Read the excerpt from Act II, scene v of Romeo and Juliet. Friar Laurence : These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triumph die, like fire and powder Which, as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey Is loathsome in his own deliciousness And in the taste confounds the appetite: Therefore love moderately; long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. What effects does the foreshadowing in Friar Laurence’s warning to Romeo have? Choose three correct answers.
Answer
A
It characterizes Friar Laurence as a man who believes he has the ability to predict the future.
B
It provides a clue that something tragic will happen to the lovers later as the story progresses.
C
It keeps the audience engaged in the plot by suggesting more potential conflict in the story.
D
It explains to the reader why Romeo and Juliet will never find the happiness they seek together.
E
It creates suspense as the reader wonders why Friar Laurence would utter this warning.
Explanation
Friar Laurence warns that intense love can end violently and that moving too quickly can be as harmful as moving too slowly. This warning hints that Romeo and Juliet’s passionate, hurried relationship may lead to tragedy, giving the audience a clue about later events (C). It also makes readers wonder why he is warning Romeo and encourages them to anticipate possible conflict (B and D). The speech is foreshadowing, not evidence that Friar Laurence believes he can predict the future.
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