ACT ONE | Scene I

Study

Questions

What is the purpose of the prologue?

1.

INTRODUCE SETTING

BASIC PLOT

CONFLICT AND THEME

ACT ONE | Scene I

1.

Between what two families does the feud exist?CAPULETS

AND

MONTAGUES

ACT ONE | Scene I

2.

Why does Shakespeare begin the play with a quarrel?

ESTABLISH THE INTENSITY OF THE

CONFLICT - EVEN THESERVANTS HATE EACH

OTHER

ACT ONE | Scene I

3.

What decree does Prince Escalus make?

4.

ACT ONE | Scene I

If there is one more fight because of the Montagues’ and Capulets’ feud, someone will be punished by death.

4.

How does Montague react to his son’s recent behavior?

5.

HE IS CONCERNED

ACT ONE | Scene I

5.

What is Romeo’s mood in scene one and why?

6.

ACT ONE | Scene I

Sad,

moody and

lovesick

The girl he

loves doesn’t

love him.

6.

What advice does Benvolio give Romeo?

7.

FORGET ABOUT THE GIRL; MOVE

ON.

ACT ONE | Scene I

7.

ACT ONE | Scene II

Study

Questions

How does Capulet respond to Paris’ proposal to marry Juliet?

1.

ACT ONE | Scene II

He thinks his daughter is too young. They need to wait a couple years and make sure they’re in love.

1.

What does this conversation tell us

about Paris’ personality?

HE IS PUSHY AND VERY

INTERESTED IN MARRYING

JULIETACT ONE | Scene II

2.

How do Romeo and Benvolio learn about the Capulet’s ball?

ACT ONE | Scene II

The illiterate servant asks them to read the invitation.

3.

What argument does Benvolio use to

convince Romeo to go to the party?

4.

ACT ONE | Scene II

Romeo can compare Rosaline to other girls and see she is not the prettiest.

4.

Why does Romeo say he will go?

5.

SO HE CAN SEE ROSALINE

ACT ONE | Scene II

5.

ACT ONE | Scene III

Study

Questions

What is Lammastide? On what date does it

come?1.

A HOLIDAY CELEBRATING THE SUMMER HARVEST

ACT ONE | Scene III

AUGUST 1

1.

How old is Juliet?

ACT ONE | Scene III

2.

Why does the servant speak in prose?

ACT ONE | Scene III

To distinguish the educated characters from the uneducated.

3.

What purposes do the nurse’s speeches serve?

4.

ACT ONE | Scene III

4.

What is Juliet’s attitude about marriage with

Paris?

5.

ACT ONE | Scene III

She is not interested because she doesn’t even know him, and she’s never considered marriage before.

5.

ACT ONE | Scene IV

Study

Questions

When and where does this scene take place?

1.

ACT ONE | Scene IV

Outside in the streets, in the evening, right before the Capulet party

1.

How do Romeo and Mercutio contrast

toward life?

ACT ONE | Scene IV

Romeo is very serious and emotional.

Mercutio is funny and takes everything lightly.

2.

Why is it important that the men wear masks?

THE MONTAGUES WOULD NOT BE WELCOME AT THE

CAPULET'S PARTY

ACT ONE | Scene IV

3.

Why does Romeo ask for a torch?

ACT ONE | Scene IV

He doesn’t want to dance or have fun – he wants to be a “candleholder and look on”

4.

Explain Mercutio’s speech. Who is Queen

Mab?

ACT ONE | Scene IV

Queen Mab is a fairy who gets into men’s brains while they sleep and controls their dreams.

5.

ACT ONE | Scene V

Study

Questions

Where does this scene take place?

AT THE CAPULET'S HOUSE

ACT ONE | Scene V

1.

Who is Romeo talking about in lines 43-52?

Explain the irony in these lines.

2.

ACT ONE | Scene V

Juliet; before the party he thought he would never get over Rosaline, but now he says, “I never saw true beauty till this night” about Juliet.

Why does Tybalt become so upset, and

how does Capulet respond to his rage?

3.

ACT ONE | Scene V

He recognizes Romeo’s voice and is angry that a Montague is at a Capulet party. Capulet does not want Tybalt to react or start a fight.

What form of poetry does Shakespeare use in the dialogue

between Romeo and Juliet in their first conversation?

4.

SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET

ACT ONE | Scene V

What forces are brought into conflict in this

scene?

5.

ACT ONE | Scene V

Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love before they know they are from feuding families.

What is the atmosphere at the end of this scene?

6.

CHAOTIC; EVERYONE LEAVING THE PARTY

ACT ONE | Scene V

What do Romeo and Juliet discover after

they kiss?7.

THE OTHER’S IDENTITY

ACT ONE | Scene V

ACT TWO | Scene I

Study

Questions

To remind the audience that Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline has ended. He now loves Juliet, who loves him back.

What is the purpose of the prologue in Act II?

Act II – Prologue

He wants to go back and see Juliet again.

Why does Romeo hide from Mercutio and Benvolio?

Act II – Scene 1

No, because they are still referring to his love for Rosaline.

Do you think they realize Romeo found a new love? Why or why not?

Act II – Scene 1

METAPHOR

Romeo compares Juliet’s eyes to the stars. This is an example of what literary element?

Act II – Scene 2

She speaks of her love for him before she knows he is below her balcony listening.

How does Romeo find out that Juliet shares his feelings of love?

Act II – Scene 2

She is embarrassed that he heard her talking about him; she is worried for his safety.

How does Juliet react when she first hears Romeo? Why?

Act II – Scene 2

The moon is always changing; she doesn’t want his love to be changing all the time.

Why doesn’t Juliet want Romeo to swear by the moon?

Act II – Scene 2

She feels it is too fast, too sudden.

How does Juliet feel about the promises of love just made?

Act II – Scene 2

Send a message to her the next day if he wants to marry her.

What does Juliet tell Romeo to do?

Act II – Scene 2

ALLITERATION: the use of the same initial sound in a series of words.

Juliet says that “parting is such sweet sorrow.” This is an example of what literary element?

Act II – Scene 2

Gathering flowers and herbs in his garden

What is Friar Laurence doing at the beginning of this scene?

Act II – Scene 3

That he marry Romeo and Juliet that day

What proposal does Romeo make to the Friar?

Act II – Scene 3

It’s not true love – he knows Romeo was lovesick over Rosaline the day before.

What doubts does Friar Laurence have?

Act II – Scene 3

He’s hoping it will bring peace to the feuding families.

Why does Friar Laurence finally accept?

Act II – Scene 3

Tybalt, because Romeo was at the Capulet feast.

Who has sent a challenge to Romeo and why?

Act II – Scene 4

Mercutio makes fun of Tybalt’s style of fighting, then of Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline; the men try to outdo each other’s puns.

What examples of humor are in this scene?

Act II – Scene 4

That he better not hurt Juliet

What warning does the nurse give Romeo?

Act II – Scene 4

Tell Juliet to meet him at Friar Laurence’s cell (under pretext of confession) that day so they can get married; meet his servant to get a rope so he can get in her room that night.

What does Romeo ask the nurse to do? (be sure to list all the steps)

Act II – Scene 4

She cares deeply for Juliet and wants her to be happy; she’s not very smart.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Nurse as medium?

Act II – Scene 4

Because the Nurse won’t tell her what Romeo said.

Juliet is waiting impatiently for the Nurse’s return. Why does she become so irritated when the Nurse does return?

Act II – Scene 5

The nurse is going to get the rope ladder; Juliet is going to Friar Laurence’s cell.

At the end of this scene, where is the Nurse going? Where is Juliet going?

Act II – Scene 5

“violent delights have violent ends”

What warning does the Friar give about passionate love?

Act II – Scene 6

That their passionate love will bring about more fighting and violence

What fear does he express for the future?

Act II – Scene 6

Their death

What does this fear foreshadow?

Act II – Scene 6