SIMILIES in Romeo and Juliet

 Simile is a figure of speech that make a comparison between two different things to highlight the similarities.

Examples for Similes in Romeo and Juliet:

1. “is love a tender thing?  It is too rough too rude, too boisterous and it prick like a thorn.”

(i.iv)

• Romeo laments, love has been portrayed as a harmful experience.  It pricks the feelings of the individual like a thorn prickles and hurts human skin.  The readers can understand Romeo’s feeling of love before meeting Juliet.

2. “O speak again bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being o’er my head; As in a winged messenger of heaven.”  (ii.ii)

• This shows Romeo’s admiration and affection for Juliet.  In Romeo’s view Juliet lights up the night with her bright appearance like celestial being brightens the heavens with its beauty.

 3.“I’ll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb.”

• The Nurse compliments about Romeo and compare his gentle behavior to a lamb.

 4.“so Tedious is this day

     And may not wear them.”

• It was expressed by Juliet before their first night after their happy marriage.  It has been compared to an eager child who waits impatiently to wear the new robe to a festival.  The joy of the child looking forward to wear the new dress.

 5.“this sight of death is as a bell

     That warns my old age to a sepulcher.”  (v.iii)

• After seeing Juliet dead, in a tomb Lady Capulet reminds her old age and demise.  She compares Juliet’s death with a bell the beckons her to her own grave.  It pains her lot

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