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“ROMEO AND JULIET” Reading Guide
English I
NAME _________________________________________
2013-2014
Class ______
ACT I
PROLOGUE:
1. In what city does this play take place?
2. Why are Romeo and Juliet called “star-crossed lovers”?
SCENE I:
3. Who is fighting in this scene?
4. Who tries to break up the fighting?
5. What punishment will the Prince give to anyone found fighting in the streets again?
6. Benvolio and Montague describe the way Romeo has been acting. What do they say
about him?
7. Why is Romeo sad?
8. What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo?
SCENE 2:
9. Paris wishes to marry Juliet. Capulet tells him not yet. What reason does he give for
this delay?
10. What problem does the servant have?
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11. What is the name of the woman Romeo loves?
12. What is Benvolio’s reason for agreeing to crash the Capulet’s party with Romeo?
SCENE 3:
13. How old is Juliet?
14. What is Juliet’s response to the news Paris wishes to marry her?
SCENE 4:
15. In scene 4, Romeo speaks of a very uneasy feeling he has. What is this feeling?
16. How does Tybalt recognize Romeo at the party?
17. Why does Capulet allow Romeo to stay at the party?
18. What are Romeo’s last thoughts before he leaves Capulet’s party?
19. What are Juliet’s thoughts when she discovers who Romeo is?
ACT II
SCENE 1:
1. Why does Mercutio make fun of Romeo?
SCENE 2:
2. What does Romeo mean when he says, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound.”?
3. When Juliet appears on her balcony, what does Romeo compare her to?
4. How does Juliet “speak, yet . . . [say] nothing”?
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5. When Juliet leans her cheek on her hand, what does Romeo say?
6. In a sentence or two, explain what Juliet says about names.
7. Why does Juliet worry about Romeo’s safety when he’s in her garden?
8. Why does Juliet not want Romeo to swear by the moon?
9. What important decision do the two reach that night?
SCENE 3:
10. What has Friar Laurence been out gathering in his basket?
11. Explain lines 21-22: “Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,/ And vice sometime
by action dignified”?
12. What is Friar Lawrence’s first reaction when he hears Romeo has a new love?
13. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says to Romeo, “Young men’s love then lies
not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.”?
14. Friar Laurence agrees to perform the marriage ceremony for Romeo and Juliet for
what reason?
SCENE 4:
15. According to Mercutio, what kind of man is Tybalt?
16. What are Romeo’s plans as he explains them to the nurse?
17. What is the nurse saying to Romeo in lines 147-155?
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18. How is Juliet to arrange to meet with Romeo?
SCENE 5:
19. How does the nurse tease Juliet when she returns from seeing Romeo?
SCENE 6:
20. What does Friar Laurence mean when he says, “Therefore, love moderately; long
love doth so”?
ACT III
SCENE 1:
1. At the beginning of the scene, why does Benvolio think that there will be a fight?
2. Who insults Romeo? What insult does he use?
3. Why won’t Romeo fight Tybalt?
4. Who gets killed in this scene? How?
5. Why does Benvolio keep repeating, “A plague o’ both your houses.”?
6. When Benvolio tells the Prince what happened, what does he say Romeo tried to do
before Mercutio was killed?
7. What does Lady Capulet accuse Benovolio of? Why?
8. What is Romeo’s punishment?
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SCENE 2:
9. Why is Juliet so impatient for the nurse to return?
10. What news does Juliet receive from the nurse?
11. What piece of new upsets her most?
12. What does the nurse promise to do?
SCENE 3:
13. Where does Romeo hide?
14. Explain Romeo’s reaction to the news of his banishment.
15. Romeo tells Friar Laurence that the priest cannot know or understand how Romeo
feels. Why?
16. What argument does Friar Laurence use to prevent Romeo from killing himself?
17. What does the nurse give to Romeo? What do you think this signifies?
SCENE 4:
18. What does Capulet tell his wife to say to Juliet?
SCENE 5:
19. As Romeo is preparing to leave Juliet, what argument does she use to convince him
to stay?
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20. Later, why does Juliet think Romeo should leave?
21. Why does Lady Capulet think Juliet is crying?
22. What is Capulet’s reaction to Juliet’s refusal to this arranged marriage?
23. Where does Juliet say she will end up if she has to go through with the marriage?
24. What advice does the nurse offer? How does Juliet feel about this advice?
25. What scheme does Juliet devise to get rid of the nurse and to get out of the house?
ACT IV
SCENE 1:
1. Why is Friar Laurence reluctant to marry Paris to Juliet?
2. How does Paris explain the sudden haste of the marriage plans?
3. If Friar Laurence cannot help her, what does Juliet threaten to do?
4. Explain the Friar’s plan to help Romeo and Juliet.
5. How long will the effects last from the Friar’s potion?
6. How will Romeo be informed of the plan?
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SCENE 2:
7. What does Juliet say that makes her father happy?
8. How does Capulet change the wedding plans? What implication does this have?
SCENE 3:
9. How Does Juliet show her maturity and independence in this scene?
10. If the potion does not work, what will Juliet do?
11. What are some of the fears Juliet has about the potion?
SCENE 4:
12. What is happening in this brief scene? How does dramatic irony come into play?
SCENE 5:
13. What does the Friar say to comfort the Capulets and Paris?
14. What are the Capulets now preparing for?
ACT V
SCENE 1:
1. What news does Balthasar bring Romeo?
2. What argument does Romeo use to persuade the apothecary to sell him the poison?
3. What does Romeo mean when he says, “Then I defy you, stars!”?
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SCENE 2
4. Why was Friar John unable to deliver the letter to Romeo?
5. After hearing the news from Friar John, what does Friar Laurence intend to do?
SCENE 3:
6. Why has Paris come to the Capulet’s tomb?
7. Why is Romeo at the tomb?
8. Why does Paris feel justified to apprehend (or slay) Romeo?
9. Paris didn’t follow Romeo’s plea. What happens to him?
10. What two discoveries does the Friar make?
11. Where does the Friar tell Juliet to go?
12. What does Juliet do first in attempt to take her life? What does she do then?
13. What information does Romeo’s letter give?
14. How do Montague and Capulet plan to honor the memories of their children?
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