Name___________________________
Date__________________
Pd.________
ROMEO AND JULIET: Act I Study Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand how they are used in the
play.
adversary ____________________________________________________________________
boisterous ____________________________________________________________________
nuptial ______________________________________________________________________
II. Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences and include page numbers and
line numbers for where you found each answer.
Prologue:
1. In what city does this play take place?
2. Why are Romeo and Juliet called “star-cross’d lovers”?
Scene 1:
3. Who is fighting at the beginning of the first scene?
4. Who tries to break up the fighting?
5. What threat does the Prince make to Lord Montague and Lord Capulet?
6. Benvolio and Montague describe the way Romeo has been acting. What do they have to say about
Him and his behavior?
7. Why is Romeo so sad? Explain.
8. What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo?
http://www.dukeofdefinition.com/romeojuliet.htm#act_01
Scene 2:
9. Why does Capulet think it will be easy for Montague and him to keep the peace?
10. What does Paris ask about Capulet?
11. What is Capulet’s first answer?
12. A bit later Capulet appears to change his mind about Paris’ question. What does he then tell Paris?
13. What is the name of the woman Romeo believes he loves at first?
14. What do Romeo and Benvolio decide to do and why?
Scene 3:
15. How old is Juliet?
16. When Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about marriage, what is Juliet’s answer?
17. Following Juliet’s answer, what does Lady Capulet then tell Juliet?
Scene 4:
18. According to Mercutio, who or what is Queen Mab, and what does she or it do?
19. What does Mercutio say about dreams?
20. What is Romeo’s mood at the end of this scene? Explain.
Scene 5:
21. What does Romeo think of Juliet the first time he sees her?
22. How does Tybalt recognize Romeo?
http://www.dukeofdefinition.com/romeojuliet.htm#act_01
23. When Tybaltt is ready to seize Romeo and throw him out of the party, what does Capulet say to
Tybalt?
24. Rewrite the conversation between Romeo and Juliet in modern language.
25. How does Romeo find out Juliet’s last name?
26. How does Juliet find out Romeo’s last name?
http://www.dukeofdefinition.com/romeojuliet.htm#act_01
III. Translation: Translate the following passage from the nurse in 1.3.18-52 in to modern language.
NURSE
Even or odd, of all days in the year,
Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen.
Susan and she—God rest all Christian souls!—
Were of an age. Well, Susan is with God.
She was too good for me. But, as I said,
On Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen.
That shall she. Marry, I remember it well.
'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years,
And she was weaned—I never shall forget it—
Of all the days of the year, upon that day.
For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,
Sitting in the sun under the dovehouse wall.
My lord and you were then at Mantua.—
Nay, I do bear a brain.—But, as I said,
When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple
Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,
To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug!
“Shake!” quoth the dovehouse. 'Twas no need, I trow,
To bid me trudge.
And since that time it is eleven years,
For then she could stand alone. Nay, by the rood,
She could have run and waddled all about,
For even the day before, she broke her brow.
And then my husband—God be with his soul!
He was a merry man—took up the child.
“Yea,” quoth he, “Dost thou fall upon thy face?
Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit,
Wilt thou not, Jule?” and, by my holy dame,
The pretty wretch left crying and said “ay.”
To see now, how a jest shall come about!
I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,
I never should forget it. “Wilt thou not, Jule?” quoth he.
And, pretty fool, it stinted and said “ay.”
http://www.dukeofdefinition.com/romeojuliet.htm#act_01
Your Translation: