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EAL Nexus resource
Romeo and Juliet quote bank
Explanations to match
Subject:
English
Age groups:
12–14,15–16
Topic:
Romeo and Juliet
Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes.
©British Council 2015
Source | This resource was originally developed by Claudine Field and Mary Ann Apcar from Stoke Newington School in Hackney for the
Collaborative Learning Project, and piloted in schools with help from Sabrina Broadbent at the English and Media Centre, and has been adapted
by EAL Nexus.
Explanations
The play opens in a square in Verona. The servants of the Montague and Capulet families start to fight and more
people from the families join in. Prince Escalus comes to stop the fighting.
The Nurse has looked after Juliet since she was a baby and loves her very much. She wants her to be happy so she
helps with the plan to marry Romeo, even though she knows Lord and Lady Capulet will not approve.
Tybalt is at the Capulets’ party and realises that Romeo, a Montague, is at the party. He thinks this is a good
reason to kill Romeo, because he is dishonouring the Capulet family.
Romeo meets Juliet, falls instantly in love with her, forgetting Rosaline.
He is romantic and often rushes into things.
The Nurse comes to tell Juliet that Romeo killed Tybalt and that he is banished. Juliet says that Romeo is
handsome but really he is a bad person.
Juliet is on the balcony talking to herself, not knowing that Romeo can hear her. She is saying that she loves him
even though he is a Montague.
Romeo and Juliet declare their love for each other and Romeo swears by the moon that he loves her. Juliet says
that the moon is always changing and she wants Romeo to assure her that he will not change and not stop loving
her.
Mercutio and Benvolio and Tybalt arrive. When Romeo arrives it is him that Tybalt wants to fight.
Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence to ask if the friar will marry him and Juliet in secret. Friar Lawrence is surprised
that Romeo has forgotten Rosaline so quickly but agrees to marry them.
Friar Lawrence tells Romeo to go to Juliet to spend their wedding night together. He must go in secret and leave
for Mantua before anyone sees him in the morning.
Lord Capulet is talking to Paris, who says he wants to marry Juliet. Lord Capulet is saying that he doesn’t want her
to get married too young.
He is protective of his daughter.
Mercutio is getting angry with Tybalt and wants to fight. Benvolio is a gentle and peace-loving young man who
doesn’t want them to fight.
© British Council 2015
Romeo is trying to convince Friar Lawrence that he should help them get married.
Romeo kills Tybalt after Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo has to run away because Prince Escalus will give him the
death penalty if he catches him.
Romeo doesn’t want to fight Tybalt because he is now married to Juliet, Tybalt’s cousin. Mercutio can’t
understand why Romeo doesn’t want to fight and challenges Tybalt to stay and fight him. Tybalt loves violence
and fighting.
Tybalt kills Mercutio in the fight and as he is dying Mercutio says that his death is because of the feud between
the families.
Romeo and Juliet are talking at the party when she goes to speak with her mother. Romeo talks to the Nurse and
it is then that Romeo realises that she is a Capulet.
Friar Lawrence tells Romeo that he is banished from Verona and must leave. Romeo thinks this is as bad as death.
Lord Capulet doesn’t expect his daughter to argue with him, and this makes him furious. He thinks that Paris is
the perfect husband for her, and will not listen to Juliet’s arguments.
Friar Lawrence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet and Romeo is rushing off. He is advising Romeo that doing
things too quickly can lead to accidents or mistakes.
The Nurse helped Romeo and Juliet to get married but now she is saying that Juliet should agree to marry Paris on
Thursday. The Nurse wants Juliet to be happy but she’s not very clever.
Romeo and Juliet are both dead. The Capulets and Montagues are at the tomb. The prince says that they are dead
because of the hatred between the families. Then Lord Montague and Lord Capulet decide to end the feud
forever.
Romeo has left and Juliet is very upset because she has to marry Paris. She trusts that Friar Lawrence will be able
to think of a solution.
Benvolio is trying to persuade Mercutio to keep out of trouble. He is a gentle and peace-loving young man who
often tries to mend quarrels and stop people fighting.
© British Council 2015