Romeo and Juliet "The Balcony Scene" Worksheet
Act 2 Scene 2: Capulet’s orchard
ROMEO He jests at scars that never left a wound
But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
At this point, Juliet appears at the window. Romeo watches her from below.
JULIET Ay me!
ROMEO [Aside] She speaks. Oh speak again, bright angel, for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white-upturned wond’ring eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him,
When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds,
And sails upon the bosom of the air
JULIET O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, 35
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO [Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, 40
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, 45
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.
At this point, Romeo stumbles forward and makes himself visible to Juliet. They each express their love for one another and their pain at being from opposing families, until Juliet eventually enquires:
JULIET Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Aye; And I will take thy word; yet if thou swear’st, Thou mayst prove false: at lovers’ perjuries They say Jove laughs. Oh gentle Romeo If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.
ROMEO Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, That tips with silver all these
ROMEO He jests at scars that never left a wound
But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
At this point, Juliet appears at the window. Romeo watches her from below.
JULIET Ay me!
ROMEO [Aside] She speaks. Oh speak again, bright angel, for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white-upturned wond’ring eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him,
When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds,
And sails upon the bosom of the air
JULIET O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, 35
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO [Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, 40
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, 45
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.
At this point, Romeo stumbles forward and makes himself visible to Juliet. They each express their love for one another and their pain at being from opposing families, until Juliet eventually enquires:
JULIET Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Aye; And I will take thy word; yet if thou swear’st, Thou mayst prove false: at lovers’ perjuries They say Jove laughs. Oh gentle Romeo If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.
ROMEO Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, That tips with silver all these