Question

read the excerpt from a play.
romeo is in love with juliet but cannot act on it. he happens upon the aftermath of a fight between his family and juliets family, who are engaged in a long - standing feud.
from romeo and juliet
... o me! - what fray was here?
yet tell me not, for i have heard it all.
heres much to do with hate, but more with love. -
why then, o brawling love! o loving hate!
o any thing, of nothing first create!
o heavy lightness! serious vanity!
mis - shapen chaos of well - seeming forms!
feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
still - waking sleep, that is not what it is! -
this love feel i, that feel no love in this.
(from romeo and juliet by william shakespeare)
these lines are from the excerpt:
\why then, o brawling love! o loving hate!\ (line 4)
\feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!\ (line 8)
choose two ways that the phrases in these lines help to characterize romeo.

1. they show that romeo is emotionally confused.
2. they show that romeo is disappointed in himself.
3. they show that romeo is determined to understand the reason for the feud.
4. they show that romeo is torn between loyalty to his family and his love for juliet.
5. they show that romeo is concerned about the differences between himself and juliet.

Explanation:

• Option 1: The phrases like "brawling love", "loving hate", etc., are oxymorons. Oxymorons create a sense of contradiction and confusion. Romeo's use of these shows his emotional turmoil and confusion as he tries to grapple with the complex situation of love (for Juliet) and hate (due to the feud between families).
• Option 4: The feud between the families (which represents loyalty to his family) and his love for Juliet are in conflict. The oxymoronic phrases reflect this internal conflict. For example, "heavy lightness" can be seen as the weight of family loyalty (heavy) versus the light - heartedness of love (light), but they are intertwined in a chaotic way for Romeo.

Options 2, 3, and 5 are not supported. There is no indication of self - disappointment (Option 2), no focus on understanding the feud's reason (Option 3), and no concern about differences between himself and Juliet (Option 5) in these specific phrases.

Answer:

1. They show that Romeo is emotionally confused.
2. They show that Romeo is torn between loyalty to his family and his love for Juliet.