Romeo and Juliet
Act III Study Questions
Act III, Scene 1
1.What does Mercutio say about Benvolio’s character? From what you
have observed, is this true? Explain.
2.What do Mercutio’s answers to Tybalt show about Mercutio’s character?
3. How does Romeo try to stop the fight? What is the result of Romeo’s
interference?
4. What does Romeo predict for the future after learning of Mercutio’s death?
How does this prophecy immediately come true?
5.What reasons does Benvolio give to convince Romeo to r un away?
6.Is Benvolio’s account of the fighting entirely accurate? Explain your answer.
7.a. What is Lady Capulet’s immediate reaction to Benvolio’s
testimony?
b. According to Lady Capulet, what really happened?
c. What can you conclude about Lady Capulet from her statements?
8.a. How does the Prince’s punishment differ from the punishment
he threatened in Act I, Scene 1?
b. The Prince states the principle behind his action in line 190. What does
it mean?
9. The climax of the play is the turning point and the readers can usually
discover how the conflicts will be resolved. Scene 1 of Act III includes the
climax of Romeo and Juliet.
a. What change does the scene bring about in Romeo and
Juliet’ssituation?
b. What do you think will happen as a result of the fight?
Romeo and Juliet
Act III, Scene 2
1.What is Juliet impat ient for?
2.What misunderstanding occurs between Juliet and the Nurse?
3.a. What does Juliet conclude about Romeo when she first learns
that he killed Tybalt?
b. What words of Friar Laurence does her speech sound like?
c. What information about the incident does Juliet not know?
4.What broad conclusions does the Nurse draw from the incident?
5 . a . W h a t wi s h d o e s t h e N u r s e ut t e r ?
b. In your own words, tell how Juliet reacts.
6.How long have Romeo and Juliet been married?
7.a. What event does Juliet say would be preferable to Romeo’s
exile?
b. Why does she wish for such a thing?
Romeo and Juliet
Act III, Scene 3
1.Romeo and Friar Laurence feel differently about the Prince’s
punishment of Romeo. How does each feel?
2.Why won’t Romeo listen to Friar Laurence?
3.For what five things does Friar Laurence scold Romeo?
4.a. What three gifts does Friar Laurence accuse Romeo of misusing?
b. For what three reasons does Friar Laurence say Romeo should be happy?
5.What is Friar Laurence’s plan for Romeo?
Act III, Scene 4
1.What plans do Juliet’s parents make for her?
Romeo and Juliet
Act III, Scene 5
1.How are the lark and nightingale used in this scene?
2.What foreboding does Juliet have?
3.a. How does Lady Capulet interpret Juliet’s statements about
Romeo?
b. What do readers realize the statements really are?
4.a. What reason does Juliet give for putting off the marriage?
b. What sentence with a double meaning does Juliet use to describe her
intentions?
5. In your own words, describe how Capulet reacts to Juliet’s refusal to
marry Paris. What choice does Capulet give Juliet?
6.What does Juliet beg of her mother?
7.What advice does the Nurse give Juliet? What is her reasoning?
8.a. What sudden change does Juliet apparently undergo?
b. Why doesn’t she tell the Nurse the truth?
c. What does Juliet really intend to do?
Romeo and Juliet- Act III Quotes
For each quote, tell three things: A) Who said it? B) To whom? C)Significance/
meaning of the quote. Label your answers A, B, C under the quotation.
1. Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford/No better term than this:
thou art a villain.
2. No, ‘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.
3.…A plague a’ both your houses!/They have made worms’ meat of
me…
4. I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give./Romeo slew Tybalt; Romeo
must not live.
5.Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say ‘death’;/For exile hath more
terror in his look,/Much more than death. Do not say ‘banishment.’
6. Come, gentle night; come, loving, black -browed night;/Give me
my Romeo; and, when he shall die,/Take him and cut him out in little
stars,/And he will make the face of heaven so fine/That all the world will be
in love with night
7 .It was the lark, the herald of the morn;/No nightingale. Look,
love, what envious streaks/Do lace the severing clouds in yonder
east./Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day/Stands tiptoe on the
misty mountaintops./I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
8. Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,/But fettle your fine
joints ‘gainst Thursday next/To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church.