Romeo and Juliet: Mrs. Kamali: English 9
Act 1: Scene 1
1. What is your first impression of Romeo? Explain in at least two bullet points.
2. What is Romeo’s attitude about love? Think about:
a. Why he says he loves the girl
b. His attitude and actions as she rejects him
3. Consider Benvolio and Tybalt’s actions in the first scene. Which character would you
want for a friend? Why?
4. Why doesn’t Shakespeare give reasons for the feud between the Capulets and the
Monatgues? What reasons might cause such a bitter rivalry?
5. Do you think Prince Escalus’ angry warning will stop the feuding families? Why or why
not?
Act 1: Scene 2
1. At this point, explain the kind of father Capulet is. Explain in 3 bullet points.
2. How do you think Capulet feels about Paris as a possible son-in-law? Address the
following:
a. The discussion of Juliet’s age
b. The advice he gives Paris regarding Juliet
c. Why he invites Paris to the party
3. What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo? In your opinion, is the advice good advice?
Act 1: Scene 3
1. Contrast the personalities of Lady Capulet and the Nurse. Use three descriptions for each.
2. What is the nurse’s attitude towards Juliet? Consider:
a. Her role in raising Juliet
b. Her memories
c. Her response to Lady Capulet’s suggestion to Juliet that she marry Paris
3. At this point, how would you describe Juliet’s personality? List at least three specifics.
Act 1: Scene 4 : “I Dreamt a Dream Tonight”
Use the classic retelling for the following questions for # 2-4.
1. We know that Romeo has two dreams, a dream of Rosaline and the dream he mentions in
1.4.
a. What do we know about each dream?
Rosaline:
Romeo’s dream that night:
b. What do these dreams reveal about Romeo?
2. Mercutio has some interesting dreams too. According to Mercutio, what are the dreams
that Queen Mab delivers for each of the following people?
a. Lovers dream of:
b. Courtiers (first mention) dream of:
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Lawyers dream of:
Ladies dream of:
Courtiers (second mention) dream of:
A parson dreams of:
A soldier dreams of:
3. Is Queen Mab the queen of good dreams, nightmares or both? Explain.
4. Reread Mercutio’s exchange with Romeo at the end of the scene. What does Mercutio
think of dreams?
5. Why do you suppose Mercutio tols such a fantastic story to Romeo?
6. Describe the personality of Mercutio?
Act 1: Scene 5
1. How serious do you think Romeo and Juliet’s love is? Explain why you think they fall in
love so quickly.
2. What causes Capulet and his nephew, Tybalt, to react differently to Romeo’s presence at
the party?
3. List three conflicts shown in this scene.
Close Reading: The Balcony Scene
Act 2: Scene 2
Romeo’s Soliloquy: (lines 1-25)
What is a soliloquy?
Why is this scene a unique soliloquy?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
To what does Romeo compare Juliet?
Why would he choose this image?
How does Romeo describe the moon?
To what does Romeo compare Juliet’s eyes?
Why would he choose this image?
What does Romeo wish?
Then Romeo compares Juliet to a_________________.
All of these images are of the sky? Why is that significant? Explain below.
Juliet’s Soliloquy: (starts at line 33)
1. Does Juliet know that Romeo is listening to her?
2. She swears that she will do what?
3. What does Juliet realize about the family fight?
Test Prep Question: Explain Juliet’s explanation of a rose in line 43-44.
As they speak:
1. Why is Juliet worried when she sees Romeo?
2. How does Romeo explain that he was able to climb the orchard wall?
3. Who is more realistic?
Who is more emotional?
4. Juliet does not want Romeo to swear his love upon the moon. Why? (109-111)
5. Describe the plan that Romeo and Juliet make for the future.
6. Explain Romeo’s simile in lines (164-166)
Act 2:3 Friar Lawrence’s cell
1. What is Friar doing in the opening of the scene? Why?
2. What weaknesses in Romeo’s character does Friar Lawrence point out?
3. Why does he agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?
Act 2:4 A Street
1. What is the conflict in the beginning of this scene?
2. Why does the nurse come to see Romeo? Name/explain the two specifics of the plan.
Act 2:5 Capulet’s Orchard
1. What is Juliet’s mind-set as she waits for Nurse?
2. How does Nurse delay the news-partly just to be playful?
Act 2:6 Friar Lawrence’s Cell
1. What is the Friar’s advice to Romeo?
2. How much does Juliet say she loves Romeo?
3. How does the scene end?
Romeo and Juliet
Act 3: Scene 1
1. Whose fault is the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt? Support your opinion with lines from
the play.
2. Is Romeo right to challenge Tybalt? Would you have done the same thing in his
place?
3. Capulets and Montagues both present arguments for the prince. Summarize each side’s
argument.
4. What was the Prince’s decision? Do you think the prince’s decision was wise?
Act 3: Scene 2
1. Explain Juliet’s emotional stress. What upsets her the most?
2. How might Juliet’s reaction have been different if the nurse had told her right away about
Romeo’s banishment?
3. At this point what do you think of the nurse? Think about:
Why she takes so long to tell the news
Whom she blames for bad events
Why she volunteers to take the message
Act 3: Scene 3-5
Why does the nurse go to Friar Laurence’s cell?
Why does Friar Laurence become angry with Romeo? What should he be thankful for?
The day after the secret wedding, what announcement does Juliet’s mother make to her?
How does Juliet respond to her mother’s announcement?
How does Juliet’s father respond to Juliet?
Juliet’s mother reacts in a way that hurts Juliet even more. Explain Lady Capulet’s actions
after her husband leaves in his rage.
7. Why does Juliet become furious with her nurse?
8. Where does Juliet plan to go for help? How will she get away?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Act 4: Scenes 1-4
1. List 3 adjectives to describe Paris and include justification for each/lines.
2. Why would Paris be a smart choice?
3. What is the Friar’s motivation for the potion/plan?
4. Explain, in bullet points, the plan.
5. By what is Capulet motivated?
6. List Juliet’s fears before she takes the potion. There are 3-4.
Act 5
1. In Scene 1, Romeo uses a simile in lines 60-65. Explain the comparison and its significance.
2. Explain how Romeo is able to convince the apothecary to sell him the poison.
3. Use Romeo’s speech (to Juliet’s body) to locate imagery. Page 767-8. Direct quotes.
See: Hear: Touch: Taste: Smell:
4. Although this play is a tragedy, there is some positive resolution. Describe the good that
comes from the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
5. Are Romeo’s actions in this final scene of the play consistent with his previous behavior?
Explain using these starting points.
a. his threat to his servant
b. his discussion and fight with Paris
c. his words to Tybalt’s corpse
d. his final words to Juliet
6. How does your opinion of Paris change?
7. How would you judge the actions of friar in this scene? Explain using the following starting
points.
a. why he leaves the tomb after Juliet awakens
b. what might have happened if he had stayed in the tomb
c. his statement that the law could not punish him