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

'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

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

'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

'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

'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

'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.

1Context

1.1Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting

1.1.2Relationships

1.1.3Religion & Fate

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context

2Plot Summary

3Key Characters

3.1Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect

3.1.2Character Development

3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes

3.2Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development

3.2.2Tragic Character

3.2.3Key Quotes

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet

3.3Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation

3.3.2Key Quotes

3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse

3.4.2Benvolio

3.4.3Tybalt

3.5Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation

3.5.2Key Quotes

3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio

3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence

3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis

4Key Themes & Concepts

4.1Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves

4.1.2Friendship & Family

4.1.3Violent Love

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love

4.2Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide

4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death

4.2.3Fate & Destiny

4.2.4Gender

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme

5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery

5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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