ROMEO AND JULIETAct I

SCENE ONE

_______ in the streets caused by an ongoing feud.

Benvolio – a Montague - tries to keep the peace.

_______ – a Capulet - restarts the fight out of spite.

Lord Capulet and Lord Montague join the fight. Prince Escalus – governor of the province of

Verona – breaks up the riot with the threat of death to the next person who “disturbs Verona’s streets”.

Romeo arrives after the riot, heart-broken over Rosaline, a young woman who _________ to be taken by him.

Fight

Tybalt

refuses

SCENE TWO

__________ asks for Juliet’s hand in marriage, offering money to her father as an incentive.

Lord Capulet invites Paris to a masquerade ball that evening.

Lord Capulet gives the guest list to a servant who can’t read.

This servant asks Benvolio and Romeo for help.

Benvolio and Romeo decide to____________ __________ will be there!!

Paris

Crash the partyRosaline

SCENE THREE

We meet Juliet and the Nurse. Lady Capulet asks her 12 year old

daughter how she would feel about being married.

Juliet agrees to marry Paris, a man she has not met.

SCENE FOUR

Romeo and his friends, a bit drunk, go to crash the Capulet party.

Romeo’s best friend Mercutio – the Prince’s nephew – laughs at Romeo’s fear over a dream he had that afternoon.

Mercutio tells a complicated tale about Queen Mab, the fairies’ midwife.

Mercutio hides a secret sadness with his drunken foolishness.

Romeo’s dream is not funny; he dreamt that he would die if he went to this party. This is called DRAMATIC IRONY.

SCENE FIVE

The men successfully crash the party. Romeo sees Juliet; Roseline is forgotten. Tybalt sees Romeo and wants to fight. Lady Capulet stops him with a curse. Romeo and Juliet meet and kiss. Romeo finds out Juliet is a Capulet. Juliet finds out that Romeo is the son of

her family’s worst enemy.

IMPORTANT VOCABULARY FOR ACT I

Dramatic Irony: when the audience knows something that the character does not.

Oxymoron: Use two contrasting terms together to emphasize confusion or humor.

ROMEO AND JULIET

Act II

You are invited to the Wedding of the Year!!!

ACT II OF ROMEO AND JULIET

Second Prologue: Summary of Act I Romeo now loves someone else who

seems unattainable, but love will find a way.

This is the audiences’ second chance to leave, but this time they would not get their money back.

SCENE ONE

Benvolio and Mercutio make fun of Romeo and his many loves.

They chase him through the back alleys, calling him names and chanting.

It is shortly after 12:00 am Monday morning.

Romeo climbs an orchard wall to escape their taunts.

SCENE TWO Romeo sees Juliet on her balcony and

praises her beauty. Juliet, not knowing that Romeo was listening

or even in the garden, prays that he will denounce his family and come to her.

Romeo jumps from the bushes; they talk long into the night, speaking of love, satisfaction, and finally marriage.

The nurse calls Juliet repeatedly; Mercutio keeps calling Romeo. Neither distracts the young lovers from their conversation.

Romeo promised to see Friar Laurence about the wedding plans.

Juliet will send the Nurse to see Romeo at the church at 9:00 am – a short four hours from now.

SCENE THREE We meet Friar Laurence for the first

time. He is the local priest and Romeo’s mentor and confidante.

Romeo speaks of his plans, but the Friar is first angry then skeptical. He asks of Roseline and tells Romeo is a fickled fool.

Later, the Friar changes his mind about the marriage, thinking that this may be just the way to end the feud. His intentions are good, but misplaced.

SCENE FOUR Mercutio and Benvolio tell of Tybalt's

written challenge to Romeo – an answer to Romeo’s crashing the party on Sunday.

Both men fear that Romeo is too lovesick to win a duel with the skillful swordsman Tybalt.

The Nurse enters and asked for Romeo; she is a very haughty woman who invites teasing from the young men with Romeo.

Assuring her of his sincerity, Romeo tells the Nurse to tell Juliet to come to Friar Laurence’s room that afternoon to be married.

SCENE FIVE

Juliet waits impatiently for the Nurse to return; it has been three long hours since she left the Capulet house.

When she returns, The Nurse teases Juliet then tells her of the wedding plans.

Juliet has her father’s permission to go to prayers that afternoon, so no one will be suspicious of Juliet’s absence.

SCENE SIX The Friar is worried that Romeo and Juliet

will “go too far” if he does not marry them quickly. Romeo’s intense physical attraction to Juliet frightens the old priest. Haste can only lead to despair, in his opinion.

The wedding takes place on Monday afternoon with only three people in attendance.

The couple parts at 5:00 pm with Romeo’s promise to sneak into the Capulet house after midnight.

This is the last happy moment in the play. The audience would be aware that problems to come and would probably call after the characters as they separate.

VOCABULARY FOR ACT II

Foreshadowing: hints about the future.

Figures of Speech: poetic forms that add to the comparisons and feelings of a written work.

Metaphor Simile Pun Alliteration Imagery Aside

ACT III

The Turning Point of the Tragedy

SCENE ONE Benvolio pleads with Mercutio not to be on the

streets since if they are seen by the Capulets, there will be a fight.

Tybalt enters and challenges the men as Romeo arrives – only five minutes after his wedding.

Tybalt renews his challenge to Romeo. Romeo does not want to fight his new cousin-in-

law, so he wishes Tybalt peace and walks away. Mercutio, thinking that Romeo is being a

coward or a lovesick fool, challenges Tybalt. Tybalt accepts the challenge humorously. He

knows that Mercutio is drunk and a very poor swordsman.

Mercutio and Tybalt fight half-heartedly, but Romeo becomes fearful of what could happen to Mercutio.

SCENE ONE CONTINUED Romeo steps between the two swordsmen to

stop the fight. Tybalt was coming toward Mercutio at the time

and accidentally stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm.

Mercutio is struck to the heart while Tybalt stands confused. He never meant to hurt Mercutio.

Mercutio, dying, cursed both the Capulet and Montague houses for their bloodlust then crawls off stage to die.

Benvolio runs off stage but returns quickly to say that Mercutio is dead!

Tybalt runs in fear of Prince Escalus’ promised punishment.

SCENE ONE CONTINUED Romeo, feeling guilty and angry, forgets his

marriage and runs after Tybalt to kill him. Romeo and Tybalt fight viciously until Tybalt is

killed. Romeo realizes what he has done in killing his

wife’s favorite cousin …”I am Fortune’s Fool…” Romeo runs away to Friar Laurence’s room. Prince Escalus comes to see what is happening

in the square and discovers his own nephew dead and Tybalt bloody in the streets.

Benvolio tries to explain, but Lady Capulet calls for Romeo’s blood.

The Prince believing Benvolio’s account of the fight only banishes Romeo from Verona. But, he promised Lady Capulet that if Romeo ever returns to Verona, he will be killed.

SCENE TWO Juliet is anxiously awaiting for Romeo to arrive

for their wedding night. The Nurse comes to tell of a death, but she is

so distracted that Juliet, at first, thinks that Romeo is dead.

Finding out that Tybalt is dead at Romeo’s hand, Juliet first curses Romeo then feeling guilty worries for his safety.

Juliet’s immaturity in handling problems shows here; she is still a child!

Juliet says that she will kill herself, but the Nurse talks her out of it by agreeing to go talk to Friar Laurence.

The Nurse is sent to the Friar to tell Romeo that Juliet still loves him and needs to see him.

SCENE THREE Friar Laurence tells Romeo of his

banishment. Romeo says that death is preferable to

being sent away from his home forever. The Friar reminds him for his

responsibility to Juliet and tells him to stop whining like a little girl.

When the Nurse arrives to tell of Juliet’s reaction, Romeo tries to stab himself with garden shears.

The Friar slaps him to the floor. The Friar has a plan:

SCENE THREE CONTINUED

Romeo is to go to Mantua – a town 10 miles away – until the Friar can: A. Stop the feud. B. Reveal the secret marriage. C. Obtain the Prince’s pardon for Romeo. None of these ideas have a chance of

working, but the Friar wants Romeo to stop crying.

Romeo was to go to Juliet first, but he had to be out of Verona before sunrise.

SCENE FOUR

Lord Capulet, not knowing about Juliet’s marriage, tells Count Paris that they should postpone their wedding until Juliet has mourned over Tybalt.

Count Paris insists that a wedding would help Juliet with her grief.

Lord Capulet finally agrees to the wedding in three days.

Lord Capulet instructs Lady Capulet to go to Juliet first thing in the morning – Tuesday morning – to tell her the good news about the wedding.

SCENE FIVE As the scene opens, the lark is singing outside – a sign that

the sun has already rose on the lovers. The lovers part quickly with Juliet asking if they will ever

meet again. Lady Capulet enters to tell Juliet of her approaching

wedding. Juliet – for the first time in her life – screams at her mother.

She says that she WILL NOT marry Count Paris or any one else!!

Lady Capulet tells Lord Capulet, and he breaks into Juliet’s room with an ultimatum: she will marry Paris, or he will disown her – throw her into the street to die.

Juliet turns to her mother for help only to be told that her mother wishes that Juliet had never been born!

Both parents have now rejected the frighten girl, so she turns to the person who always helps her, the Nurse.

But, the Nurse does not side with Juliet this time. She tells her to forget Romeo and marry the wealthy Paris.

Juliet is shocked, so shocked that she fires the Nurse. Juliet tells the Nurse that she is never to speak to her again.

SCENE FIVE CONTINUED Juliet grows up at the moment. From this point on,

she will become a young woman making adult decisions and mistakes.

Juliet decides that she must go to Friar Laurence, but she cannot leave the house without permission – permission she won’t get unless she agrees to marry Paris.

For the second time, Juliet lies to her father. She apologizes for her outburst, agrees to marry

Paris, and asks permission to go to Confession to repent of her sins.

What Juliet really intends to do is get Friar Laurence to take her to Romeo or give her a plan of escape from the marriage to Paris.

The Nurse will know nothing of these plans. This will prove to be a major mistake for Romeo and Juliet.

ACT IV

“-more dark and dark our woes”

Romeo – Act III, Scene 5

SCENE ONE

Juliet meets Paris at the Friar’s room and is terrified when he mentions their marriage.

Juliet threatens suicide if the Friar does not help her.

The Friar has a better plan: Juliet is to take a sleeping draught that will

make her fall into a deathlike sleep for 42 hours.

While she is being buried, Friar Lawrence will send a message to Romeo explaining all.

They can then escape to Mantua with no one after them.

SCENE TWO

Lord Capulet is so happy that Juliet is acting as she should that he changes the wedding day to Wednesday instead of Thursday.

Juliet must now take the potion a day early, but she neglects to tell Friar Laurence who still believes that he has two days to reach Romeo.

SCENE THREE The Nurse helps Juliet prepare for the wedding,

but Juliet still refuses to speak with her. The Nurse knows nothing about the plans. It is Tuesday night. Juliet, before she drinks the potion, has doubts:

What if the potion does not work? She puts the dagger under her pillow.

What if the Friar, feeling guilty about his part in the wedding, gave her poison instead of the sleeping draught?

What if she should awake in the tombs with all the dead bodies before Romeo arrives?

What if Tybalt’s ghost is waiting for her in the tomb?

SCENE FOUR

Lord and Lady Capulet joyously make the final preparations for the wedding on Wednesday morning.

Paris arrives, and the Nurse is sent to wake Juliet for her big day.

Friar Laurence gives a letter to Friar John – the Postmaster – to take to Romeo.

Friar John riding on an old donkey usually takes two days to get to Mantua.

Romeo would receive the letter Friday morning.

SCENE FIVE

The Nurse finds Juliet “dead”. The family is devastated, particularly her

father. Paris and the Friar enter to hear the sad

news. Friar Laurence is worried, but he

encourages the family to bury her quickly.

He must find a way to get another letter to Romeo before the news of Juliet’s “death” spreads.

ACT V:

“NEVER WAS A TALE OF MORE WOE THAN THIS OF JULIET AND HER ROMEO…”

SCENE ONE

It is Thursday afternoon after Juliet’s funeral.

Balthasar, Romeo’s servant, having seen the funeral, arrives in Mantua with bad news.

Romeo, not having received Friar Laurence’s letter, does not know that this is a hoax – Dramatic Irony.

Feeling guilty, Romeo visits the apothecary where he buys poison.

Romeo and Balthasar leave Mantua, passing Friar John as he enters the city.

SCENE TWO

It is Thursday evening. Friar Laurence knows that his message

will not reach Romeo in time. He is feeling guilty and sinful at what

he has done and has planned. Juliet is to awaken in three hours, so

Friar Laurence sets out for the crypt. He does not want Juliet to awaken

alone.

SCENE THREE - A

Paris, coming to the crypt with flowers, meets Romeo and tries to stop him from going to the crypt.

He thinks that Romeo, a Montague, means to vandalize the grave of the Capulet’s.

Romeo warns Paris to leave, but Paris attacks him.

As he dies, Paris asks Romeo to put him in the crypt.

Romeo calls Paris another “fortune’s fool”.

SCENE THREE - B

Romeo apologizes to Tybalt for killing him Romeo then delivers a SOLILIQUY (speech to

himself) telling of Juliet’s beauty even in death and accusing her of being “Death’s paramour”.

Romeo drinks the poison and dies. Friar Laurence arrives seconds later to find

Romeo and Paris dead and Juliet awakening. The Friar tells Juliet of the deaths. The Friar hears the night watchman coming

and begs Juliet to come with him. When she refuses, he flees in terror.

SCENE THREE - C

Left alone, Juliet tries to kiss the poison from Romeo’s lips.

When this does not work, she stabs herself with his dagger.

A night watchman finds the open crypt with three fresh bodies.

Another watchman finds Friar Laurence and Balthasar hiding in the crypt garden.

SCENE THREE - D

The Capulets and Montagues are summoned to the crypt.

The Prince, who was at Mercutio’s crypt, arrives immediately.

Friar Laurence confesses all and awaits punishment, being sure to tell that the Nurse was involved.

Balthasar, Romeo’s servant, gives Prince Escalus a letter from Romeo, in which he admits his deception and asks for forgiveness for Juliet and Friar Laurence.

SCENE THREE - E

Lord Montague tells that his wife killed herself when Romeo was banished.

The Prince blames all of the families and those who should have known better for these deaths.

The two families repent of the feud and agree to bury their children together in a new crypt.

The Prince pronounces judgment on those responsible for the deeds done.

The Prince then delivers a eulogy for the “star-crossed lovers”.

He ends with: “For never was there a tale of more woe/Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

SO ENDS THE STORY OF

ROMEO AND JULIET

NOW THE REST OF THE STORY…

WHAT WERE THE RESULTS AND/OR CONSEQUENCES FOR EACH MAJOR PLAYER?

Romeo? Juliet? Tybalt? Lady Montague? Friar Laurence? The Nurse? Mercutio? Paris?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THESE CHARACTERS?

Benvolio? Rosaline? Prince Escalus? Balthasar? Lord Montague? Lord and Lady Capulet?