act 1 scene 5


The kiss is the great symbol of the love that could have been.


Key Moment: The Holy Sonnet R8 appreciate language enrichment, the use of fi gurative language


This conversation between the two protagonists (main characters) is very poetic. It is often called the Holy Sonnet for the following reasons:


à It uses a lot of religious imagery – pilgrims and lovers, lips and hands. In the 16th century, pilgrims made long journeys to holy shrines where they would touch sacred statues. Romeo tells Juliet that he and she are like pilgrims touching the hands of statues. Therefore, he argues, their kiss is a prayer.


à It has the classic rhyming scheme and structure of a sonnet, a poem of 14 lines in the shape of three quatrains (four-line verses), with the rhyming scheme abab-cdcd-efef, and one rhyming couplet (the last two lines), with the rhyming scheme gg.


Romeo: If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.


a b a b


Juliet: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, c Which mannerly devotion shows in this;


Romeo: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? Juliet: Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. Romeo: O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.


d


For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, c And palm to palm is holy palmer’s kiss.


d e


f


e f


Juliet: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake. g Romeo: Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.


WHAT ELSE MAKES THIS A KEY MOMENT?


It advances the plot. A Montague is now in love with a Capulet.


42 JUNIOR CYCLE ENGLISH


ANYTHING ELSE?


Yes. After all the fighting, hatred and bitterness of the opening scenes, this


is a scene of love and tenderness. Now we see the contrasting themes of true love and bitter conflict.


g 3RD QUATRAIN


1ST QUATRAIN


2ND QUATRAIN


COUPLET


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