ROMEO AND JULIET ACT I Reading Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Define the following words. Be able to understand the words for when they
appear in the text.
1. Pernicious: devastating, dangerous, deadly, destructive
2. Grievance: grief, hardship, injustice, objection
3. Augmenting: add to, amplify, enhance, enlarge
4. Transgression: infringement, breach, fault, sin
II. LITERARY TERMS: Define the following terms. Provide an example for each term from the
text.
1. Dialogue: the conversation between characters in a novel, drama, etc.
Ex: Sampson: Gregory, on my word, we’ll not carry coals.
Gregory: No, for then we should be colliers.
2. Stage Directions: instructions written into the script of a play, indicating stage actions, movements of
performers, or production requirements.
Ex: Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY of the house of Capulet, with swords and bucklers.
3. Summarizing: a brief statement of the main points
Ex: The prologue
III. Questions: Answer the following questions about the play.
Prologue:
1. In what city does this play take place? Verona
2. Why are Romeo and Juliet called “star-cross’d lovers”?
They are fated to be apart, not together; their love is not “written in the stars”
Scene 1:
3. Who is fighting at the beginning of the first scene?
Sampson and Gregory versus Abram
4. Who tries to break up the fighting?
Benvolio
5. What threat does the Prince make to Lord Montague and Lord Capulet?
If they disturb Verona’s streets again, they’ll be punished with death.
6. Benvolio and Montague describe the way Romeo has been acting. What do they have to say
about
him? He’s sad and moody; he is keeping to himself and avoiding people by locking himself in
his
room
7. Why is Romeo so sad? Explain.
He is in love with someone who doesn’t love him back.
8. What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo? Forget about it; look at other beauties.
Scene 2:
9. Why does Capulet think it will be easy for Montague and him to keep the peace?
A mutual oath and their old age
10. What does Paris ask about Capulet? Paris wants to marry Juliet
11. What is Capulet’s first answer? She’s not even 14, wait two summers.
12. A bit later Capulet appears to change his mind about Paris’ question. What does he then tell
Paris? Woo her, win her heart, come to the party, look at other beauties in the meantime
13. What problem does the servant have? The servant can’t read
14. What is the name of the woman Romeo loves? Rosaline
15. What do Romeo and Benvolio decide to do? Crash the Capulet party (to look at other beauties,
and for Romeo to see Rosaline)
Scene 3:
16. How old is Juliet? Not yet 14 (13)
17. When Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about marriage, what is Juliet’s answer? It is an
honor she doesn’t dream of.
18. Following Juliet’s answer, what does Lady Capulet then tell Juliet? Start thinking about
marriage. Lady Capulet was married and pregnant at Juliet’s age.
Scene 4:
19. According to Mercutio, who or what is Queen Mab, and what does she or it do? She’s the
fairies’ midwife who visits people while they are asleep to control their dreams
20. What does Mercutio say about dreams? He says dreams are a product of the brain doing
nothing; dreams lie.
21. What is Romeo’s mood at the end of this scene? Explain. Romeo has a bad feeling about the
night, but he goes to the party anyway.
Scene 5:
22. What does Romeo think of Juliet the first time he sees her? He thinks she is the most beautiful
thing he has ever seen.
23. How does Tybalt recognize Romeo? He recognizes Romeo’s voice.
24. When Tybalt is ready to seize Romeo and throw him out of the party, what does Capulet say to
Tybalt?
Lord Capulet says that Verona brags him to be a virtuous and well-governed youth and to leave
Romeo alone or Tybalt would bring shame on his house by behaving badly.
25. Explain what the conversation is between Romeo and Juliet. He wants to kiss her, so he uses
an extended metaphor of saints and pilgrims to make it happen “Let lips do what hands do”
26. How does Romeo find out Juliet’s last name? The nurse tells him she is a Capulet
27. How does Juliet find out Romeo’s last name? The nurse tells her that he is the son of her
families enemy.
Romeo and Juliet Literary Elements Act I
Act I, Scene 1
allusion ______________
oxymoron ____________
metaphor _____________
allusion ______________
Personification/alliteration _
“Should in the farthest East begin to draw/The shady curtains from
Aurora’s bed,” Goddess of the Dawn
“O heavy lightness, serious vanity,/Misshapen chaos of well-seeming
forms./Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health;”
“Love is a smoke made with the fumes of sighs;/Being purged, a fire
sparkling in lovers’ eyes;”
“Well in that hit you miss. She’ll not be hit With Cupid’s arrow. She hat
Dian’s wit,” Goddess of chastity
“For beauty, starved with her severity,”
Act I, Scene 2
Personification/ ________
personification _________
Act I, Scene 3
hyperbole _____________
Act I, Scene 4
“Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;/She is the hopeful lady of
my earth.”
“One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun/Ne’er saw her match since
first the world begun.”
“I warrant, and I should live a thousand years/I never should forget it.”
pun _________________
foreshadowing _________
Simile/personification ____
Act I, Scene 5
Simile/personification ____
metaphor _____________
“Not I believe me. You have dancing shoes/With nimble soles’ I have a
soul of lead/So stakes me to the ground I cannot move”
“I fear too early; for my mind misgives/Some consequence yet hanging in
the stars/Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/With this night’s revels and
expire the term/Of a despised life, closed in my breast./By some vile
forfeit of untimely death.”
“Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,/Too rude, too boisterous, and it
pricks like a thorn.”
“It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night/As a rich jewel in an
Ethiop’s ear – “
“My lips, two blushing pilgrims, really stand/To smooth that rough touch
with a tender kiss.”
Who Said It in Act I?
"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life."
Chorus
"What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee."
Tybalt
"But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart.
My will to her consent is but a part."
Lord
Capulet
"I'll look to like is looking liking move,
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly."
Juliet
"If ever you disturb our streets again
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
Prince
"I fear too early for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin this fearful date
With this night's revels, and expire the term
Of a despised life closed in my breast
By some vile fortune of untimely death."
Romeo
"Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
Romeo
"This by his voice must be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy. What, dares the slave
Come hither, covered in an antic face..."
Tybalt
"My only love sprung from my only hate
Too early seen unknown and known too late."
Juliet
ROMEO AND JULIET Act II Reading Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Define each of the vocabulary words. Be able to apply them in the text. There
will be a quiz on these words.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Procure: solicit, secure, get hold of, buy, gain, fund
Predominant: main, potent, prevalent, chief, absolute, superior
Intercession: appeal, intervention, prayer
Sallow: dull, pasty, ashen, colorless
Lamentable: tragic, grim, pitiful, unfortunate
Unwieldy: clumsy, burdensome, unmanageable, inconvenient
II. LITERARY TERMS: Define each term and apply each term to the play by writing down an
example.
1. Blank Verse: iambic pentameter that doesn’t rhyme
Example: Romeo’s soliloquy in Scene II
2. Summarizing: a brief statement of the main points
Example: The Prologue at the beginning of Act II
II. QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions about the reading
Scene 1:
1. What does Mercutio say about “blind love”? It’ll never be real love. It doesn’t see where it’s
going.
Scene 2:
2. When Juliet appears on her balcony, what does Romeo compare her to? The sun
3. How does Juliet “speak, yet . . . [say] nothing”? with her eyes
4. When Juliet leans her cheek on her hand, what does Romeo say? He wants to be the glove on
her hand so he could touch her cheek.
5. Unaware of his presence, what does Juliet ask Romeo to say? Forget his name, change his
name
6. Juliet asks how Romeo got into her place. The orchard walls are high, and Romeo’s life would
be in danger if her relatives were to find him there. What is Romeo’s response to these
questions? He doesn’t care about her relatives; he only cares about her. He’d rather die if she
doesn’t love him. Darkness is hiding him. He flew on the wings of love.
7. Why is Juliet embarrassed? She confessed her lover first.
8. Juliet is going to send someone to Romeo on the following day for what purpose? If you want
to be married, tell the messenger when/where.
Scene 3:
9. What has friar Laurence been out gathering in his basket? Herbs and plants for medicine.
10. Explain lines 21-22: “Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,/And vice sometime by action
dignified”? too much good can be bad; too much bad can sometimes be good.
11. When Friar Laurence sees Romeo, what comment does Friar Laurence make about seeing
Romeo so early in the morning? Either something is wrong or you haven’t been to bed tonight.
12. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says to Romeo, “Young men’s love then lies not truly
in their hearts, but in their eyes? They love what they see, but it’s not real love.
13. Friar Laurence agrees to perform the marriage ceremony for Romeo and Juliet for what
reason? He thinks that it will end the feud.
Scene 4:
14. According to Mercutio, what kind of man is Tybalt? He’s an excellent fighter and shorttempered.
15. What is the nurse saying to Romeo in lines 157 – 163? Don’t lead her on, don’t play games
16. How is Juliet to arrange to meet Romeo? Go to the abbey, pretend you’re going to confession
Scene 5:
17. The nurse is supposed to be gone only a half hour, but she is actually gone for how long? 3
hours
18. How is the nurse behaving that is frustrating to Juliet? She won’t give her Romeo’s news.
Scene 6:
19. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says, “Therefore, love moderately; long love doth so”?
Loving in moderation is the key to long lasting love.
Who Said It in Act II?
"Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return"
Romeo
"What's in a name? That which is called rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
Juliet
"Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou has heard me speak tonight."
Juliet
"0, mickle is the powerful grace that lies
Friar Lawrence
In plants, herbs, and stones and their true qualities;”
"Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here'.
Is Rosaline that thou didst love so dear
So soon forsaken?"
Friar Lawrence
". . . but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her in a fool's paradise ... it
were a very gross kind of behavior... for the gentlewoman is young; and
therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing..."
Nurse
“More than the Prince of Cats. O, he’s the courageous captain of
compliments. He fights as you sing pricksong-keeps time, distance and
proportion; he rests minim rests, one, two, and the third in your bosom!”
Mercutio
Romeo and Juliet, Act II Literary Elements
Prologue
Personification/alliteration _
“Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie,/ And young affection gapes to
be his heir.”
Act II, Scene 1
allusion ______________
Act II, Scene 2
metaphor _____________
personification _________
(2) metaphor/simile _____
“Speak my gossip Venus one fair word, /One nickname for her purblind
son and heir,/ Young Abraham Cupid, he that shot so true . . . ”
roman goddess of love
“It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!”
“Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon,/ Who is already sick and pale
with grief . . .”
“O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being
simile/hyperbole ________
allusion ______________
o’er my head/ As a winged messenger of heaven . . .”
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,”
“Else I would tear the cave where Echo lies/ And make her airy tongue
more hoarse than mine . . .”
“How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night,”
alliteration ____________
Act II, Scene 3
personification _________
“The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night.”
Act II, Scene 4
alliteration ____________
“O, he’s the courageous captain of compliments.”
Act II, Scene 5
simile _______________
“She would be as swift in motion as a ball,”
Act II, Scene 6
(2) Foreshadowing/simile/oxymoron“These violent delights have violent ends,/ And in their triumph die; like
fire and powder,/ Which, as they kiss, consume,”
Notebook Check 5 Paraphrasing
1-) Paraphrase the following poetic lines:
ROMEO
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid since she is envious.
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off!
It is my lady. Oh, it is my love.
Oh, that she knew she were!
She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourses. I will answer it.—
I am too bold. 'Tis not to me she speaks.
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those
stars
Wait! What is that light coming
through the window? It is the east,
and Juliet is the sun. Rise up, beautiful
sun, and kill the jealous moon
(Rosaline) that is sick and pale
because you are more beautiful than
she is.
Don’t be her main because she is
jealous. She is sick and green because
she is a virgin, and only fools choose to
stay virgins.
I see my lady, my love, but I wish she
knew it.
She is talking, but saying nothing. Her
eyes are speaking. I will answer it, but
that is too bold. She isn’t speaking to
me.
The two brightest stars in heaven have
asked her eyes to sparkle in their place
while they are away. What if the stars
and her eyes switched place? Then
her beauty would outshine the stars,
like daylight outshines a lamp. Her
eyes in the sky would shine so bright,
that birds would start singing because
they will think it is daytime.
Look at her leaning her cheek against
her hand! I wish I was her glove so I
could touch her cheek.
As daylight doth a lamp. Her eye in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
3-) Who is the speaker? Romeo
See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.
4-) What is the theme?
Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand
That I might touch that cheek!
5-) What is the tone?
Romantic, wishful
2-) Summarize the lines
Romeo is standing outside of Juliet’s
house and sees her in her window. He
talks about no longer loving Rosaline
because Juliet is more beautiful.
6-) How is it different from the sonnets/the
prologue?
It is in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)
Notebook Check 5 Paraphrasing
1. Paraphrase the following poetic lines
Juliet.
Ay me!
Romeo.
She speaks.
O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven (30)
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
Juliet.
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Romeo.
[Aside.] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Juliet.
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy:
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name.
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name, which is no part of thee,)
Take all myself.
Romeo.
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptis'd;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Juliet- Oh, me!
Romeo- She talks. Speak again, angel,
hanging over my head. Men have to lay
down to look up at you as you float on
puffy clouds and air.
Juliet- Oh, where are you Romeo? Say you
are not a Montague. If you don’t, I’ll say
I’m not a Capulet if you will be mine.
Romeo-Should I stay quiet and listen or
should I say something?
Juliet- It is just your name that makes you
my enemy. You are just Romeo to me, not
a Montague. Your name doesn’t make you
someone you are not. What does it matter
what your name is? If a rose is called
something else, doesn’t it still smell like a
rose? Romeo would still be perfect to me
even if his name wasn’t Romeo. Romeo,
say you aren’t a Montague, and I will be all
yours.
Romeo-I believe you. Call me your love,
and I will take a new name and never be
called Romeo again.
3-) Who are the speakers?
Romeo and Juliet
2-)Summarize the lines
Romeo listens secretly while Juliet
says how she feels about him. He
compares her to an angel. Juliet says
that she loves Romeo for the person he
is, not the family he comes from.
Romeo reveals that he has been
listening, and says that he would take
another name so he can be her love.
4-) What are the stage directions?
[Aside] Romeo is speaking so that Juliet can’t
hear
5-) What is the tone?
Romeo and Juliet Act III Reading Guide
VOCABULARY: Define the following words. Be able to apply them while reading the text.
There will be a quiz on these words.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Gallant: courageous, fearless, honorable, noble
Fray: brawl, conflict, quarrel, ruckus
Martial: military, soldierly, hostile
Exile: banishment, exclusion, expulsion
Eloquence: expressiveness, articulate, persuasive, poise
Fickle: tempermental, unstable, fitful
II. LITERARY TERMS: Define the following literary terms and provide an example from the text.
1. Soliloquy: a monologue that reveals a character’s thoughts and reflections
Example: Juliet’s “Gallop apace” monologue
2. Aside: a remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the
audience but unheard by the other characters in the play.
Example: Act III Scene V (Juliet) “Villain and he be many miles asunder.”
3. Monologue: an extended speech by one person in a play
Example: Act III Scene III (Friar Laurence’s extended speech)
4. Allusion: when the author refers to another place, event, or literary work by way of
reference
Example: “Towards Phoebus’ lodging…Phaethon” (reference to the sun god Helios and his son, Phaethon)
5. Paraphrase: express the meaning of written material using different words to make it more
easily understood
______________________________________________________________
III. QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions as you read Act 3.
Scene 1:
1. At the beginning of the scene, why does Benvolio think that there will be a fight? When it’s hot
outside people become angry and hot blooded
2. What does Mercutio accuse Benvolio of in lines 15-30? Benvolio can get as angry as anyone
else, but he’s preaching restraint to Mercutio.
3. When Tybalt and Mercutio first begin arguing, what does Benvolio try to them to do? Go to
someplace private, talk about it, or just go away
4. What does Tybalt call Romeo? A villain
5. Why won’t Romeo fight Tybalt? He’s married to Juliet, Tybalt’s cousin.
6. What does Mercutio think is the reason Romeo refuses to fight? He thinks Romeo is trying to
keep the peace.
7. Why does Mercutio keep repeating, “A plague o’ both your houses”? he blames both families.
8. What does Romeo say that Juliet’s love has done to him? You have made me weak, made him
less brave.
9. Why does Romeo call himself “fortune’s fool”? he killed his love’s cousin and he will likely die
for it.
10. When Benvolio relates to the Prince what happened, what does he say Romeo tried to do before
Mercutio was killed? Make peace with Tybalt. Knelt down out of respect
11. What does Lady Capulet accuse Benvolio of? Why? He’s lying because he’s Montague.
12. What is Romeo’s punishment for killing Tybalt? Banishment
Scene 2:
13. Why is Juliet so impatient for the nurse to return? Nurse has the ladder, ladder will bring
Juliet her love, Romeo
14. Describe Juliet’s rapidly changing attitudes toward Romeo in this scene. She accuses him of being
dishonorable then she defends him because she loves him – she’s his wife.
15. What piece of news has upset Juliet the most? Romeo’s banishment
16. What does the nurse promise to do? She’ll find Romeo to comfort her.
Scene 3:
17. Explain Romeo’s reaction to the news of his banishment. Banishment is worse than death.
18. Romeo tells Friar Laurence that the priest cannot know or understand how Romeo feels. Why?
Not in love, not married, not a murderer, not banished
19. What argument does Friar Laurence use to prevent Romeo from killing himself? If you kill
youself, you’ll hurt Juliet. “I’ve got a plan”
20. What does the nurse give to Romeo? Ring from Juliet
Scene 4:
21. What does Capulet tell his wife to say to Juliet? She will be married to Paris on Thursday.
Scene 5:
22. As Romeo is preparing to leave Juliet, what argument does she use to convince him to stay? The
nightingale (sings at night) is singing, not the lark (sings in the morning). Not the sun, it’s a
meteor
23. Later, why does Juliet think Romeo should leave? The morning – the men will find you
24. Just as Romeo is about to descend the rope ladder and leave Juliet, what does Juliet say about the
way Romeo looks? He looks pale, like he were dead.
25. Why does Lady Capulet think Juliet is crying? Still crying for Tybalt.
26. When Lady Capulet threatens to send someone to Mantua to poison Romeo, what does Juliet say?
Let me do it so I can go be with him. Double entendre
27. After Lady Capulet breaks the news about Paris, what is Juliet’s response? She doesn’t want to
marry Paris.
28. If Juliet’s mother does not arrange to delay the marriage, what will Juliet do? She’d rather she’ll
marry Romeo, who she supposedly hate.
29. What is Capulet’s reaction to Juliet’s threats? If you don’t marry Paris, beg, starve, die in the
streets.
30. What is the nurse’s advice to Juliet? Marry Count Paris
31. How does Juliet’s attitude toward the nurse change? Juliet thinks the nurse is wicked and twofaced.
32. What “scheme” does Juliet devise to get rid of the nurse and to get out of the house? She’s going to
confession, but if Friar Laurence doesn’t have a solution, she will kill herself.
Act III, Scene 1
pun _________________
simile _______________
Act III, Scene II
Allusion/alliteration _____
(1)allusion ____________
(2)alliteration __________
Oxymoron ____________
pun _________________
hyperbole _____________
Act III, Scene 5
Romeo and Juliet, Act III Literary Elements
“Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”
“They head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat,”
“Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,/ Towards Phoebus’ lodging.”
“Such a waggoner as Phaeton would whip you to the west . . .”
“Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical! Dove-feathered raven! Wolvishravening lamb . . . a damned saint, an honorable villain!”
Act III, Scene 3
“But Romeo may not, he is banished. Flies may do this, but I from this
must fly.”
“Beg pardon of the Prince, and call thee back/ With twenty hundred
thousand times more joy . . .”
Foreshadowing/simile ___
personification _________
Alliteration/personification
send him back.”
“Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low,/ As one dead in the bottom of
a tomb.”
“Dry sorrow drinks our blood.”
“Be fickle, Fortune,/ For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long,/ But
Who Said it in Act III?
He truthfully tells the Prince who was involved in both fights
which take place in Verona's public square.
Benvolio
This character sentences Romeo to banishment.
Prince
He kills Mercutio.
Tybalt
This character calls a member of his own family worthless
and uppity; then threatens to throw him/her out of his/her
house.
Lord Capulet
Romeo belongs to this family.
Montague
The nurse believes which man is a better match for Juliet?
Paris
Who said, 'Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here, Where
Romeo
Juliet lives; and every cat and dog
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her;
He said, "Marry, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church-door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me
tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man."
Mercutio
Who said, " O God, I have an ill-divining soul!
Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:
Juliet
This character is banished for the murder of Tybalt.
Romeo
This character is looking for Romeo at the beginning of this
Act for showing up at the Capulet party.
Tybalt
Who said, "a plague on both your houses”?
Mercutio
ROMEO AND JULIET Act IV Reading Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Define the following words. There will be a quiz on them in the future.
1. Pensive: thoughtful, contemplative, pondering, reflective
2.Enjoined: advised, counseled, dictate, tell
3. Wayward: rebellious, disorderly, ornery, obstinate
4. Dismal: discouraging, miserable, dim, depressing
5. Loathsome: vile, disgusting, revolting
II. LITERARY ELEMENTS: Define the following literary elements.
1. Dramatic Irony: situation, speech, etc, is understood by the audience, but not by the characters in a play
Example: The audience knows Juliet is not dead, but the other characters do not.
2. Comic Relief: humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension
Example: The preparations for Juliet’s wedding are humorous.
3. Puns: a play on words
Example: “Loggerhead” (Scene 4)
Who Said it in Act IV?
III. QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions.
Scene 1:
1. Why is Friar Laurence reluctant to marry Paris to Juliet? He know Juliet is already married to
Romeo
2. How does Paris explain the sudden haste of the marriage plans? To help Juliet get over Tybalt’s
death.
3. What is ironic about the conversation between Juliet and Paris? He thinks that she is playing
hard to get but the audience knows that she is not playing.
4. If Friar Laurence cannot help her, what does Juliet threaten to do? Kill herself
5. Why does Friar Laurence think that Juliet will accept his plan? She is desperate and will try
anything
6. Describe the friar’s plan for Juliet. Here is a vial to drink that will make you appear to be dead
for 42 hours, Friar will let Romeo know what’s going on , he’ll come get Juliet from the tomb,
and they can live together in Mantua.
Scene 2:
“The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade
Friar Lawrence
to wanny ashes, they eyes’ windows fall
like death when he shuts up the day of life…”
“ My heart is wondrous light,
Capulet
since this same wayward girl is so reclaimed.”
“I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins
Juliet
that almost freezes up the heat of life.”
“Death lies on her like an untimely frost
Capulet
upon the sweetest flower of all the field.”
“O day, O day, O day! O hateful day!
Nurse
Never was seen so black a day as this.
O woeful day! O woeful day!”
7. What does Juliet say that makes her father happy? She has gone to confession and she will
marry Paris.
8. How does Capulet change the wedding plans? What implication does this have? He moves the
wedding from Thursday to Wednesday—all of the plans are now pushed up—will Romeo get
the news?
Scene 3:
9. How does Juliet show her maturity and independence in this scene? She asks to be by herself,
and she tells her mother goodbye. She recognizes that she has to do things alone.
10. If the potion does not work, what will Juliet do? She will stab herself
11. What are some of the fears Juliet has about the potion? 1. She is afraid that it won’t work (she
will stab herself) 2. She is afraid that the friar is trying to poison her 3. She is afraid that she
will wake up early in the tomb alone and go crazy
Scene 4:
12. What is happening in this brief scene? They are making wedding preparations
Scene 5:
13. Describe the imagery Shakespeare uses in describing Juliet’s “death”? she is like a beautiful flower
killed in an untimely frost.
14. What does Friar Laurence say to comfort the Capulet family? He says that heaven has her and she
is in a better place.
15. What event are the Capulet’s now preparing for? A funeral
ROMEO AND JULIET Act V Reading Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Define the following terms. There will a quiz on them in the future.
1. Ambiguities: doubt, uncertainty, vagueness
2. Penury: destitute, barren, insufficient
3. Remnants: remains, piece, scraps, surplus
4. Haughty: snobbish, snooty, conceited, proud, overbearing
5. Scourge: curse, misfortune, penalty
II. LITERARY TERMS: Define each term. Be sure you can identify them in the text.
1. Tragedy: a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially concerning the downfall of
the main character
2. Fate: the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power
3. Motive: something that causes a person to act in acertain way, do a certain thing
III. QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions.
Scene 1:
1. What news does Balthasar bring Romeo? Juliet is dead
2. What does Romeo mean when he says, “Then I defy you, stars!”? Going against his fate—fate wants
him to live without Juliet—he has other plans.
3. What actions does Balthasar’s news prompt Romeo to do? Buy poison from the apothecary
Scene 2:
4. What does Friar John tell Friar Laurence? That he could not deliver the letter; the plague prevented
him from going on and he couldn’t send a messenger because they didn’t want him to spread disease.
5. After hearing this news from Friar John, what does Friar Laurence intend to do? He asks for a
crowbar to break into Juliet’s tomb.
Scene 3:
6. Why is Paris at Juliet’s tomb? To bring flowers to her grave
7. Romeo gives Balthasar two reasons for entering the Capulet’s tomb. What are those two reasons? to
see her face, to get a ring off her finger.
8. Why does Paris think that Romeo has come to the tomb? To commit crimes against the dead
bodies, to deface the Capulet tomb.
9. What is it about Juliet that should have told Romeo that she was not dead? her red lips and her rosy
cheeks
10. Why doesn’t Friar Laurence stay in the tomb with Juliet after she awakens? Paris and Romeo are
dead and the watch is coming
11. Why does Juliet kiss Romeo after he is dead? She is hoping there is still poison on his lips
12. When Montague first arrives on the scene, what does he tell those gathered? His wife has dies that
night from sadness.
13. Relate the events that lead to Romeo and Juliet’s death as they are told by Friar Laurence near the
play’s end. Romeo & Juliet were husband & wife.
I married them right before Tybalt died forcing Romeo to be banished and leave his wife. Juliet was
crying over Romeo’s banishment, not Tybalt’s death. After Lord Capulet tried to make her marry
Paris, Juliet came to me for a way out or she would have killed herself. I gave her a sleeping potion to
make her seem dead.
She was supposed to awake and go with Romeo to Mantua.Romeo heard that Juliet was dead, but not
of this plan.He came to see Juliet’s “dead” body and to die with her. He drank poison before Juliet
awoke. Juliet stabbed herself after seeing Romeo dead.
14. What information does Romeo’s letter give? describes the course of their love, how he received the
news of her death, and how he got poison from the poor apothecary to kill himself in order to be with
Juliet.
15. How do Montague and Capulet plan to honor the memories of their children? They will raise
statues in honor of the other’s children.
Romeo and Juliet: Act 5
Who Said It?
Quote
“O comfortable friar! where is my lord?
I do remember well where I should be,
And there I am. Where is my Romeo?(155)”
“Is it e'en so? Then I defy you, stars!
Thou knowest my lodging. Get me ink and paper(25)
And hire posthorses. I will hence to-night.”
“Unhappy fortune! By my brotherhood,
The letter was not nice, but full of charge,
Of dear import; and the neglecting it
Who Said It?
Juliet
Act 5, Scene 3; Lines 153-155
Romeo
Act 5, Scene 1; Lines 24-26
Friar Laurence
Act 5, Scene 2; Lines 17-22
May do much danger. Friar John, go hence,(20)
Get me an iron crow and bring it straight
Unto my cell.”
“This is that banish'd haughty Montague
That murdered my love's cousin—with which
grief(50)
It is supposed the fair creature died—“
“As I remember, this should be the house.
Being holiday, the beggar's shop is shut.
What, ho! apothecary! “
Paris
Act 5, Scene 3; Line 49-51
Romeo
Act 5, Scene 1; Lines 57-59