The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Study Questions 9H
Act I “My only love sprung from my only hate!”
1. What causes members of the Capulet and Montague households to fight in the streets of Verona?
Why do the Citizens get involved in the fray? Different members of the households react
differently; explain.
2. Why are Lord Montague and Benvolio concerned about Romeo?
3. What does Paris seek from Capulet? From his response to Paris, what do you
infer about the kind of father Capulet is?
4. How does I.ii advance the plot? In other words, why is this scene crucial to the
rest of the play?
5. What purposes does I.iv serve?
6. Characterize Mercutio as he appears in Scene iv. What kind of friend is he to
Romeo?
7. Analyze the behavior of Tybalt, Mercutio, and Benvolio in Act I. Then, predict
what their roles might be in the rest of the play.
8. Give a brief definition for foil, and then describe how Mercutio is a foil to Romeo.
9. Define pun and give an example from anywhere in Act 1 and be able to explain it.
10.
In I.iv.106-113, Romeo tells his friends that he has had a dream that he will meet an
“untimely death.” What literary term applies to this hint of death? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
11.
What conflicts are set in motion by the events in Scene v?
12.
What does the first scene of the play reveal about Romeo’s behavior and character?
Explain how he changes by the end of Act 1.
13.
Who is a foil to Romeo? To Lady Capulet?
Act II “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet.”
11. In scene ii, Juliet says that _________________________________ is her enemy.
12. What images of light and fire does Juliet inspire in Romeo? Write at least 2 lines (give correct
scene and line numbers) here and circle the words that indicate light or fire.
13. What is Friar Lawrence’s response to Romeo when he tells the Friar of his love for Juliet?
14. Reread Friar Lawrence’s soliloquy in II.iii.1-23, where he muses on earth’s double role. What
point is he making? How does his lesson also apply to Romeo and Juliet?
15. Why does Friar Lawrence agree to perform the marriage for Romeo and Juliet?
16. Romeo sends a message to Juliet via her nurse. What message does he send?
17. Do you approve of the Nurse and Friar’s action in
helping with the secret wedding? Explain why or why
not.
18. Why do you think Shakespeare left the wedding
ceremony out of the play?
19. Describe how Romeo and his friends treat the Nurse in
Scene iv. Would they treat all women of Verona in the
same fashion? Explain.
20. In Act II, Scene iv Mercutio, Benvolio, and Romeo
exchange puns. Write the line(s) and explain the pun.
Why do you think Shakespeare used puns so freely in
this particular scene?
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Act III “A plague a’ both your houses!”
21. Why does Romeo refuse to fight w/Tybalt?
22. Who do you think is to blame for the fight between Tybalt & Mercutio? Explain.
23. Explain why Romeo fights Tybalt after all. What feelings is Romeo experiencing? In your
opinion, was he justified in killing Tybalt?
24. Explain the pun Mercutio uses with his dying breath.
25. How does Mercutio’s speech {“A plague o’ both your houses!”} reflect one of the major
themes of the play?
26. Compare Juliet’s soliloquy of II.v.1-19 with her soliloquy in III.ii.1-35.
27. Find & list at least 2 of the oxymoron Juliet uses to describe Romeo after she learns he killed
Tybalt (scene ii). Why does she use opposites to describe Romeo?
28. Friar devises a plan to “fix” Romeo & Juliet’s dire situation. What are the steps of his plan?
29. Find the aside Juliet makes in scene v and write it. Why do you think Shakespeare included
this?
Act IV “What if it be a poison…”
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
Explain the dramatic irony that occurs in the opening of Act IV.
What does Juliet threaten to do if Friar Lawrence is unable to help her avoid marrying Paris?
Explain the dramatic irony in Juliet’s speech in Scene i, lines 77 - 88.
What is your opinion of the Friar’s plan? List as many things as you can that might go wrong!
a. My opinion:
b. Things that might go wrong:
What change in events is decided by Capulet in ii.23-24, and what problems could this cause?
Summarize Juliet’s fears as she prepares to take the Friar’s potion.
Reread Juliet’s soliloquy in IV.iii.14-58. List 2 examples of imagery and the senses to which they
appeal.
Define comic relief and explain its purpose. Then, find an instance of comic relief (look in scenes
ii, iv and v), describe it, and note where it is found.
Act V “And I for winking at your discords too / Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished.”
38. Explain the irony in V.i.80-86.
39. Why did Friar John fail to deliver Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo?
40. Besides the two protagonists, who else dies in this act, and why do you think Shakespeare includes
their deaths?
41. A tragedy tells of the defeat of a tragic hero. His or her downfall is a result of a tragic flaw or fatal
character weakness. Decide who the tragic hero is in the play. What is that person’s tragic flaw?
42. In what ways are the adults responsible for the fate of Romeo and Juliet? Name some of the things
they could have done differently.
43. List at least four themes addressed in Romeo and Juliet.
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