo,Paris,Juliet
"This speaker cannot resist a joke, even when he is fatally injured.",3,1
"Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man."
Mercutio, Tybalt, Romeo, Paris
"This speaker cannot resist a joke, even when he is fatally injured.",3,1
"That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,*Which too untimely here did scorn the earth."
Benvolio, Romeo, Tybalt, Nurse
"The speaker uses elegant words to describe his friend's death.",3,1
"This day's black fate on moe days doth depend,*This but begins the woe others must end."
Romeo, Juliet, Friar Lawrence, Benvolio
"The speaker does not realise just how much worse his fortune is going to get on this day.",3,1
"Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here,*Shalt with him hence."
Tybalt, Mercutio, Romeo, Benvolio
"The speaker promises to do the same to the man he speaks to as he just did to his friend.",3,1
"Stand not amazed, the Prince will doom thee death*If thou art taken."
Benvolio, Mercutio, Juliet, Tybalt
"A serious warning from a good friend.",3,1
"Where are the vile beginners of this fray?"
Prince, Montague, Lady Capulet,Friar Lawrence
"Not for the first time, this speaker must restore order to a confused situation.",3,1
"Affection makes him false, he speaks not true."
Lady Capulet, Prince, Benvolio, Montague
"The speaker accuses someone from the opposing family of lying to defend his friend.",3,1
"I beg for justice, which thou, Prince must give."
Lady Capulet, Lady Montague, Capulet, Montague
"This speaker is looking for some legal form of revenge against someone who has killed a member of the family.",3,1
"Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?"
Prince, Tybalt, Lady Capulet, Lady Montague
"This speaker must attempt to apportion blame and punishment.",3,1
"My blood for your rude brawls doth lie ableeding."
Prince, Mercutio, Lady Capulet, Montague
"The speaker is angry that the families' squabbles have now affected one of his own kinsmen.",3,1
"Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill."
Prince, Montague, Lady Capulet, Capulet
"The speaker gives reasons for not pardoning someone, even though the offence was justified.",3,1
"For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night*Whiter than snow upon a raven's back.",Juliet,Romeo,Mercutio,Nurse
"The speaker uses images of light and darkness to stress the fairness of a loved one.",3,2
"O, serpent heart, hid with a flow'ring face!",Juliet,Mercutio,Benvolio,Paris
"The speaker believes that a loved one has committed a great evil.",3,2
"Was ever book containing such vile matter*So fairly bound?"
Juliet, Nurse, Lady Montague,Romeo
"The speaker cannot reconcile someone's fair appearance with their apparent wicked deeds.",3,2
"Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel.",Romeo, Friar Lawrence,Mercutio,Juliet
"The speaker rejects his companions advice, thinking that he himself is the only one who really knows the situation.",3,3
"O, Lord, I could have stayed here all the night*To hear good counsel. O, what learning is!",Nurse,Friar Lawrence,Servant,Montague
"The speaker is much impressed with the good advice given by a wise man.",3,3
"These times of woe afford no time to woo.",Paris,Capulet,Lady Capulet,Juliet
"The speaker regrets that courtship cannot proceed because of a death in the family.",3,4
"I would that Thursday were tomorrow.",Paris,Capulet,Juliet,Nurse
"The speaker can hardly wait for a happy event.",3,4
"It was the nightingale, and not the lark,*That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear."
Juliet, Romeo, Lady Capulet, Nurse
"The speaker wants it to be still night-time so a companion will not leave.",3,5
"I must be gone and live, or stay and die.",Romeo,Juliet,Tybalt,Mercutio
"The speaker will be in grave danger if he stays in this place any longer.",3,5
"Methinks I see thee now thou art so low,*As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.",Juliet,Romeo,Paris,Benvolio
"The speaker has a premonition of a loved one's death.",3,5
"I would the fool were married to her grave.",Lady Capulet,Capulet,Montague,Tybalt
"The speaker is annoyed with someone who does not wish to obey.",3,5
"Out you green-sickness carrion, out you baggage,*You tallow-face!"
Capulet, Lady Capulet, Nurse, Montague
"The speaker abuses someone who does not follow his wishes.",3,5
"Death lies on her like an untimely frost*Upon the sweetest flower of all the field."
Capulet, Lady Capulet, Nurse, Paris
"The speaker utters these beautiful words to express grief at the death of a loved one.",4,4
"O mischief thou art swift*To enter in the thoughts of desperate men."
Romeo, Balthasar, Apothecary, Friar Lawrence
"The speaker seeks a way to end his own life.",5,1
"My poverty and not my will consents."
Apothecary, Friar Lawrence, Romeo, Balthasar
"The speaker only adopts this course of action because he is desperately poor.",5,1
"Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew."
Paris, Romeo, Capulet, Friar Lawrence
"The speaker pays tribute to someone he has recently lost.",5,3
"Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,*Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth,"
Romeo, Paris, Friar Lawrence, Capulet
"The speaker compares the tomb to a greedy mouth devouring people as its food.",5,3
"Eyes, look your last.*Arms, take your last embrace."
Romeo, Juliet, Paris, Lady Capulet
"The speaker prepares to take a last look at a loved one.",5,3
"O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop*To help me after?"
Juliet, Romeo, Paris, Balthasar
"The speaker lovingly chides someone for not giving her an easy way of accomplishing what she wants to do.",5,3
"O me, this sight of death is as a bell,*That warns my old age to a sepulchre."
Lady Capulet, Capulet, Nurse, Friar Lawrence
"The speaker is shocked by the sight of bodies, which remind her of her own mortality.",5,3
"See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,*That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love."
Prince, Friar Lawrence, Balthasar, Nurse
"The speaker emphasises to the two families that the tragedy has been caused by their own foolish quarreling.",5,3
