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Romeo and Juliet – Act 2 Questions
Prologue – Page 78
1. Summarize the Prologue for Act 2:
Act 2, Scene 1 – Pages 78 – 82
 Setting: on a street near the wall that surrounds the Capulet house
 This scene occurs right after the Capulet party, and Benvolio and Mercutio are looking for Romeo.
 Romeo hears them and jumps over the garden wall, hiding from his friends. Mercutio teases
Romeo about Rosaline in hopes that he will come out of hiding; it does not work. Neither Benvolio
nor Mercutio are taking Romeo’s sadness seriously.
 Benvolio and Mercutio give up their efforts and leave as Benvolio comments that there is no point
in looking for someone who does not want to be found.
 REMEMBER: Neither Benvolio nor Mercutio (or anyone else for that matter) know that Romeo
and Juliet have met!
Act 2, Scene 2 – Pages 82 - 96
1. What is the setting of the scene?
2. What does Mercutio say in an attempt to get Romeo to come back over the wall?
3. What is Romeo’s reaction to hearing Mercutio’s remarks?
4. What is Romeo’s reaction when he sees Juliet?
5. Summarize Juliet’s thoughts in lines 33-48 (pages 84 – 86).
6. What is Romeo’s reaction to her thoughts?
7. What are the dangers of Romeo climbing the wall to see Juliet? Is he concerned at all?
8. Summarize how do Romeo and Juliet feel about their respective last names?
9. Why does Juliet tell Romeo to not swear by the moon?
10. What do Romeo and Juliet plan to do next? How are they getting information to one another?
Act 2, Scene 3 – Pages 98 – 104
 Setting: Friar Lawrence’s cell (AKA his living quarters at his church)
 In Friar Lawrence’s speech on page 98, he is describing the herbs and plants in the basket in
front of him. He says that plants have many fine qualities and can be used for medicinal purposes.
On the other hand, some plants can be dangerous and even deadly. It is important to not misuse
or abuse these plants. He then makes this connection to people that, just like plants, human
beings have both positive (good) and negative (evil) qualities; it is important that the good side
prevails over evil.
 Romeo then arrives at Friar Lawrence’s cell; the Friar is worried that Romeo is awake so early in
the morning. Friar believes this is a sign of a troubled mind, and he realizes that Romeo has been
up all night. Friar Lawrence thinks that Romeo was with Rosaline.
 Romeo clears this up by denying this idea, and he jumps right to the reason he is at the Friar’s
cell: to ask the Friar to agree to marry he and Juliet on this day. Romeo assures the Friar that
he truly does love Juliet and is not just lusting over Juliet.
 At first, Friar Lawrence is uncertain about this situation, but he does agree to marry Romeo and
Juliet in hopes that the marriage between the two will end the feud between their two families.
Act 2, Scene 4 – Pages 104 – 120
1. What is the setting of the scene?
2. What do Benvolio and Mercutio say has arrived at the Montague house for Romeo? What does it
mean? What is their reaction?
3. How does Mercutio describe Tybalt on page 106 (lines 18 to 24)? What does this say about
Tybalt’s personality?
4. Who do Benvolio and Mercutio believe Romeo is in love with?
5. How does Mercutio (and some of his other friends) treat the Nurse?
6. What is the Nurse’s reaction?
7. What information is the Nurse to carry to Juliet from Romeo? What else is Romeo arranging to
be delivered to the Capulet house? Why?
8. Is Romeo upset to learn that Paris wants to marry Juliet? What clues in the text support your
answer?
9. Do you think the Nurse can be trusted to not tell Juliet’s parents about her and Romeo’s plans?
Do you think the Nurse SHOULD tell them? Why/why not?
Act 2, Scene 5 – Pages 120 – 124
 Setting: Capulet’s orchard (garden)
 Juliet is frustrated at the beginning of the scene because she sent the Nurse to meet Romeo at
9:00 am; it is now noon. Juliet is worried that the Nurse could not find him or that the Nurse is
too slow to handle this important task.
 When the Nurse arrives, she avoids Juliet’s questions about Romeo by complaining how tired she
is from her travels.
 Juliet becomes angry and the Nurse finally provides Juliet with the information she desires:
Juliet needs to ask her parents for permission to attend confession at Friar Lawrence’s cell; she
will find Romeo there, waiting to marry her. Juliet is extremely happy!
Act 2, Scene 6 – Pages 126 – 128
1. What is the setting of the scene?
2. Describe the conversation between Romeo and Friar Lawrence before Juliet’s arrival. What are
the Friar’s concerns? What is Romeo’s response?
3. Does it appear that Romeo and Juliet have any apprehensions about their marriage? Do you think
they are making the correct decision? Why or why not?
4. How much times passes between the moment Romeo and Juliet meet to the time of their marriage?
Do you think this is too soon? Why or why not?