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Romeo and Juliet Act V Active Reading Guide
1. Why is Romeo happy when we first see him in Mantua?
He had a dream about Juliet
2. What news does Balthasar bring Romeo? What does Romeo mean when he says, “Then I defy you,
stars!”?
Romeo is dead, and this means that he is trying to defy fate.
3. What actions does Balthasar’s news prompt Romeo to do?
He is going to kill himself in Juliet's tomb.
4. Why didn’t Friar John deliver the letter?
He was in quarantine and was scared of spreading disease.
5. After hearing this news from Friar John, what does Friar Laurence intend to do?
He plans to go to Juliets tomb, wait for her to wake up and take
her to his cell
6. Why is Paris at Juliet’s tomb?
He is going to lay flowers at her tomb
7. Romeo gives Balthasar two reasons for entering the Capulet’s tomb. What are those two reasons?
He wants to see Juliet's face and take her ring.
8. Why does Paris fight Romeo?
He believes that Romeo is here to do things to the tomb and wreck it.
9. What is it about Juliet that should have told Romeo that she was not dead?
It is that she would not look dead because of her lips and that she would not be gray.
10. How does Juliet first try to kill herself?
Kissing Romeo's lips.
11. What information does Romeo’s letter give?
That he is dead by broken heart.
12. How do Montague and Capulet plan to honor the memories of their children?
They make statues of Romeo and Juliet
Extended Response (5-10 sentences)
How does Shakespeare treat death in Romeo and Juliet? Frame your answer in terms of legal, moral,
familial, and personal issues. Bearing these issues in mind, compare the deaths of Romeo and Juliet,
Romeo and Mercutio, and Mercutio and Tybalt.
Death in Romeo and Juliet in my opinion signifies beauty and sorrow at the same time, let me explain. The product of this tragedy
is truly due to the 2 faults and rivalries from the 2 main families, The Capulet's and the Montague's. Each and every death is a
byproduct of the feud the families have. Tybalts and Mercutio's deaths are treated sorrowfully. Shakespeare makes these deaths short
and sweet. Lady Capulet;s is off screen and the main cast, Romeo and Juliet are treated beautifully. This is because of the buildup due
to the misunderstanding created within. We expect Juliet to wake up and the story to be over but it never happens, Romeo's death is
treated beautifully because it shows how much he would have done just to see Juliet again, even if it involves killing Paris and himself.
Paris's death again is caused by misunderstanding because he does not know the state of Romeo and Juliet, so he is killed again by
misunderstanding and sorrow. Juliet's death in itself is a wonderful and sad thing. Seeing her lover dead beside her and the tragedy that
spikes within as she full understands that her efforts were in vain was sad. When she dies we can finally see the 2 re-unite, one way or
another, this makes it sad yet beautiful because through the misunderstandings and sadness, they still reunite and lay at peace in a better place
I believe that William treated these deaths through misunderstanding wonderfully, giving the audience a good show and amazing writing,