THE TRAGEDY OF
ROMEO AND JULIET
Reading notes
Prologue
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Background given before the opening of a piece of
literature . Its bookend is called a/an….
An actor (“Chorus”) would deliver this speech to the
audience before the play began
Look at it. What do you notice about its form?
WHY would Shakespeare use this form here?
Prologue
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Let’s paraphrase it. Paraphrase=translate by
changing diction (words) and syntax (order of
words) to reflect modern-day language. TIPS:
 Translate
any words you think you can. Use the left-side
of the page and a dictionary to help you.
 Find verbs and figure out who or what is doing the
verbs.
 Pay attention to punctuation—make sure the lines
translate into complete thoughts.
Prologue--translated
In the beautiful city of Verona, where our story takes
place, a long-standing hatred between two families
erupts into new violence, and citizens stain their hands
with the blood of their fellow citizens. Two unlucky
children of these enemy families become lovers and
commit suicide. Their unfortunate deaths put an end to
their parents' feud. For the next two hours, we will
watch the story of their doomed love and their parents'
anger, which nothing but the children's deaths could
stop. If you listen to us patiently, we'll make up for
everything we've left out in this prologue onstage.
ACT I
Terms to know:
 Exposition: opening of a drama in which setting,
character, and conflict are “exposed” to the
audience
 Tragedy: a serious work of drama that ends with
the demise of its protagonist
 Tragic hero: protagonist of a tragedy whose own
actions or undesirable character traits (tragic flaw)
lead to his demise
ACT I
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Foils: a character who contrasts with another
character in order to highlight particular qualities of
the other character; mirror images/opposites
Blank verse: unrhyming iambic pentameter
Aside: lines spoken to the audience or another
character that are NOT heard by all characters on
stage
ACT 1.1
Readers:
CAPULETS
Gregory
Sampson
Tybalt
Lord Capulet
Lady Capulet
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MONTAGUES
Abram
Benvolio
Romeo
Lord Montague
Lady Montague
Neutral
Prince
Citizens
Read through to the punctuation. Try to read with some emotion
Do the best you can. Fluency is the goal!
“èd" is pronounced “ED” (like the name)
 So temperèd would have three syllables: TEM-per-ED
ACT 1.1
PLOT:
 Sampson and Gregory (affiliated with Capulets) try to
indirectly start a fight with some Montagues, Abram
and others. A fight breaks out and results in a new
threat from the Prince. Benvolio and Romeo have a
heart-to-heart.
 Main characters
Benvolio (a Montague, Romeo’s cousin)
 Tybalt (a Capulet, Juliet’s cousin)
 Prince
 Lord and Lady Capulet and Montague
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Act 1.1 Questions
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How does Shakespeare make the feud look foolish ?
How are Benvolio and Tybalt different? (FOILS)
What is the Prince’s threat?
Why are Lord and Lady Montague concerned about
their son?
What is Romeo’s reaction to the fight?
Why is Romeo upset?
What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo
When does Shakespeare use blank verse in this scene?
ACT 1.1 Paraphrase passages
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Prince’s speech: 1.1.83-105 (pick 6 lines)
Montague: 1.1.134-145
Romeo: 1.1.216-224
ACT 1.2
Terms to know
 Malapropism: misused or mispronounced word;
Shakespearean plays often include lower class
characters who misspeak (comic relief)
 Dramatic Irony: the audience is aware of something
which some or all of the characters are unaware of
ACT 1.2
Questions:
 What does Paris want?
 What does Lord Capulet think?
 What
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is your first impression of Capulet as a father?
Explain how the term malapropism and dramatic
irony apply to the scene.
What does Benvolio plan to do at the party to help
cheer up Romeo?
ACT 1.2 paraphrase
Lord Capulet: 1.2.14-19
And one of the following:
 Benvolio: 1.2.89-94
 Romeo: 1.2.95-100
 Benvolio: 1.2.101-106
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1.3
Some background:
The character “Nurse” is a woman who raised Juliet.
At this time in history, “nurses” were women who
worked for rich ladies, actually nursing (breast
feeding) their children. “Nurses” had their own
children about the same age as the babies they
worked with.
ACT 1.3
answer on post-its or notebook paper
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List three humorous or inappropriate things said by the
Nurse (use the side notes to help you):
What do the Nurse and Lady Capulet think of Paris?
How does Shakespeare characterize Juliet in this
scene—what is your first impression of her? (What are
the two possible interpretations of line 71?)
Lines 85-98 are an example of what poetic device?
Paraphrase: 1.3.103-105
1.4 Queen Mab Speech
Look for …
 Punning (play on similar sounding words)
 Romeo’s mood at beginning of scene and lines
foreshadowing future disaster (“stars”)
 Mercutio: his characters, his thoughts on love and
dreams (see handout)
Important lines:
Mercutio 1.4.103-106 (to who woos)
Romeo 1.4.113-120
1.5-Love at first sight
Highlight as you read:
 How does Tybalt recognize Romeo and react to his
presence?
 How does Lord Capulet react to Romeo’s party
crashing?
 Identify lines that foreshadow future conflict
 Analyze the lovers’ reactions to one another
 Note
at least three compliments Romeo gives Juliet
 Juliet’s lines that show a different side than the one we
saw in 1.3
1.5.11 Love at first sight
Let’s examine their first conversation (104-121)
 Let’s figure out what they’re talking about:
Romeo compares Juliet’s hands to
______________, his lips to
_______________________ and their first kiss to
________________________.
 How do you picture the two? What are the actors
who are portraying them doing in the scene?
 What do you notice about the structure of the lines?
1.5.11 Love at first sight
Choose three to paraphrase
 1.5.51-55
 1.5.74-80
 1.5.100-103
 1.5.152-155
 Pick your own set of lines that are interesting,
important, or memorable (4 line minimum)