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English I-Honors
Romeo and Juliet Study Guide Questions
Act I
1. In the Prologue, what does the chorus say will happen to the two lovers?
2. What does Escalus say he will do to anyone who fights in the future?
3. How does Benvolio say the fighting began?
4. According to Benvolio and Mercutio, how has Romeo been acting recently?
5. What remedy does Benvolio suggest for Romeo's problem?
6. In scene 2, what does Capulet tell Paris he will have to do in order to marry Juliet?
7. Why does the servant ask Romeo to read the list of guests who are invited to the party at the Capulets?
8. What makes Romeo decide to go to the party?
9. In scene 3 we learn that Juliet is how old?
10. What is the nurse's opinion of Paris?
11. How do Romeo and friends plan to hide their identity at the Capulet's party?
12. At the end of scene 4, what does Romeo fear?
13. How does Romeo react when he first sees Juliet? To what does he compare her?
14. How does Juliet react to Romeo in their first meeting?
15. How does Tybalt react to the news that Romeo is at the party? How does Capulet react?
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Act I Vocabulary
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solemnity (noun) - serious or solemn observance or ceremonial proceeding
profane (adj.) - unholy, defiled, impure
rapier (noun) - a sword
trifling (adj) - small, unimportant
saucy (adj.) - bold, impudent, insolent
judicious (adj.) - possessing sound judgment, cautious, shrewd
shrift (noun) - confession
languish (verb) - to become less intense, to wane or abate
pernicious (adj.) - having a bad effort, damaging or detrimental
portentous (adj.) - ominous, threatening evil
prodigious (adj.) - marvelous, miraculous, wondrous
valiant (adj.) - brave, courageous, bold
assail (verb) - to attack with violent blows, to assault verbally
posterity (noun) - succeeding or future generations
Act II
1. What does Romeo compare Juliet to in scene 1?
2. Who do Mercutio and Benvolio think Romeo is with?
3. Why does Juliet want Romeo to have some other name?
4. When Juliet discovers Romeo at her balcony, what does she fear?
5. Why does Juliet fear the love that she and Romeo share?
6. What concerns does Friar Laurence have about Romeo and Juliet's relationship?
7. Why does Friar Laurence agree to help the two?
8. Why has Tybalt sent a letter to Romeo's house?
9. What warning does the nurse give Romeo?
10. What message does Romeo give the nurse to tell Juliet?
11. Why is Juliet annoyed at the beginning of scene 5?
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12. What fears does Friar Laurence express in scene 6?
13. What is an example of dramatic irony from Act II?
14. What is an example of foreshadowing from Act II?
Act II Vocabulary
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jest (verb) - to joke, prank
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enmity (noun) - hatred
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garish (adj.) - marred by excessive ornamentation; gaudy
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chide (verb) - to scold, rebuke, reprimand
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idolatry (noun) - extreme devotion or worship of a person or thing
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invocation (noun) - a prayer like speech; also conjuring or calling up of spirits
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rancor (noun) - feelings of ill will, hatred, enmity, animosity
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repose (noun) - time when one can relax
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intercession (noun) - a plea on another’s behalf, a mediation
BONUS WORD: impetuous (adj.) - capable of sudden action, emotion or violence, brash, impulsive
Act III
1. Why has Tybalt come looking for Romeo?
2. What does Mercutio do?
3. How does Romeo contribute to Mercutio’s death?
4. What is the outcome of the fight between Romeo and Tybalt?
5. What punishment does Escalus give Romeo?
6. Why does Juliet defend Romeo’s actions?
7. At the end of scene ii, what does Juliet ask the nurse to do?
8. What is Romeo’s reaction when Friar Laurence tells him that Escalus has banished him?
9. What is Friar Laurence’s plan for Romeo?
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10. In scene iv, what does Capulet tell Paris?
11. At the beginning of scene v, why do Romeo and Juliet discuss whether it is morning or not?
12. What is Capulet’s reaction when he learns that Juliet refuses to marry Paris?
13. What does the nurse tell Juliet she should do?
14. At the end of scene v, why is Juliet so angry with the nurse?
15. How are Juliet’s beliefs about love and marriage different from her parents’?
16. When talking to her parents in this act, explain how some of Juliet’s lines are filled with double meanings?
17. Describe the change in Juliet’s behavior toward her parents.
Act III Vocabulary
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dissembler (noun) - one who hides himself or puts on a false appearance
jocund (adj.) - cheerful, merry
puling (adj.) - whining, whimpering
agile (adj.) - well-balanced and quick on one’s feet, nimble
discord (noun) - lack of harmony
beguile (verb) - to deceive or cheat
Act IV
1. How does Paris think Juliet feels about him?
2. What does Juliet ask of Friar Laurence?
3. What does Juliet say she will do if she cannot find a way to avoid marrying Paris?
4. How does Juliet respond to Paris’ complements in this act?
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5. What does Friar Laurence say will happen when Juliet drinks the potion?
6. How will Romeo learn of Friar Laurence’s plan?
7. What does Friar Laurence say Romeo and Juliet will do after Juliet awakens?
8. In scene ii what does Juliet tell her father?
9. What activities occur in the Capulet household at the start of scene ii?
10. Describe Capulet’s character at the end of scene ii.
11. Describe the various fears Juliet has as she gets ready to drink Friar Laurence’s potion.
12. What effect might Capulet’s change of plans have on the Friar’s arrangements?
13. At what time does scene iv occur?
14. How do Capulet, his wife, the nurse, and Paris react when they find Juliet?
15. What does Friar Laurence tell the family?
16. According to Lord Capulet, what will happen now to all the preparations that were made for the wedding?
Act IV Vocabulary
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inundate (verb) - to overwhelm with something
shroud (noun)- cloth used to wrap a body for burial
resolve (noun) firmness of purpose, determination
Act V
1. Why is Romeo feeling cheerful at the beginning of scene i?
2. What news does Balthasar bring Romeo?
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3. After hearing the news, where does Romeo plan to go?
4. What does the speed with which Romeo makes his decision tell you about his character?
5. How is Friar John prevented from going to Mantua to deliver Friar Laurence’s letter?
6. Why does Paris go to the Capulet tomb?
7. How do you think Paris feels about Juliet?
8. What is Romeo’s real reason for sending Balthasar away from the tomb?
9. Why does Paris think Romeo has come to the tomb?
10. What does Friar Laurence find when he enters the tomb?
11. How does Juliet kill herself?
12. What causes Lady Montague’s death?
13. Who tells the story of the events to the Prince?
14. What does the Prince mean when he says, “All are punished.”
15. At the conclusion of the play, what happens between the Capulets and the Montagues?
16. In this final act, how are Romeo’s actions guided more by emotion than reason?
17. By family, list the people who have died in the play.
Act V Vocabulary
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scourge (noun) - a major affliction or hardship
caitiff (noun) - mean, evil person
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inter (verb) - bury
penury (adj.) - impoverished, poor
pestilence (noun) - epidemic
apothecary (noun) - druggist
presage (verb) - to predict
inauspicious (adj.) - unfavorable
sepulcher (noun) - tomb
aloof (adj.) - showing no interest, withdrawn, uninvolved
peruse (verb) - to examine
inexorable (adj.) - impossible to persuade, to change or halt
felon (noun) - criminal
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