Explore How Themes Develop in 'Romeo and Juliet'

In the exam, you might be asked to comment on the presentation of a theme or idea in an extract from the play and then consider this theme or idea in the play as a whole.

It is important that you know the key parts of the text where these themes are presented and also how they develop and change across the course of the play.

For a higher mark in the exam, it's also important to analyse Shakespeare's use of language/structure/dramatic devices.

Some of the themes Shakespeare explores in the play are:

Love

Hate/Conflict

Violence

Revenge

Family

Loyalty

Gender

Identity

Fate

Individual vs. society/private vs. public

Have a go at the following questions to revise the key themes Shakespeare explores in 'Romeo and Juliet'.

You should always refer to your own text when working through these examples.  These quotations are for reference only.