EGR Speaking Club

High School Homework Help: Writing the Romeo and Juliet Essay

Have to write an essay on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? Check out these hints, tips, study guide recommendations, and more from writemyessaysos.com.

The Romeo and Juliet essay is practically a rite of passage for U.S. high school English students. While it may be tempting to Google "Romeo and Juliet Essays" and grab the first one that floats to the top of the search results, don't do it - teachers are increasingly aware of this tactic, and getting caught can mean serious consequences. Instead, put together a solid, original essay on this classic Shakespeare play with a few helpful tips.

"Help! I Don't Understand Romeo and Juliet!"

Romeo and Juliet are often the first Shakespeare play a high school student ever reads, and its arcane language and odd format - do these characters really speak in poetry? - can be a serious turn-off for first-time readers. But it's not as hard to understand as it looks. Free Romeo and Juliet study guides can be found all over the Internet: try, for example, the study guide at SparkNotes or the guide at Shmoop. Not only are these study guides easy to understand, they're fun to read, too.

"Okay, I Get the Plot of Romeo and Juliet ... But What's With the Language?"

Romeo and Juliet's quotes abound in English literature, but they're no good to anyone unless the reader understands them.

Perhaps the most often quoted line from this star-crossed lovers' tragedy is Juliet's line in Act 2, Scene 1, also known as "the balcony scene." There, Juliet, not knowing that Romeo is listening, asks herself, "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" She goes on: "Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

Contrary to looks, the word "wherefore" here doesn't mean "where," but "why?" Juliet finds herself in love with Romeo, a Montague, her family's sworn enemies. Why, she asks, does she have to be in love with someone her family hates? Can't he just get rid of his name - or marry her, so she can get rid of hers? After all, as Romeo pointed out just a scene earlier, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

As daunting as it looks on the page, none of the dialogue in Romeo and Juliet is any more complicated than these famous examples. Online study guides are a great help, or check your library for annotated versions of the play that offer modern translations alongside Shakespeare's original text.

"I Have to Write a Romeo and Juliet Essay on Act 3, Scene 1. What's Going On Here?"

Act 3, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet is a notorious topic for essays. Thorough Romeo and Juliet research can help here, but understanding the scene is key.

In Act 3, Scene 1, Romeo and Juliet are married, but no one knows it yet. So, when Juliet's cousin Tybalt - still Romeo's sworn enemy - challenges Romeo to a duel, Romeo doesn't really want to fight him. Tybalt is family now, after all, and it's just not polite to have swordfights with your family. Romeo, therefore, tries to talk Tybalt out of fighting without revealing his secret marriage. Unfortunately, Romeo doesn't count on his quick-acting (if not always quick-thinking) friend Mercutio, who challenges Tybalt to a duel before Romeo can blink.

Alas, poor Mercutio! He may be quick to act, but Tybalt is quicker with a sword, and gives him a fatal wound. As he's dying Mercutio rattles off a few more puns, such as describing himself as a "grave man" - both one who doesn't think this is a joking matter, and one who will soon be buried six feet under. Mercutio's dying words are another famous Romeo and Juliet quote: "A pox on both your houses!"

As if Romeo's day isn't bad enough already, Tybalt chooses this moment to storm back onstage, sword in hand. Since he can't let his friend's death go un-revenged, Romeo has to duel Tybalt. This he does - and kills him. By the end of the scene, Romeo finds himself banished from Verona for killing his (still secret) cousin.

Act 3, Scene 1 usually leaves the audience in shock. After all, the previous scenes claimed that "love conquers all," seeing teens from two feuding families marry each other happily. But it appears love doesn't conquer all - Romeo must still defend himself and even kill in a culture where violence, not love, is the way to defend "honor." "Oh, I am fortune's fool!" Romeo cries as he leaves, and for good reason.

Surviving the writing of Romeo and Juliet essays isn't as hard as it sounds. Besides, Romeo and Juliet is a classic for a reason. It has everything: edge-of-your-seat action, a love story, great comedy, deception and subterfuge, and some really rocking parties.