Shakespeare, Year 10: the Nurse, Friar Laurence, Mercutio and Tybalt (Romeo and Juliet option)

Romeo's plan: Juliet is to go to Friar Laurence's cell that afternoon and be married

HintShe has waited hours to hear it.

The whyThe Nurse is comic here, complaining of her aching bones while Juliet waits impatiently. The scene shows how close the two are, and how fond the Nurse is of her.

She is shocked, and turns away from the Nurse and decides to rely only on herself and the Friar

HintA friendship of many years ends in a moment.

The whyThe Nurse calls Romeo a dishclout compared with Paris. Juliet's reply, “Ancient damnation!”, shows how betrayed she feels, and from this point she acts alone.

He hopes it will end the feud between their families

HintThink about whose quarrel he is trying to settle.

The whyHe says that the match may turn the households' hatred into pure love. His plan is well meant, but because it is secret it cannot work as he hopes.

A potion that makes her appear dead for about forty-two hours

HintShe will seem to be lifeless, but not be.

The whyShe is to be laid in the family tomb, and the Friar will send word to Romeo so that he can be there when she wakes. The plan fails because the message does not arrive.

That a passion this fierce and fast may destroy itself, and them

HintHe is cautious on their wedding day.

The whyThe line is spoken just before they marry. It does not stop them, but it sounds like a prophecy once the play ends in deaths.

Prince Escalus

HintThe ruler of Verona.

The whyThe list of characters at the start of the play describes him as kinsman to the Prince and friend to Romeo. His death therefore angers the Prince as well as Romeo.

Queen Mab

HintHer chariot is made from an empty hazelnut.

The whyThe speech is a brilliant and mocking account of dreams. It begins playfully and ends in a darker mood, and Romeo has to stop him.

Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo's arm

HintThe peace-maker is the one who causes the harm.

The whyMercutio's reproach, “I was hurt under your arm”, shows the trap Romeo is in: his peace-making is what allows the killing. Mercutio dies a few moments later.

He knows it as a Montague's and calls for his sword to kill him

HintHe is furious that an enemy is at the party.

The whyCapulet stops him, saying Romeo is a well-behaved young man, so Tybalt has to swallow his anger. He leaves promising to take revenge, which he does in Act 3.

A plague on both their houses

HintA word that returns, with a sad irony, in Act 5.

The whyHe says “A plague o’ both your houses!” three times, blaming both sides for a quarrel that has cost him his life. The word plague comes back in Act 5 Scene 2, when plague stops the Friar's letter and so causes the lovers' deaths.