Question

Read the following excerpt and answer the question that follows:

FRIAR LAURENCE
Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine
Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
How much salt water thrown away in waste,
To season love, that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears;
Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet:
If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline:
And art thou changed? pronounce this sentence then,
Women may fall, when there's no strength in men.

What is the significance of the diction in this speech?

A) Friar Laurence uses words like "waste" and "forsaken" to show that he disapproves of Romeo's change of heart.

B) Friar Laurence uses words like "heaven" and "ancient" to show that he is happy that Romeo is in love with Juliet now.

C) Friar Laurence uses words that express fear to illustrate his hesitation to marry a Montague and a Capulet together.

D) Friar Laurence uses words that express delight to show that he believes this relationship will solve many problems.

Answer 1

A FRIAR LAURENCE

Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!

Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,

So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies

Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.

Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine