Romeo and Juliet
Mr. Shakespeare
William Shakespeare: 1564-1616
Born in Stratford-upon-Avon,England
Became an actor and a playwright in1592
The GreatestWriter in theEnglish Language
*37 plays
*154 sonnets
* Numerous poems
*145 million hits on Google
Prologue
1. Who speaks the Prologue?
(Ex. Sent. Starter: “The Prologue is spoken by…”)
2. What is the purpose of the Prologue?
3. In what poetic form is this Prologue?
4. *Explain the importance of lines 5 & 6.*
5.Why does Shakespeare tell us how the story is going toend?
6. What themes are established in the Prologue?
*= These lines may be on the test. Be able to identify thespeaker, describe the circumstances, and be able tointerpret or paraphrase the quotation.
Bold words= RJ Literary Devices (new section in compbooks)
Act I, Scene i
1. How does Shakespeare start the play so that he gains the attention of the “groundlings”?(people sitting in the front of the Globe Theater)
*2. Look at lines 61-62. Our first introduction to Benvolio comes when he says thesewords. What do they reveal about his character?
*3. Look at lines 63-64. Our first impression of Tybalt occurs in these lines. What do welearn about his character?
*4. Look at lines lines 78-100. What is the tone of the Prince’s speech? In these lines hemakes a new decree. What is it, and why is it important?
5. When we first see Romeo he shows all the signs of a Petrarchan Lover—someonewho is in love with the idea of being in love. How does Romeo act (lines 168-179)?
6. When describing his feelings to Benvolio, Romeo uses Oxymorons—pairs ofcontradictory words in lines 173-178. Why does he speak in contradictions andparadoxes?
We then learn that Romeo is suffering from Unrequited Love—He loves someone whodoes not love him back.
7. What suggestion does Benvolio make to Romeo to help him get over is unrequited lovefor Rosaline (lines 223-224)?
Act I, Scene ii
1. In this scene, Lord Capulet talks to Paris about marrying hisdaughter Juliet. How does Lord Capulet support his argument for notwanting Juliet to get married at this time? (lines 7-11, 13-17)?
*2. Look at lines 18-19. On what condition will Lord Capulet agree toJuliet’s marriage with Paris? What does this reveal about Lord Capulet’slove for his daughter?
3. From the servant who cannot read, we learn that Rosaline, withwhom Romeo believes he is in love, will be at the Capulet party. Whydoes this excite Benvolio? What is his plan (lines 84-89)?
*4. Look at lines 86-89. Explain Benvolio’s analogy.
5. Why does Romeo agree to go to the party (lines 102-103)?
6. What coincidence takes place in this scene? Explain what theme isbeing developed.
Act I, Scene iii
1. What is the nurse’s relationship with Juliet?
2. How would you describe the nurse’s personality?
*3. Look at lines 62-63. What is the nurse’s one wish for Juliet and why?
4. When Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about being married, what is Juliet’s answer (line67), and what does it reveal about her character?
5. The nurse and Lady Capulet are both excited and pleased by Paris’ proposal but for differentreasons. The nurse says Paris is “a man of wax” and at the end of the scene encourages Juliet to“Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.” What does the nurse see in Paris, and what does itreveal about her attitude toward love and marriage?
6. Lady Capulet’s lines 82-95 compose a conceit. A conceit is an extended, exaggeratedcomparison or metaphor between two unlike things—in this case, between Paris and a book thatneeds to be bound. What does Lady Capulet see in Paris that would make him a good match forJuliet? What is Lady Capulet’s attitude toward love and marriage?
*7. Look at lines 98-100. Explain Juliet’s answer to her mother when asked if she can love Paris.What does it reveal about her knowledge of being in love? What is her attitude toward love andmarriage?
Act I, Scene iv
*1. Look at lines 106-113. Why does Romeo feeluneasy about going to the party? What dream-likepremonition has he had? What does this reveal about hisattitude toward the stars (as in fate/destiny)?
2. What decision does Romeo make in lines 112-113,and what is the thematic importance of this decision?
Act I, Scene v
1. We learn from Romeo’s soliloquy (a speechdelivered while the speaker is alone, intendedto inform the audience of what is passing inthe character’s mind) that he is struck by loveat first sight when he sees Juliet at the party.Paraphrase Rome’s speech (lines 44-53). Towhat does he compare Juliet?
2. How does this speech about his love forJuliet compare to his speeches about being inlove with Rosaline?
3. Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice and tries tostart a fight. What argument does LordCapulet give for stopping him (lines 65-70)?
*4. Look at lines 89-92. What threat doesTybalt make as he agrees to withdraw? Howcould this affect the plot in the future?
5. Look at lines 93-105. Romeo and Juliet speakto each other. Their lines form a sonnet. Whatis Romeo’s argument for kissing her? What isJuliet’s argument against getting kissed?
6. Dramatic Irony is when the audienceknows something the characters do not. Whatis ironic about line 134?
*7. Look at lines 138-141. What is thesignificance of Juliet’s realization? What themeis being developed here?
Act II, Scene ii
*1. Look at lines 33-36.Juliet is unaware thatRomeo is nearby. What isher main idea?
*2. Look at lines 38-49.What is Juliet’s attitudetoward the feud that hasseparated the two families?
3. Juliet speaks of her fearsin lines 116-119. Explain.
5. Paraphrase lines 142-148.
Act II, Scene iii
1. What is Friar Laurence’sview on human nature? (look atlines 23-30) What theme isbeing developed here?
2. What is Friar Laurence’sreaction to hearing of Romeo’snew love (lines 65-80)?
*3. Look at lines 89-92. Whatreason does Friar Laurence givefor agreeing to marry Romeoand Juliet?
Act II, sc. iv
1. What is in Tybalt’s letter? How might this affect theplot later in the play?
2. Why are Benvolio and Mercutio concerned aboutRomeo’s capabilities to fight Tybalt? What does thisreveal about their attitudes towards love?
3. What message does Romeo urge to deliver to Juliet?
Act II, Sc. vi
1. *Look at lines 9-15. What is the Friar’s main idea?What theme is being developed here?
2. What happens at the end of Act II? How will thisinfluence the text in the future?
Act III, Sc. i
1. Mercutio tries to provoke Tybalt to fight (lines 37-38). Why doesn’t Tybalt want to fight him (line 53)
2. After Tybalt insults Romeo, Romeo responds with lines 59-62. Explain his lines. What is the“reason” Romeo has for ignoring the insult?
*3. Look at lines 60-63. Explain the meaning of the lines and the dramatic irony of the situation.
4. Why does Romeo’s answer to Tybalt’s insults upset Mercutio? What does he think Romeo is doing(line 71)?
5. Romeo tries to stop Mercutio and Tybalt from fighting by reasoning with them (lines 83-87). What ishis argument for them to stop fighting?
6. Even when he is dying, Mercutio continues to joke and to make puns. Explain the pun he makes inlines 93-96.
7. Who or what does Mercutio blame for his death? Why? (hint: he blames two, one is a person, one is athing)
Act III, Sc.i Cont’d
8. *Look at lines 119-126. What is Romeo’s argument for why he must fightTybalt?
9. After Mercutio dies, why does Romeo decide to kill Tybalt instead ofaccepting Mercutio’s death as an unfortunate accident?
*10. Look at line 133. What does Romeo mean? What does this reveal about hischaracter? What theme is being developed here?
*11. Look at lines 173-178. What argument does Lady Capulet give to thePrince for vengeance on Tybalt’s death?
*12. Look at lines 181-183. What is Lord Montagues’ argument to persuadethe Prince not to kill Romeo for killing Tybalt?
13. What is the Prince’s decree, and what is the argument he gives for making it(lines 183-195)?
Act III, Sc. ii
*1. Look at line 73. When Juliet receives news ofTybalt’s death, what is her first reaction?
*2. Look at Juliet’s lines 90-92. When the nurse agreeswith Juliet, Juliet has a different reaction to Romeo’skilling of Tybalt. Explain