Thy Name: __________________________
Date: ________________________________
Block: _______________________________
Romeo and Juliet
Act 1
Directions: As you read, note the setting, characters, conflict/plot events and figurative language.
Scene i
Setting
Verona, Italy A story of a feud (fight) between two noble families.
The children of the two fighting families fall in love and the action flows from their
doomed love.
Gregory and Sampson: Capulet Servants who want to pick a fight with Montague
servants
Abram(Abraham): Montague servant who fights with Gregory and Sampson.
Benvolio: Romoe’s cousin and friend, the peacemaker who tries to stop the street fight
Tybalt: Juliet’s cousin who wants to fight and kill all Montagues
Lord and Lady Capulet
Lord and Lady Montague worried about Romeo’s depression
Prince Escalus: tired of the fighting between the two families. Declares that any more
fighting will mean the deaths of both Montague and Capulet
Romeo: really totally depressed because the woman he loves (not Juliet) will not return
his love. She wants to live chaste
Conflict/Plot
Family feud between Montague and Capulet. No one knows what the fight is about.
Prince says any more fighting and Montague and Capulet will die
Romeo is depressed about Rosaline, and Benvolio wants him to forget her by looking
at other women.
Figurative Language Almost every line
Oxymoron: putting two different or opposite things together “feather of lead”
Dramatic conventions discussed: Aside between Sampson and Gregory
Prince’s Monologue
Characters
Scene ii
Characters
Conflict/Plot
Lord Capulet: Loves Juliet and tells Paris she is too young to marry, but he will agree
if Juliet agrees
Paris: wants to marry Juliet
Serving man: can’t read the guest list and asks Romeo for help
Benvolio:Talks the sullen Romeo into attending the Capulet party in order to find a
replacement for Rosaline.
Romeo:Still to sad for words
Lord Capulet declares that the County Paris si going to marry Juliet if she agrees
Romeo, at Benvolio’s urging decides to go to the Capulet masked ball
Figurative Language
Metaphor: Romeo compares his love for Rosaline to a religion.
Dramatic
Conventions
Serving man is comic relief. Also acts to advance the plot with the coincidence of
asking Romeo to read the Capulet guest list, ensuring that Romeo will be at the Ball.
Scene iii
Thy Name: __________________________
Date: ________________________________
Block: _______________________________
Characters
Lady Capulet: Encourages Juliet to look favorably on the County Paris. Does not know
Conflict/Plot
how old Juliet is and seems more concerned with financial situation than anything
else.
Nurse: Clearly has been part of Juliet’s life. Knows her stories. Interested in Juliet’s
happiness
Juliet:Agrees to do what her mother asks and take a look at Paris
Lady Capulet and the Nurse tell Juliet about the County Paris and tell her she will
meet him at the ball and should like him. Juliet agrees to do as she is told.
Figurative Language
Entire description of the County Paris is comparing Paris to a book---it is a metaphor
Dramatic
Conventions
Monologue—the Nurse describing Juliet as a child. Establishes the Nurse as the true
parent
Monologue—Lady Capulet describing the County Paris
Characters
Romeo:Still sullen and saying he has soles of lead and cannot dance.
Mercutio: related to the prince and Romeo’s friend. Gives the Queen Mab speech to
cheer up Romeo
Benvolio: making sure they get to the party on time
Conflict/Plot
Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio go to the party.
Figurative Language
Almost anything in the Queen Mab speech
Puns—play on words with multiple meanings soles and souls
Dramatic
Conventions
Monologue: Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech
Foreshadowing: Romeo predicts that the events of the evening will lead to an
untimely death
Scene iv
Thy Name: __________________________
Date: ________________________________
Block: _______________________________
Scene v
Characters
Setting is Capulet’s house for the masked ball.
Conflict/Plot
Figurative Language
Dramatic
Conventions
Capulet: gracious host. Even says that Romeo is a virtuous youth
Tybalt: Angry that Romeo is at the party and vows revenge
Romeo: sees Juliet and immediately forgets about Roseline
Juliet: see Romeo and they speak in a sonnet and kiss
Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio crash the Capulet party.
Tybalt is angry that Romeo is at the party and wants to fight. Capulet will not let
him, but he vows revenge.
Romeo and Juliet meet, kiss and fall in love.
Metaphor: Romeo compares Juliet’s beauty to light and jewels
Personification: “teach torches”
Foreshadowing: Juliet says her wedding bed will be her grave
Sonnet: Romeo and Juliet first speak to each other in a sonnet---completing each
other’s lines.
Directions: Summarize Act I of the play Romeo and Juliet. Make sure to use STAMPS (Shorten, Title,
Author, Main Idea/theme, Problem/conflict, Solution)
Sentence starter: In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare,
(Look at each act for the major action and plot development. Possible themes so far, relationships, love,
parents and children, authority)