Name: _____________________________
Romeo and Juliet Annotations Packet
Directions: Either fill in the blanks provided for you in the left column or answer the
questions in the space provided for you in the right column.
Romeo and Juliet Study Guide
Your Annotations
Prologue
1. The feud is between two prominent
families,
the ________________ vs. the
_____________________.
2. The two families are fighting over an
old ____________, which has started up
again and is now involving the
townspeople. The parents' anger is finally
ended by ____________________.
According to this prologue, how many
hours will it take for this play to be acted
out? _______________ hours.
ACT ONE
ACT ONE SCENE ONE (1.1)
*Do Quick Write #1
1.
1. What decree does the prince make after
the street brawl?
2. a.
2. What do Benvolio and Lord Montegue
say about Romeo’s behavior recently? List
3 things said that show he is depressed.
b.
c.
3. What advice does Benvolio give to
Romeo about Rosaline?
ACT ONE SCENE 2 (1.2)
1. How does Capulet first respond to Paris’
proposal to marry Juliet?
2. Later in the scene, what then does
Capulet say to Paris about his proposal?
3.
1.
2.
1
3. How do Romeo and Benvolio find out
about Capulet’s party?
3.
4. Why does Romeo want to go?
Benvolio?
4.
ACT ONE SCENE 3 (1.3)
1. Juliet’s birthday in on Lammastide –
August 1st. On that day, the Nurse says
Juliet will be how old?
1.
2. The Nurse has a daughter, Susan, and a
husband. Where are they?
2.
3. Why does Juliet’s mother want to talk to
her?
3.
4. What is Juliet’s attitude about marriage?
Her Mother’s?
4.
5. What is the only thing Juliet agree to do
for her mother when they both attend the
party downstairs?
5.
* Do Quick Write #2
ACT ONE SCENE 4 (1.4)
1. When and where does this scene take
place?
1.
2. What does Mercutio think about the
reality of dreams?
2.
3. Why does Romeo think it may be a bad
idea to attend the party tonight: what did
his dream predict?
3.
2
ACT ONE SCENE 5 (1.5)
1. Where does this scene take place?
1.
2. Romeo spots Juliet. He recites a
soliloquy about her noticeable beauty that
begins, “Oh she doth teach the torches to
burn bright!...” Write 2 more phrases
Romeo says to describe Juliet.
2. a.
b.
*Do Quick Write #3
3. Tybalt overhears Romeo’s speech above
and is ready to fight him. Write 2 lines
Capulet says that shows he does not share
Tybalt's views.
3. a.
4. Describe both Romeo and Juliet's
reaction to learning who the other is - what
do each say?
A) Romeo's response
4.
A)
b.
B)
B) Juliet's response
ACT TWO
5. What are some of the difficulties
Prologue: Briefly summarize the
teenagers face when it comes to having a
prologue here:
relationship? Name at least 2.
Both Romeo and Juliet have been
bewitched by the charm of ___________,
but it will be difficult because of at least
2 things: 1. _________________________
_______________________and 2. ______
___________________________________
___________________________________
3
ACT TWO SCENE ONE (2.1)
1. Explain the dramatic irony in this scene:
1.
ACT TWO SCENE 2 (2.2)
(The most famous scene in the entire
play)
1. Fill in the blanks in this paraphrase of
Romeo’s soliloquy when he spots Juliet on
her balcony:
Shhh! What __________ is at the
____________? _____________shines
through the window like the _________
rises in the ____________. Arise beautiful
sun (Juliet) and replace the ____________,
who is jealous because you, the maid of
Diana, virgin moon goddess are
____________ than she is. Don’t be a
_______________, since the moon is
_____________ of you. Her innocence is
sickly, and only a ___________ would
keep it.
Oh! It is Juliet! I wish she knew that I
_________ her. She speaks, but she says
____________. How strange. She speaks
with her eyes. I’ll _____________ her.
No, I better not, since she really isn’t
_______________ to me.
Two of the ____________ ____________
in heaven have asked her (Juliet’s)
________ to twinkle for them while they
have some ______________ to take care
of. If Juliet’s eyes were there (in the night
sky), those eyes would make the stars seem
dull, just as _____________ outshines a
lamp. Her eyes would shine so
_____________ that the __________
would think it were already
4
_________________ and begin to
_________.
Look how she leans her cheek upon her
hand! Oh, how I wish that I were a
__________ so that I could touch that
____________.
She speaks! Oh, speak again, bright
________________, for you are as glorious
to this __________, which is above my
head, as an angel from _______________
is to those of us who look up and see him
when he walks upon the ______________
and sails upon the _________________ of
the ___________.
2. Explain Juliet’s famous line, “O, Romeo, 2.
Romeo, wherefore…”
3. How is Juliet’s soliloquy on the balcony
a form of dramatic irony? What do we
know that she does not?
3.
4. Juliet is both surprised and worried that
Romeo is at her house. Why? How does
Romeo claim he got over the garden wall?
4.
5. Fill in the blanks for this paraphrase of
Juliet’s speech:
You know, it’s a good thing it’s
_____________, or you could see me
__________ because you overheard me
talking about you. If I followed proper
manners, I would ___________ I ever said
it. But who cares about manners now! Do
you _________ me? I know you’re going
to say ___________, but don’t say that
unless you really _________ it. If you
want, I’ll play hard to ______, so you can
try to win my __________. The truth is, I
am foolishly in ________ with you, and
5
you may not take me too _____________.
But, ____________ me, I’ll ___________
to you that I’ll be more true than those who
know how to play hard to get. I probably
would have tried to be more ___________,
I must be honest, but since you already
heard me confess that I _________
________, there really is no
______________ to try to do that now. So,
pardon me, but don’t think that my falling
in love so quickly means that I don’t really
__________ what I say.
6. Once Romeo and Juliet vow their love
for one another, Juliet challenges Romeo to
show he means what he says. What is he
supposed to decide, how is he supposed to
get word of his decision back to her, and
when is he supposed to deliver that
message?
What:
How:
When:
6. What:
How:
When:
*Do Quick Write # 4
– The Mid Unit Assessment will take
place here - there is a graphic
organizer to complete before writing
ACT TWO SCENE THREE (2.3)
This scene opens with Friar Laurence
collecting herbs. He is discussing the
properties of the herbs and the purposes
for which they may be used. This
demonstrates Friar Laurence’s
knowledge of herbs and foreshadows
that this knowledge may serve some
purpose in future events in the drama.
1. The friar is collecting "deadly weeds and
healing flowers." As he does this, he
compares the earth to a "mother" and the
plants as her "children," as well as stating
that the earth is both a "womb" and a
"tomb." What does the Friar mean in
describing the earth in these ways?
1.
6
2. The Friar holds up a flower and says that
it contains both poison and medicinal
power: smell it and you will be
strengthened; taste it and you will die.
What is the Friar trying to say about the
powers of plants and herbs?
2.
3. The Friar says the same thing about
3.
humans - the "two opposed kings" that
"always live within man," like in the
flower, are virtue and base lust. The friar is
saying that humans can be what at the same
time?
4. Why does Romeo go to see Friar
Laurence?
4.
5. At first, Friar Laurence is angry and
disapproves of Romeo's behavior. Why?
5.
6. Why does Friar Laurence change his
mind and agree to the marriage?
6.
ACT TWO SCENE FOUR (2.4)
This scene serves as a contrast to the
preceding scene at Friar Laurence’s.
Mercutio and Benvolio are in a merry
mood as they walk along talking and
laughing about Romeo, whom they think
is still pining away for Rosaline.
Benvolio mentions that Tybalt has sent a
letter in which he issues a challenge to
Romeo. Benvolio believes Romeo is up
to fighting with Tybalt, but Mercutio
gives a long description of why Tybalt
would be a formidable opponent, with
Romeo not standing much of a chance.
Romeo comes along, in a happy mood,
much to the pleasure of Mercutio, who
thinks Romeo is wasting his time with
this love business (he doesn’t realize that
love is exactly the reason for Romeo’s
good mood). As they exchange puns and
jokes, Juliet’s nurse and her servant
Peter show up.
7
1. For whom is the nurse looking and why?
1.
2. What warning does she give Romeo?
2.
3. Romeo brings the nurse good news and
has a plan for how they can get Juliet to the
church so Friar Laurence can marry them.
What is Juliet to say to her parents to get
out of the house?
3.
4. Romeo gives the Nurse a rope ladder.
Why?
4.
ACT TWO SCENE FIVE (2.5
1. Juliet is waiting very impatiently for the
nurse’s return. Why does Juliet become so
irritated when the nurse finally does return
and speaks to Juliet?
ACT TWO SCENE SIX (2.6)
1. Which lines in this wedding scene
foreshadow future events? Find 2.
1.
1. a.
b.
ACT THREE SCENE ONE (3.1) This
scene marks the climax of the drama.
1. Tybalt, still enraged that Romeo crashed 1.
his uncle’s party, is determined to fight, but
Romeo refuses. Why?
2. How does Mercutio get involved and
what happens to him as a result?
2.
3. How does Romeo react to this? What
does he do?
3.
8
4. What decree does the Prince make with
regard to Romeo and his punishment?
4.
*Do Quick Write #5
ACT THREE SCENE TWO (3.2)
Juliet is waiting for her nurse. She
knows nothing of the two deaths. She is
only thinking about the arrival of her
new husband and is excited, scared and
embarrassed, all at the same time. To
emphasize the turn of events that is
about to occur when Juliet gets the bad
news from her nurse, Shakespeare has
Juliet use the word "night" nearly a
dozen times, illustrating the dark mood
that is soon to overcome her.
1.. How does Juliet first react to the nurse’s
news? How does she change her attitude?
1.
2. What does Juliet say she plans to do with 2.
the cords (rope ladder) now?
3. How does the nurse console her?
3.
* Art meets literature analysis and
discussion will take place here.
ACT THREE SCENE THREE (3.3)
1. What does Romeo say about his
punishment of banishment?
2. Romeo is prevented from stabbing
himself when Friar Laurence grabs the
knife, but the Friar is enraged by Romeo's
impulsive reaction. He accuses Romeo of
acting like a woman and being insane, as
well as blinded to his good fortune. The
friar lists 3 ways Romeo is lucky. Name
them
1.
2. a.
b.
c.
9
3. The Friar then tries to give Romeo
encouragement and hope by advising him
to do several things. List them.
ACT THREE SCENE FOUR (3.4)
1. How does Capulet’s attitude now differ
from his attitude when Paris first came to
ask for Juliet’s hand in marriage?
3.
1.
2. Today is Monday. Paris will "wed" Juliet 2.
on Thursday. How does this action
complicate matters and contribute to the
dramatic irony in the scene?
ACT THREE SCENE FIVE (3.5)
Day breaks and the two lovers must part
after consummating their wedding vows.
Juliet is very reluctant to have Romeo
leave her and does not want to admit it is
morning. Finally, Romeo leaves and
Juliet’s mother comes to her chamber.
Their conversation about Tybalt’s death
has Juliet speaking in vague and
mysterious terms, while her mother
vows to exact revenge on Romeo.
2. What “good tidings” does Juliet’s
mother have to tell her?
2.
3. How does Capulet react to Juliet’s
refusal of Paris?
3.
4. What does her mother say after Capulet
has spoken?
4.
5. What is the Nurse’s advice?
5.
6. What does Juliet decide to do?
6.
10
ACT FOUR SCENE ONE (4.1)
1. Here is the Friar's plan:
Juliet is no longer the obedient child.
The events of the last few days have
caused her to mature, but with no hope
of help from her parents, and the
seeming loss of loyalty from the nurse,
she feels desperate. She begins to take
matters into her own hands. She gives
the excuse of needing to go to confession
for her actions and seeking absolution
from Friar Laurence. Notice how she
deals with Paris at the beginning of this
scene when she coincidentally runs into
him at the friar’s (she uses the same
vague language and subtext that she
used with her mother in the previous
scene). Once Paris is gone, Juliet pleads
with Friar Laurence to help her out of
her predicament.
1. Explain in detail the plan they arrange.
See opposite page to fill in





a. On Wednesday night, Juliet will go to
her room alone and will:
b. This will have the immediate effect of:
c. Thursday morning, Paris will come to
her room to:
d. Then, as is the custom, Juliet's family
will prepare her for:
e. To let Romeo know of the plan and
Juliet's condition, the Friar will:
f. At the time of her awakening, Romeo
will:
ACT FOUR SCENE TWO (4.2)
1. What day is it now?
1.
2. Juliet is so convincing in her deception
that her father makes a critical decision
regarding her wedding to Paris. What is it?
2.
3. What complication does this decision
foreshadow?
3.
11
ACT FOUR SCENE THREE (4.3)
Juliet convinces her mother and the
nurse to leave her alone so she can
"pray," but she actually is going to
drink the potion.
1. List Juliet’s fears as she is about to drink
the potion:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1. Juliet's fears:
Fear #1:
Fear #2:
Fear #3:
Fear #4:
Fear #5:
ACT FOUR SCENE FOUR (4.4)
The Capulets are busy preparing for
Juliet’s wedding. There is hustling and
bustling and great happiness. Then, the
Nurse goes to awaken Juliet to ready her
for her wedding and the mood changes
drastically.
ACT FOUR SCENE FIVE (4.5)
The Nurse discovers Juliet’s apparently
lifeless body, and the happy day for the
Capulet’s turns to a day of sorrow and
mourning.
1. The Friar gives words of “comfort” for
the Capulets, Paris, and the Nurse.
Summarize what he tells them.
1.
2. What is the dramatic irony in this scene?
2.
12
ACT FIVE
ACT FIVE SCENE ONE (5.1)
1. How does Romeo’s dream that he
describes in his opening speech compare to
the news that Balthasar brings him?
1.
2. How does Romeo convince the
apothecary to sell him poison?
2.
3. What is Romeo’s plan after he gets the
poison?
3.
ACT FIVE SCENE TWO (5.2)
1. Why doesn’t Friar John deliver the
Friar’s letter to Romeo?
1.
ACT FIVE SCENE THREE (5.3)
1. Why does Paris go to Juliet’s burial
place?
1.
2. What does Romeo tell Balthasar and
what does he give him?
2.
3. What happens when Romeo and Paris
meet at the tomb?
3.
Romeo enters the tomb and sees Juliet.
He sets Paris next to her, asks Tybalt for
forgiveness, and has his final words with
her before he takes the poison and dies:
4. Romeo mentions several times how
"beautiful" Juliet still is and how "rosy" her
cheeks are. Why is this ironic?
5. As soon Romeo dies, Juliet wakes up
and the Friar arrives. What happens next?
4.
5.
13
6. Everyone important to the play (that’s
still alive) arrives at the tomb.
Confusion is everywhere. The Friar
seems to be in the most trouble and,
since he is caught with the crowbar,
seems very guilty. The Prince, however,
hears his story out. Please paraphrase
this summary of the whole play that the
Friar gives to the Prince:
I will be brief because I don’t expect to
________ long. Romeo and Juliet are
__________ and wife. I married them in
secret and on that same day Romeo killed
__________ and then he was banished.
Juliet was crying over her bridegroom not
for __________. You, Capulet, in an effort
to try to make her ___________, promised
her to ___________ and would have forced
her to marry him. Then, she came to me
asking that I find a way to prevent her
second marriage, or she would have
___________ herself right there in my cell.
So, I gave her a _____________ that was
intended to make her ________ ________.
Meanwhile, I wrote a letter to __________
telling him to come to the vault to take
__________ from her borrowed grave
when the potion _________ ______. But
Friar John, who was sent to deliver the
________, was detained and brought the
letter back to me. So, I came alone at the
time Juliet was to _________ ____ to take
her from the burial vault and hide her in
____ _______ until I could send another
___________ to ____________. When I
got here, just a few minutes before
___________ should awaken, I found both
________ and __________ dead. Juliet
woke up, and I was _____________ away,
but Juliet would not ________ ____. It
appears that she __________ herself. This
is the whole story, and Juliet’s nurse also
knew of Romeo and Juliet’s____________.
If this is all my _________, let me be
sacrificed to the full extent of the law.
14
7. Describe the conclusion of the play.
How do the Montegue’s and Capulet’s get
punished, according to the Prince?
7.
8. What do the Capulet’s and Montegue’s
offer to one another?
8.
9. What are Romeo and Juliet’s tragic flaws 9.
and how did they lead to their destruction?
* You will now prepare for your final
assessment of this play.
15