2.2.2

Scene 1 Quotes

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Key Quotes - Act 1, Scene 1

Here are key quotes from Sampson and Benvolio in Act 1, Scene 1:

Sampson

Sampson

  • 'I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.'
    • Sampson tries to provoke the servants of the Montague family by biting his thumb at them. This is basically swearing at them.
    • He says that the Montagues will be disgraced (lose their honour) if they do not defend their honour after Sampson insults them.
Sampson quote - further analysis

Sampson quote - further analysis

  • The two families lose some of their humanity and self-control whenever they are near each other. They let their animalistic (animal-like) sides take over.
    • Shakespeare shows this aggression at the very start of the play to show how much the Montagues and Capulets hate one another.
Benvolio

Benvolio

  • 'Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do.'
  • Benvolio enters the scene after the servants have begun to fight. He immediately tries to break them up by telling them to 'part' and calling them 'fools'.
  • He implies that these men have not thought about the potential consequences of their actions. This suggests that Benvolio thinks before he acts (and is very different to Tybalt).
  • He is very aware that the Prince is unhappy about the two families fighting in Verona.

Key Quotes - Act 1, Scene 1

Here are key quotes from Romeo, the Prince and Tybalt in Act 1, Scene 1:

Romeo

Romeo

  • 'O brawling love! O loving hate!'
    • Romeo talks in oxymorons (contradictions next to one another) throughout Act 1 until he meets Juliet.
    • He feels love for Rosaline, but it is a hateful, difficult love, because she does not return his feelings.
    • He feels confused and does not know what to do because he loves Rosaline so much and she does not feel the same way.
Prince

Prince

  • 'If ever you disturb our streets again, / Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.'
    • After breaking up the fight, the Prince threatens the Montagues and Capulets.
    • They have fought three times in the streets of Verona and caused huge disruptions. If they fight again, he will have them put to death.
Tybalt

Tybalt

  • 'Peace! I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward!'
    • Tybalt is very different to Benvolio.
    • At first, Tybalt mocks Benvolio for trying to make peace.
    • Tybalt hates peace (and the Montagues) a lot. This emphasises how aggressive he is.
    • In Elizabethan society, hell would have been the worst thing imaginable. Here, Tybalt encourages strong hatred in society.
    • Tybalt uses the noun 'coward' to try and make Benvolio angry and provoke (encourage) him into fighting.
Jump to other topics
1

Context

1.1

Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting1.1.2Relationships1.1.3Religion & Fate1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context1.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Era1.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Prologue

2.1.1Prologue
2.2

Act 1

2.2.1Scene 12.2.2Scene 1 Quotes2.2.3Scene 22.2.4Scene 32.2.5Scene 42.2.6Scene 52.2.7End of Topic Test - Prologue & Act 1
2.3

Act 2

2.3.1Scenes 1-22.3.2Scene 32.3.3Scene 42.3.4Scenes 5-62.3.5End of Topic Test - Act 2
2.4

Act 3

2.4.1Scene 12.4.2Scene 22.4.3Scenes 3-42.4.4Scene 52.4.5End of Topic Test - Act 3
2.5

Act 4

2.5.1Scene 12.5.2Scenes 2-32.5.3Scenes 4-5
2.6

Act 5

2.6.1Scene 12.6.2Scene 22.6.3Scene 32.6.4Scene 3 - Quotes2.6.5End of Topic Test - Acts 4 & 52.6.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Drugs2.6.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Knowing about the Wed2.6.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Order of Deaths
3

Key Characters

3.1

Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect3.1.2Character Development3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes3.1.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Age3.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Banishment3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Naivety
3.2

Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development3.2.2Tragic Character3.2.3Key Quotes3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet3.2.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Real People?3.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Montagues vs Capulets
3.3

Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation3.3.2Key Quotes
3.4

The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse3.4.2Benvolio3.4.3Tybalt
3.5

Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation3.5.2Key Quotes3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence3.5.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - What is a Friar?
3.6

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis
4

Key Themes & Concepts

4.1

Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves4.1.2Friendship & Family4.1.3Violent Love4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love
4.2

Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death4.2.3Fate & Destiny4.2.4Gender4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Type of Play
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Wherefore
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Main Quotes by Act

6.1.1Act 16.1.2Act 26.1.3Act 36.1.4Act 46.1.5Act 5
6.2

Main Quotes by Character

6.2.1Romeo6.2.2Juliet6.2.3Mercutio6.2.4Friar Laurence6.2.5Nurse6.2.6Benvolio6.2.7Tybalt

Practice questions on Scene 1 Quotes

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Complete these quotes from Sampson and Benvolio in Act 1, Scene 1:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Who says _<b>'Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do'</b>_ in Act 1, Scene 1?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What does the quote _'I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it'_ show?True / false
  4. 4
    What does the quote _'Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do'_ show about Benvolio?True / false
  5. 5
    What does it mean to 'bite' your 'thumb' at someone?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Scene 1 Quotes

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Scene 1

Scene 2