Act III Scene i
Romeo and Juliet
1. Why does Benvolio want to go
inside?
• It is hot outside and he fears a brawl
(fight) will happen if the Montagues
run into the Capulets.
2. What does Tybalt try to get Romeo
to do?
• Tybalt wants Romeo to draw his
sword and fight him.
3. Why won’t Romeo fight Tybalt?
• Romeo is now Tybalt’s relative and
Romeo won’t fight someone who is
related to him. Romeo says that he
has good reason to love Tybalt.
4. Why does Mercutio fight Tybalt
instead?
• Mercutio will not let Tybalt get away
with saying offensive remarks. If
Romeo will not fight, Mercutio will
fight in his place.
5. What happens to Mercutio?
• Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s
arm as Romeo tries to break up the
fight.
6. What does Mercutio mean by “A
plague o' both your houses!”
• May a plague curse both your
families. He is wishing for something
bad to happen to the Montagues and
Capulets.
7. Why does Romeo blame himself for
Mercutio’s death?
• Romeo thinks his love for Juliet has
made him weak and womanly. He
thinks he should have fought Tybalt
instead of Mercutio.
8. How does Romeo avenge(get back
at Tybalt for) Mercutio’s death?
• When Tybalt comes back upon the
scene, Romeo draws out his sword to
fight Tybalt and Romeo stabs and
kills Tybalt.
9. Why doesn’t Lady Capulet believe
Benvolio’s explanation of the fight?
• She thinks Benvolio is lying to protect
the Montagues.
10. What does the Prince say is
Romeo’s punishment?
• Romeo will be banished to Mantua
forever. If he enters Verona, he will
be killed.
11. How is the idea of the honor and
manliness of men portrayed in the
fight scene?
• Mercutio and Tybalt display
“manliness” by fighting and not
backing down. Romeo thinks himself
womanly because he did not fight at
his first chance.
Act III Scene ii
Romeo and Juliet
1. Because the Nurse has trouble
telling Juliet news of the fight, what
does Juliet believe has happened?
• Juliet thinks Romeo has been killed.
2. Why does Juliet grow upset at the
Nurse?
• The Nurse criticizes Romeo and says
shame should be brought upon him.
3. Where is Romeo hiding?
• He is hiding in Friar Lawrence’s cell.
4. What will the Nurse do regarding
Romeo?
• The Nurse will make sure Romeo
comes to Juliet’s bedroom for their
wedding night.
Act III Scene iii
Romeo and Juliet
1. To Romeo, why is banishment a
punishment worse than death?
• Romeo will still be alive but he will
be without Juliet, so he will miss her
with his entire being.
2. Romeo is worried that Juliet might
think he is a what? Because of this,
what does he threaten to do?
• Romeo is worried Juliet will think he
is a murderer.
• He threatens to stab himself.
3. What is the Friar’s temporary
solution to the problem of Romeo’s
banishment?
• Romeo will spend the night with
Juliet and then escape to Mantua. He
will stay there until the news that he
and Juliet are married can be spread
and he can come back to Verona.
4. What makes Romeo feel a bit
better?
• The Nurse gives Romeo a ring from
Juliet.
Act III Scene iv
Romeo and Juliet
1. What will Lord Capulet do to speed
up Paris and Juliet’s love?
• He promises Paris that he will talk to
Juliet and tell her to marry Paris later
that week.
2. What will happen on Thursday of
that week?
• Paris and Juliet will be married.
Act III Scene v
Romeo and Juliet
1. How does Shakespeare use the
theme of light/dark and night/day in
this scene?
• As day approaches, Juliet tries to
convince Romeo that the bird he hears
is not a lark but a nightingale. Just as
Romeo thought Juliet turned dark into
light (“Juliet is the sun”), Juliet is trying
to turn light into dark. She wants to
postpone day so they can be together
longer.
2. The following lines are an example of what literary
device:
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:
Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.
• Juliet thinks Romeo looks pale, as
though he has already died.
• This is foreshadowing – hinting that
Romeo will eventually be dead.
3. How is Juliet’s speech to her mother
about hating Romeo a pun (play on
words)?
• Juliet convinces her mother that Juliet
would like to see Romeo, the villain, dead.
• “I never shall be satisfied
With Romeo, till I behold him--dead—
• Is my heart.”
• I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear,
It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate,
Rather than Paris.
4. What is Juliet’s reaction to the news
that she will marry Paris? How does
she try to delay the marriage?
• Juliet is shocked.
• She says she is not ready to be
married.
5. How does Lord Capulet react when
Juliet tells him about her thoughts on
marriage to Paris?
• He is outraged. He says he will
disown Juliet if she will not marry
Paris.
• “I tell thee what: get thee to church
o' Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face”
6. What is the Nurse’s solution to the
Paris-Romeo problem?
• Juliet should forget Romeo and
marry Paris.
7. What does Juliet tell the Nurse she’ll
do? What does she really plan to do?
What is her last resort option?
• She really will go meet with Friar
Lawrence and never trust the Nurse.
• As a last resort, she can kill herself.