Sonnets in "Romeo and Juliet"
Shakespeare included rhyme throughout the dialogue of "Romeo and Juliet". On almost every page of the play, you can find examples of couplets or quatrains incorporated into the characters' dialogue.
In addition, Shakespeare included sonnets in the play. To review, a Shakespearean sonnet is a 14-line poem that includes three quatrains followed by one couplet, with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
Below, you will find two examples of techniques Shakespeare used to incorporate sonnets into "Romeo and Juliet." The rhyme scheme is included in purple.
The most obvious way sonnets are included in "Romeo and Juliet" is as complete poems.
Prologue
Two households, both alike in dignity, A
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, B
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, A
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. B
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes C
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; D
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows C
Doth with their death bury their parents' strife. D
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, E
And the continuance of their parents' rage, F
Which, but their children's end, naught could remove, E
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; F
The which if you with patient ears attend, G
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. G
Shakespeare also disguised sonnets within the dialogue of the play. In this next example (from Act I, Scene 5), you can see how this conversation between Romeo and Juliet is actually a sonnet.
Act I, Scene 5
ROMEO [To JULIET.]
If I profane with my unworthiest hand A
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: B
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand A
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. B
JULIET
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, C
Which mannerly devotion shows in this; D
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, C
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. D
ROMEO
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? E
JULIET
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. F
ROMEO
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; E
They pray — grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. F
JULIET
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake. G
ROMEO
Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. G
In addition, Shakespeare included sonnets in the play. To review, a Shakespearean sonnet is a 14-line poem that includes three quatrains followed by one couplet, with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
Below, you will find two examples of techniques Shakespeare used to incorporate sonnets into "Romeo and Juliet." The rhyme scheme is included in purple.
The most obvious way sonnets are included in "Romeo and Juliet" is as complete poems.
Prologue
Two households, both alike in dignity, A
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, B
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, A
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. B
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes C
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; D
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows C
Doth with their death bury their parents' strife. D
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, E
And the continuance of their parents' rage, F
Which, but their children's end, naught could remove, E
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; F
The which if you with patient ears attend, G
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. G
Shakespeare also disguised sonnets within the dialogue of the play. In this next example (from Act I, Scene 5), you can see how this conversation between Romeo and Juliet is actually a sonnet.
Act I, Scene 5
ROMEO [To JULIET.]
If I profane with my unworthiest hand A
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: B
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand A
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. B
JULIET
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, C
Which mannerly devotion shows in this; D
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, C
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. D
ROMEO
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? E
JULIET
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. F
ROMEO
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; E
They pray — grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. F
JULIET
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake. G
ROMEO
Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. G
