Name _________________________
Romeo and Juliet Questions – Act 1
Prologue and Scene i (p. 901) The who, what, and where.
1. In what city does the play take place?
2. Between what two families does the feud exist?
3. What decree does the Prince make after the street brawl?
4. “What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?” (I.i.160)
5. What advice does Benvolio give Romeo about getting over the girl he likes?
Scene ii (p. 910) Getting to know Romeo…
6. How does Capulet respond to Paris’ proposal to marry Juliet? Paraphrase two things that he says:
7. How do Romeo and Benvolio learn about the Capulet's ball? What do they decide to do?
8. What is the name of the girl Romeo likes? How do we find out?
Scene iii (p. 914) Getting to know Juliet…
9. What is Lammastide? On what date does it come?
10. How old is Juliet? What date is her birthday?
11. How does Juliet feel about getting married? Quote her response and then paraphrase it.
Scene iv (p. 918) Before the party.
12. On the way to the party, Mercutio gives a monologue, a long speech, about Queen Mab. What is
the meaning and purpose of his monologue?
13. What do we find out about Mercutio’s personality through this monologue?
14. What is the meaning of Romeo’s lines, beginning with “I fear, too early…”? (106-113) Also, what
is the literary purpose of these lines?
Scene v (p. 923) At the party … they MEET!
15. Who is Romeo talking about in lines 44-53? What is the irony in these lines?
16. Why does Tybalt become so upset, and how does Capulet respond to his rage?
17. Who said the following lines, and why?
a) "Is she a Capulet? 0 dear account, my life is my foe’s debt." (118)
b) "My only love sprung from my only hate / Too early seen unknown and known too late." (138-139)
Name _________________________
Romeo and Juliet Questions – Act 2
Scene i (p. 932) (NO QUESTIONS: Mercutio makes fun of Romeo for being in love with
Rosaline, or so he still thinks. Romeo jumps over a wall to go back to see Juliet.)
Scene ii (934) The most famous scene – at Juliet’s balcony.
1. What is Romeo really saying in his soliloquy (lines 1-25)?
2. Explain what Juliet means by saying “Wherefore art thou Romeo?”
3. Explain the dramatic irony of this scene.
4. Summarize Juliet's speech (lines 85-106).
5. After Romeo and Juliet vow their love for one another, what do they decide to do and when?
6. This scene is full of imagery. Find images in this scene for two of the following senses: smell,
sight, sound, and taste.
Scene iii (p. 941) We meet Romeo’s advisor.
7. This scene opens with Friar Laurence collecting herbs and discussing their properties and the
purposes for which they may be used. Why might Shakespeare have him do this?
8. Why does Romeo go to see Friar Laurence?
9. Why does Friar Laurence consent to Romeo's request?
10. When Romeo is in a hurry, what advice does Friar Laurence give him, and how is it important to
the overall play?
Scene iv (p. 945) Wedding arrangements are made.
11. Who has sent a letter to the Montague household? Why?
12. Why do Romeo’s friends make fun of him?
13. For whom is the nurse looking and why?
14. What is the plan for the wedding?
Scene v (p. 951) (NO QUESTIONS: Juliet is waiting very impatiently for the nurse's return.
When the nurse arrives, she keeps stalling, and this frustrates Juliet. The nurse finally tells Juliet the
plan.)
Scene vi (p. 954) The WEDDING (and some more advice)!
15. Friar Laurence gives more advice. What imagery is used, and how might it foreshadow future
events?
Name _________________________
Romeo and Juliet Questions – Act 3
Scene i (p. 959) A hot day, when tempers flare.
1. What is the weather like?
2. Tybalt is determined to fight, but Romeo refuses. Why? What is the dramatic irony?
3. How does Mercutio get involved in the fight, and what happens to him?
4. How does Romeo react to this, and what does he blame it on (QUOTE IT)?
5. After hearing the arguments of both sides, what decree does the Prince make?
6. Explain how this scene serves as the climax, or turning point, of the play.
Scene ii (p. 967) In Juliet’s room.
7. Summarize Juliet's soliloquy (lines 1-31). What is the allusion she makes?
8. When the nurse comes in with news, at first, what does Juliet think has happened?
9. How does she react when she knows the whole story?
Scene iii (p. 972) In Friar Laurence’s cell at the church.
10. How does Romeo react to the news of his banishment?
11. What is Friar Laurence's plan?
Scene iv (p. 977) (NO QUESTIONS: Having lost his only male heir, Lord Capulet realizes he
needs to get Juliet married off soon. It’s Monday, and he tells Paris that Juliet will marry him on
Thursday.)
Scene v (p. 979) The morning after the “honeymoon,” in Juliet’s room.
12. How does Juliet try to convince Romeo to stay with her?
13. What is especially sad about Romeo leaving?
14. Juliet's mother comes to her room. Their conversation about Tybalt's death has Juliet speaking in
ambiguous terms. Explain the real meaning in lines 94-103.
15. How does Lord Capulet react to Juliet's refusal to marry Paris?
16. What advice does the nurse give Juliet, and how does Juliet feel about this?
17. Who does Juliet decide to turn to?
Name _________________________
Romeo and Juliet Questions – Act 4
Scene i (p. 990) Back to Friar Laurence’s cell at the church.
1. How does Juliet treat Paris at the opening of this scene?
2. Juliet pleads with Friar Laurence to help her. Explain the plan they arrange.
Scene ii (p. 994) At the Capulet house.
3. When Juliet apologizes, what does her father decide to do?
4. What problem does this foreshadow?
Scene iii (p. 997) In Juliet’s room.
5. List at least three of Juliet's fears as she is about to drink the potion.
1)
2)
3)
Scene iv (p. 999) (NO QUESTIONS: The Capulets are busy preparing for Juliet's wedding. The
Nurse is told to wake Juliet up and get her ready. We know what’s coming…)
Scene v (p. 1000) Juliet’s “DEAD”!
6. What does Lord Capulet personify, and how?
7. Explain the dramatic irony in Friar Laurence's speech (lines 65-83).
Name _________________________
Romeo and Juliet Questions – Act 5
Scene i (p. 1009) In Mantua.
1. How does Romeo's dream, which he describes in his opening speech, compare with the news
brought to him by Balthasar?
2. How does Romeo convince the apothecary to sell him poison?
Scene ii (p. 1011) (NO QUESTIONS: Friar John was unable to deliver the letter to Romeo in
Mantua, so he gives it back to Friar Laurence, who is now worried that Romeo doesn’t know of
Juliet’s plan. He decides that he will meet Juliet when she wakes up in the Capulet’s tomb.)
Scene iii (p. 1012) At the Capulet tomb. The END is near!
3. Why does Paris come to Juliet's burial place?
4. What happens when Romeo and Paris meet?
5. Explain the dramatic irony in the tomb.
6. Romeo takes the poison and dies, then Friar Laurence comes along – but too late. What happens
when Juliet wakes up?
7. Who should be “pardoned,” and who should be “punished”?
 Pardoned:
 Punished:
8. At the end of the play, who is dead? How did each person die?
9. What, ultimately, is Romeo and Juliet's tragic flaw? How does it lead to their destruction?
10. The entire course of action took place within five days. Starting with the first street brawl, which
occurred early Sunday morning, trace the day by day events of the play.
 Sunday:
 Monday:
 Tuesday:
 Wednesday:
 Thursday:
 Friday: