HONORS
Name:_____________________
Date:_________________
Period:________
STUDY QUESTIONS - ROMEO AND JULIET
Act I/Scene 1
1. In the Prologue, what does the Chorus tell us about the play? How does it help prepare us for the
story?
2. What is the setting of the play?
3. What scene of conflict opens the action?
4. Describe how Benvolio and Tybalt react differently when each comes upon the fighting.
Benvolio:
Tybalt:
5. What is Prince Escalus's attitude toward this conflict?
6. What edict (proclamation) does Prince Escalus pronounce concerning anyone who breaks the peace
again?
Act 1/Scene 2 & 3
7. In what state of mind is Romeo when we first see him in the play? Why?
8. How does Romeo learn of the Capulet ball?
9. How old will Juliet be on her next birthday?
10. What young man does her father favor as a husband for Juliet? How does she feel about marriage at
this point?
11. A character foil is a character who sets off another character by contrast so that each will stand out.
How does the nurse server as a foil to Lady Capulet?
HONORS
Name:_____________________
Date:_________________
Period:________
Act 1/Scene 4
12. Note Mercutio's long Queen Mab Speech; what is it about? What is Mercutio’s opinion about the
value of dreams?
13. What is Tybalt’s reaction when he recognizes Romeo at the ball?
14. Re-read Romeo’s lines #118-119 and Juliet’s lines # 138-141. What do they have in common?
15. What major conflicts are established in the first act?
16. Give an example of a soliloquy used in Act I (speaker, page and line #s)
17. In what way(s) is Mercutio a foil to Romeo?
Vocabulary: Define the following words from Act I:
________Word
Page/line
2. cankered
811/93
3. augmenting
813/129
4. shrift
814/156
5. languish
819/48
6. disposition
824/63
7. breaches
755/84
8. misgives
831/106
9. solemnity
834/57
10. disparagement
836/70
1. star-crossed
807/6
Definition____________________
HONORS
Name:_____________________
Date:_________________
Period:________
Name:_________________________
Block:____________
STUDY QUESTIONS - ROMEO AND JULIET
Act II/Scene 1 & 2
1.
How does the audience know that Mercutio and Benvolio do not know that Romeo has
fallen in love with Juliet? This is an example of what type of irony?
2.
How does Romeo learn of Juliet's love for him?
3.
Name 2 things to which Romeo compares Juliet in praising her beauty.
1.
2.
4.
Explain Juliet's main points in her soliloquy (lines 33-48).
5.
What is Juliet's concern in Scene 2, lines 85-106?
Act II/Scenes 3 & 4
6. What is Friar Laurence's chief interest (hobby) besides his duties as a priest? What
comparison does he make between man and plants? (pp. 853-854, lines 7-30)
7.
What is his first reaction when he hears Romeo has a new love?
8. Why does Friar Laurence agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?
HONORS
Name:_____________________
Date:_________________
Period:________
9. What do we learn from Mercutio and Benvolio about the letter Tybalt sends to Romeo's
house?
Act II/Scenes 5 & 6
10. What makes Scene Five so amusing?
11. What excuse does Juliet give for going to Friar Laurence's cell?
12. What does Romeo plan to have delivered to the nurse later in the day? Why?
Vocabulary Define the following words from Act II:
________Word
Page/line
11. invocation
844/27
12. enmity
848/74
13. perverse
849/96
14. idolatry
850/113
15. procure
851/145
16. distempered
855/33
17. wanton
867/70
Definition____________________
HONORS
Name:_____________________
Date:_________________
Name:_________________________
Period:________
Block:____________
STUDY QUESTIONS - ROMEO AND JULIET
Act III/Scene 1
1.
When Tybalt and Mercutio start quarreling, what does Benvolio suggest they do? What
does this tell us about Benvolio’s character?
2.
Why does Romeo refuse Tybalt’s challenge to fight him? What is Mercutio’s accusation?
What does he do?
3.
How does Romeo unwittingly contribute to Mercutio’s death during the fight?
4.
Why does Mercutio say, "A plague on both your houses"?
5.
Refer to the dramatic plot chart on the “Shakespearean Drama” handout. The fight scene
would be considered which point of the plot?
6.
What punishment does the Prince pronounce on Romeo? What is Romeo's reaction to this
sentence?
Act III/Scene 2
7. Who reports the news of Tybalt's death to Juliet? What does Juliet first assume?
8. Why is Juliet struggling with herself when she learns the news? What does she decide?
Act III/Scenes 3-4
9. What do Friar Laurence and the nurse help Romeo do before he goes to Mantua? What is
the rest of his plan?
HONORS
Name:_____________________
Date:_________________
Period:________
10. What arrangements does Lord Capulet make in an attempt to raise Juliet’s spirits?
Act III/Scene 5
11. What foreshadowing occurs in the last piece of conversation between Romeo and Juliet in
Scene 5?
12. How does Lord Capulet react when Juliet says she does not want to marry Paris? Be
specific.
13. Who is Juliet's only hope at the end of Act III?
Vocabulary Define the following words from Act III:
________Word
Page/line
18. plague
876/88
19. gallant
877/114
20. calamity
888/3
21. lamentation
893/154
22. discourses
898/53
23. vengeance
900/88
24. chopped-logic
902/150
Definition____________________
HONORS
Name:_____________________
Date:_________________
Period:________
Study Questions - Romeo and Juliet
Act IV
1.
When Paris comes to Friar Laurence’s cell, why doesn't the Friar tell Paris (or anyone) of
Romeo and Juliet's wedding?
2.
Give one example of the hidden meanings in Juliet’s conversation with Paris.
3.
What does Juliet threaten to do if the Friar cannot help her in Scene 1?
4.
What is the Friar's plan? How is Romeo to be informed?
5.
What change does Juliet's father make in the wedding plans? Why?
6.
What excuse does Juliet give for sending the nurse away for the night?
7.
What is Juliet afraid might happen if she drinks the potion? (3 possibilities)
8.
Who discovers that Juliet is "dead"?
HONORS
Date:_________________
Period:________
Find 1 example of dramatic irony in each of Scenes 2, 3, and 4 (total = 3 examples)
Name:_____________________
9.
Scene 2:
Scene 3:
Scene 4:
Vocabulary: Define the following words from Act IV
26.
Word
abate
Page/line
914/120
27.
prostrate
915/20
28.
distraught
919/49
29.
beguile
824/55
Definition