Romeo and Juliet - 1
Mrs. Gottlieb/Mrs. Quigley
“Romeo & Juliet”
ACT I
Scene 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What is the purpose of the prologue?
Between what two families does the feud exist?
Why does Shakespeare begin the play with a quarrel?
What decree does Prince Escalus make?
How does Montague react to his son’s recent behavior?
What is Romeo’s mood in scene one and why?
What advice does Benvolio give Romeo?
Scene 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How does Capulet respond to Paris’ proposal to marry Juliet?
What does this conversation tell us about Paris’ personality?
How do Romeo and Benvolio learn about the Capulet’s ball?
What arguments does Benvolio use to convince Romeo to go to the party?
Why does Romeo say he will go?
Scene 3
1. What is Lammastide? On what date does it come?
2. How old is Juliet?
3. Why does the servant speak in prose?
4. What purposes do the nurse’s speeches serve?
Scene 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
When and where does this scene take place?
How do Romeo and Mercutio contrast toward life?
Why is it important that the men wear masks?
Explain Mercutio’s speech? Who is Queen Mab?
Why does Romeo ask for a torch?
Does Mercutio believe that men rule their own destiny?
Scene 5
1. Where does this scene take place?
2. Who is Romeo talking about in lines 46-55? Explain the Irony in these lines.
3. Why does Tybalt become so upset, and how does Capulet respond to his rage?
4. Why form of poetry does Shakespeare use in the dialogue between Romeo and Juliet in their
first conversation?
5. What forces are brought into conflict in this scene?
6. What is the atmosphere at the end of this scene?
7. What do Romeo and Juliet discover after they kiss?
Romeo and Juliet - 2
ACT II
Scene 1
1. Why does Romeo hide from Mercutio and Benvolio?
2. Do you think they realize Romeo found a new love? Why or why not?
Scene 2
1. How does Romeo’s attitude toward life changed since he met Juliet?
2. How does Romeo approach love?
3. What influence does true love exert on Romeo?
Scene 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Give three adjectives describing Friar Lawrence. Explain why you chose each one.
What Proposal does Romeo make to the Friar?
What doubts does Friar Lawrence have?
Why does Friar Lawrence finally accept?
How does Friar Lawrence’s soliloquy represent the theme of the play?
Scene 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
For who is the Nurse looking and why?
What examples of humor are in this scene?
What warning does she give Romeo?
What steps is the Nurse to take?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Nurse as a medium?
Scene 5
1.
Juliet is waiting impatiently for the Nurse’s return. Why does she become so irritated when the
Nurse does return?
Scene 6
1. What warning does the Friar give about passionate love?
2. What fear does he express for the future?
3. What does this fear foreshadow?
Romeo and Juliet - 3
ACT III
Scene 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Who renews the quarrel between the families? Why?
Which character tries to be a peacemaker?
Why does Romeo refuse Tybalt’s first challenge?
Why does Romeo finally assume personal responsibility for avenging Mercutio’s death?
What decree does Prince Escalus make?
Why would this scene serve as the climax? (Think of all that has happened between Romeo and
Juliet.)
Scenes 2 and 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What are Juliet’s reactions to the tragic news?
How do we know Juliet will remain true to Romeo?
What dramatic effect does Juliet’s soliloquy have?
How does Romeo react to his banishment?
What does the Friar say to ease Romeo’s desperation?
Of what faults does the Friar accuse Romeo?
According to the Friar, what steps must be taken to safeguard Romeo?
Explain the dramatic irony at the beginning of scene two.
Scenes 4 and 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Compare Capulet’s present attitude to that of his first interview with Paris?
What is Lady Capulet’s attitude toward Juliet’s defiance?
What is Capulet’s reaction to Juliet’s stand?
What does the nurse advise Juliet to do? How does Juliet react?
What does Juliet plan to do now?
ACT IV
Scene 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why does Paris go to see Friar Lawrence?
Why does Juliet go to see Friar Lawrence?
What reason does Paris give Friar Lawrence for Capulet having set the wedding for Thursday?
What things does Juliet say she would do rather than marry Paris?
What is Juliet’s reaction to Friar Lawrence’s plan?
Scene 2
1.
What change is made about the wedding of Paris and Juliet? Why is this significant?
Romeo and Juliet - 4
Scene 3
1. Why doesn’t Juliet tell the Nurse about her plans to drink the potion?
2. What excuse does Juliet give the Nurse when she asks the Nurse to let her sleep alone that
night?
3. What questions and doubts come to Juliet’s mind before she drinks the potion?
Scene 4
1.
Why are the preparations for the wedding ironic?
Scene 5
1.
How does this scene indicate that an important step in Friar Lawrence’s plan has worked out as
he had hoped?
2. What purpose does the musician scene serve?
3. What comfort does Friar Lawrence offer the Capulets? Why is it so easy for him to react calmly
to Juliet’s “death”?
ACT V
Scene 1
1. What is Romeo’s mood at the beginning of this scene?
2. What causes this mood?
3. Why must Romeo persuade the apothecary to sell him a dram of poison?
Scene 2
1. Why has Friar John been unable to deliver Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo?
2. At what time does the scene take place?
Scene 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Why has Paris come to the Capulet tomb?
Why has Romeo come to the tomb?
What examples of personification exist in Romeo’s description of the tomb?
Why does Paris feel justified in his determination to slay Romeo?
What does Romeo say to try and persuade Paris to leave?
What happens when Paris refuses to leave?
What two tragic discoveries does Friar Lawrence make when he enters the tomb?
What does Friar Lawrence urge Juliet to do when she awakens?
Why does Friar Lawrence leave the tomb?
What does Juliet first try to do to end her life and join Romeo in death?
How does she finally achieve her aim?
What do you learn about Lady Montague in this scene?
Explain the meaning of Prince Escalus’ statements in lines 294-295.
How do Capulet and Montague show the enmity is gone?
Romeo and Juliet - 5