Romeo and Juliet
Act 1.3-1.5
Scene 3
1. Why does L. Capulet at first dismiss the Nurse, but then call her back? What does
this action reveal to us about L. Capulet’s relationship with her daughter?
2. What does the Nurse’s monologue reveal to us about her relationship with Juliet?
3. What business does Lady Capulet speak about with Juliet? What is Juliet’s
response?
4. What does Juliet consent to do?
5. What does the Nurse mean in line 95 when she says: “Women grow by men.”
Consider the double meaning of the word “grow.” What literary device is this an
example of?
6. How would you characterize Juliet after reading this scene?
Scene 4
1. What does Romeo mean when he says “You have dancing shoes With nimble soles; I
have a soul of lead So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.” What is Romeo’s
emotional state at the time these lines are spoken and how do you know this?
2. For what reason is Romeo hesitant about going to the Capulets’ Masquerade Party? Are
his feelings accurate? Reflect upon what we know.
3. Answer the following questions about Queen Mab (lines 53-94).
-How big is she?
-What is her chariot made of?
-What are her wagon spokes made of?
-What is her whip made of?
-Who is her wagoner?
-What effect does she have on maids?
Does the tone of Mercutio’s Queen Mab monologue change at all? If so, how?
4. Based on this speech, how might you characterize Mercutio? How does his view on
dreams contrast with that of Romeo’s?
5. Reread the last monologue spoken by Romeo on pg. 922. What does Romeo fear?
Which words in his monologue suggest he is going to the party because his life is in the
hands of fate?
Scene 5
1. Romeo falls in love with Juliet upon first sight. Write down what Romeo compares
Juliet’s beauty to. Look for images of both lightness and darkness.
2. How is the play itself a mixture of lightness and darkness? Consider the overall picture
here.
3. What does the fact that Romeo so quickly forgets about Rosaline say about his
character?
4. How does Tybalt recognize Romeo if he has a mask on? What is his first reaction to
discovering that Romeo is at the Masquerade?
5. Why does Capulet become angry with Tybalt?
6. What does Tybalt mean when he says: “I will withdraw; but this intrusion shall,/ Now
seeming sweet, convert to bitter gall” (lines 91-92, pg. 926). What literary device is this
is an example of?
7. When Romeo and Juliet first speak to each other, there is an abundance of religious
imagery. Romeo pretends to be a pilgrim (religious follower) going to a saint’s shrine;
the saint, of course, is Juliet. Why do you suppose Shakespeare would have described
their love through religious imagery? How is this type of love different from the type of
love Romeo felt for Rosaline?
8. What does Juliet mean when she says “If he be married /My grave is like to be my
wedding bed.” (lines 134-135)
9. Although Romeo is not married when he meets Juliet, her statement, nonetheless, is
ironic. Why? Reflect upon the information we are given in the prologue.
10. What does Juliet mean when she says, after finding out that Romeo is a Montague, “Too
early seen unknown, and known too late!”
11. Write down two examples of how fate plays a role in Act 1.