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Romeo and Juliet Act 1: Closer Reading
Directions: Look back through Romeo and Juliet Act I Scenes I-V in the literature text book to find the
answers to the following questions. If this isn’t finished during class, it is homework and due the
following day at the beginning of class. (2 pts. each)
1. Act I Scene I: What does Sampson (a Capulet servant) do to provoke Abram (a Montague
servant) into starting a sword fight?
2. Act I Scene I: Benvolio (a Montague) tries to break up the sword fight between the servants when
Tybalt (a Capulet) enters. Tybalt says that he hates the word peace as he hates all Montagues,
including Benvolio. What does this indirect characterization say about Tybalt’s character?
3. Act I Scene I: The servants Sampson, Gregory, and Abram speak in prose, or ordinary speech,
with no particular rhyme or rhythm. Prince Escalus makes a long speech to the rioters on the
stage. This type of long speech is called a monologue because the actor addresses others on stage
in a long speech. Shakespeare has written the monologue using blank verse which is unrhymed
iambic pentameter. Therefore, it follows the pattern of an unstressed syllable followed by a
stressed syllable, five times for each line. Blank verse does not follow a rhyme scheme. At the
end of the Prince’s speech, what punishment does he threaten if the rioters continue to fight?
4.
Act I Scene I (line 170): Romeo uses several oxymorons to describe love as though he has read
several bad love poems. Find four oxymorons that he uses and list them here:
a.
b.
c.
d.
5. Act I Scene II: Paris, who is a Count and therefore nobility, has asked Capulet (Juliet’s father) for
Juliet’s hand in marriage. What is Capulet’s response? Please paraphrase, or put this response
into your own words in a sentence.
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6. Act I Scene II: Capulet asks Peter to invite a specific list of guests to a party at his house that
same evening. Peter can’t read so he finds someone who can. He runs into Romeo and
unknowingly invites Romeo (a Montague) to Capulet’s party.
Why does Romeo choose to go to the party?
Why does his friend Benvolio want Romeo to go to the party?
7. Act I Scene III: Why does Lady Capulet ask about Juliet’s willingness to be married when Juliet
is only 13 years old (almost 14)?
8. Act I Scene IV: Romeo tries to tell Mercutio that he has had a dream. Mercutio responds with a
monologue written in blank verse, explaining that Queen Mab has been with him also. She is a
fairy’s midwife who brings dreams to those who are sleeping. What sort of people does Queen
Mab bring dreams to and what are they dreaming of? (lines 71-89). Give two examples.
a.
b.
9. Act I Scene V: Although Romeo appears to be lovesick over Rosaline in Scene II, he is now
struck by the beauty of Juliet in Scene V. Do you think Romeo is really in love with Rosaline or
is he in love with the idea of love? Consider that Romeo is only 16 and Rosaline was probably his
first love. Explain in 1-2 sentences.
10. Act I Scene V: Tybalt tells Capulet that Romeo (a Montague) is at his party. In your own words,
paraphrase what Capulet has to say about Romeo’s presence.
11. Act I Scene V: When Romeo and Juliet first meet, they talk to each other using several similes
and metaphors. Similes are comparisons between two unlike objects using like or as. Metaphors
are comparisons between two unlike objects (but without the words like or as). Find one simile
and one metaphor in lines 92-110.
Simile –
Metaphor –