In the United States, we usually associate pilgrims with Thanksgiving and people in tall black hats and shoes with big buckles.
The word “pilgrim” actually refers to anyone who travels to a sacred place for religious reasons.
Why do you think Shakespeare chose to use this rhyme scheme in The Prologue?
90 If I profane with my unworthiest hand
91 This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,
92 My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
93 To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
94 Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
95 Which mannerly devotion shows in this:
96 For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
97 And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
98 Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
99 Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in pray'r.
Read Romero's first four lines.
What action is Romeo talking about when he says he might "have "profane[d]...this holy shrine"?
Why do Romeo call his sin "gentle"?
PART I: Which of Romeo's lines do you think convinces Juliet to kiss him?
Scene 5
ROMEO
90 If I profane with my unworthiest hand 91 This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, 92 My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand 93 To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. JULIET 94 Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, 95 Which mannerly devotion shows in this: 96 For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, 97 And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss. ROMEO 98 Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? JULIET 99 Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in pray’r. ROMEO 100 O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do, 101 They pray—grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. JULIET 102 Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake. ROMEO 103 Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.
How does Romeo and Juliet’s language show that they make a good couple? Develop your reasons with evidence from the text. (APE- This answer should be 4-6 sentences).
Scene 5
ROMEO
90 If I profane with my unworthiest hand
91 This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,
92 My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
93 To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET
94 Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
95 Which mannerly devotion shows in this:
96 For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
97 And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
ROMEO
98 Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET
99 Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in pray’r.
ROMEO
100 O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do,
101 They pray—grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET
102 Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
ROMEO
103 Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.
Select two of Romeo’s lines that rhyme with Juliet’s.
Juliet calls Romeo a “pilgrim,” which is the same thing as a palmer. In line 97, how does she describe a palmer’s kiss?
Juliet is saying something true about palmers, but what is she really telling Romeo?
Romeo points out that palmers have lips; what is he really telling Juliet?
How is this scene changed by Romeo's and Juliet’s use of an extended metaphor to flirt rather than trying to say what they feel more directly?
In line 98, Romeo asks, “have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?” What does he mean by this?
In lines 99–103, which word is repeated the greatest number of times?
How many syllables are in most of the lines?
