How can Mercutio be
described as a foil to Romeo?
Romeo is naïve about love and
takes it very seriously;
whereas Mercutio jokes
around about love and does
not take it seriously. —
What are the characteristics
of a
tragedy?
A tragedy ends unhappily,
usually with the main
character’s death caused by
his or her own tragic flaw.
Describe the character of
Tybalt.
Tybalt is hotheaded, always
looking for a fight. Lord
Capulet refers to him as a
“saucy boy.”
In Act II, when Mercutio and
Romeo meet up, Mercutio
involves Romeo in a
conversation about fashion.
Why?
Mercutio wants to match wits with
Romeo; they have not hung out in
quite some time, and they always
used to have fun joking around and
having word wars.
What does Tybalt do about
Romeo and his friends crashing
the Capulet party?
He sends a letter to his house
challenging him to a duel to
settle the feud.
What is the purpose of the
humor from Mercutio and the
nurse?
The nurse and Mercutio
provide comic relief to a very
tragic play.
In Act III, why does
Mercutio call Tybalt a
Ratcatcher?
Mercutio wants Tybalt to
fight him because he knows
that Romeo is in no position to
fight with Tybalt.
Why does Romeo not want to
fight Tybalt at first?
He has just married Juliet, so
technically, he and Tybalt are
now cousins.
What are the consequences of
Romeo’s killing Tybalt?
Romeo is banished from
Verona, he and Juliet cannot
now tell anyone about their
marriage, Juliet’s father
thinks her excessive crying is
due to Tybalt’s death, so he
promises her in marriage to
Paris to cheer her up.
At first, when Juliet hears of
Tybalt’s death, how does she
respond?
She is angry with Romeo for
killing her cousin.
What is the turning point in
Romeo and Juliet?
The turning point is when
Romeo kills Tybalt, because
that is the action that sets all
other consequences in motion.
How does Juliet’s character
change as she encounters
more conflicts?
She begins to rebel against
the adults in her life and even
at one point threatens suicide.
Why does Friar Lawrence
think Juliet will be brave
enough to take the potion, and
what does he tell her to do as
part of his plan?
He thinks she will be brave
enough since she was willing to
kill herself. He tells her to go
home and apologize to her
father, consent to marry
Paris, take the potion and
Romeo will come get her when
she wakes up.
How are the Capulets and
Montagues punished for their
feud, and what do they plan to
do about it at the end?
They are punished by the
deaths of their only children.
They make up and plan to build
a memorial of gold to honor
the couple.