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Lawrence

Literary Character
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The Franciscan friar in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet whose misguided schemes to unite the lovers ultimately lead to tragedy; he embodies the peril of good intentions undone by haste and circumstance.

Detailed Definition
Lawrence here refers to Friar Lawrence, the cleric in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet who tries to help the lovers. He is an important supporting character and a key figure in the plot. Because the poem uses the name as part of a literary reference, readers may need identification.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Good Friar Lawrence, wise and kindly soul,” identifies Shakespeare’s adviser in Romeo and Juliet; “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast” is Lawrence’s caution to Romeo; “These violent delights have violent ends” gives his moral warning a memorable paradox; A dramatic monologue may invoke “a Friar Lawrence” as shorthand for a well-meaning but fallible mediator
Additional Notes
The quoted line contains a proper name tied to a specific literary character, not a common word.; Found in the poem, Star Crossed Lovers by Richard
Also Known As
T. E. Lawrence Lawrence of Arabia The Lawrence The Arabist
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