| Prologue | Set in VeronaCharacters: ChorusSummary: We learn of the two warring families, Capulet and Montague. We learn that Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed” lovers who will meet and fall in love but eventually take their own lives.Quotes: Entire thing! |
| Scene 1 | Characters: Sampson, Gregory, Abram, Benvolio, Tybalt, Capulet, Lady Capulet, Montague, Lady Montague, Prince, RomeoSummary: The scene starts with a fight breaking out between the two families, to stop the fight, the Prince threatens death. We find out Romeo is in love with Rosaline but she doesn’t love him back, which causes Romeo to become depressed. |
| Scene 2 | Set in the streetCharacters: Capulet, Paris, Servant, Benvolio, and RomeoSummary: The scene begins with Paris asking Capulet’s permission to marry his daughter, Juliet. Capulet turns him down. Then Romeo helps the Servant by reading the invite list, when he soon finds out Rosaline is attending. Romeo and Benvolio decide to crash the party. |
| Scene 3 | Characters: Lady Capulet, Nurse, Juliet, and the ServingmanSummary: This scene is about Juliet’s mother and The nurse telling her about Paris, the boy they want her to marry. Juliet agrees to meet him and see if she likes him. |
| Scene 4 | Outside of the Capulet PartyCharacters: Romeo, Mercutio, BenvolioSummary: In this scene, Romeo is going back and fourth of their decision on entering the Capulet’s party and what the consequences will be. Mercutio and Benvolio are trying to convince Romeo to stop worrying and just have fun. Also, this scene shows Mercutio’s personality through his ongoing conversation about dreams. In the end, the decision is made they will go inside to the party |
| Scene 5 | The Capulet PartyCharacters: Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, Nurse, Capulet, BenvolioSummary: Romeo and Juliet meet each other and instantly fall in love. They find out who the other one is and recognize that their only love has come from their only hate. |
| “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life..” | Romeo and Juliet, who are in love, take their life |
| “My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late.” | The only man I love is the son of the only man I hate. Juliet saw him too early without knowing who he was, and she found out who he was too late. She was already in love. |
| O’, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” | Romeo is saying Juliet is so beautiful and she lights up the room |
| “I’ll look to like/if looking liking move..” | This means that Juliet will see if she likes Paris |
| “Oh then I see Queen Mab hath been with you!” | Mercutio is told that Romeo had a dream and tells him that Queen Mab, a tiny fairy that visits people and gives them dreams, has visited him. |
| Escalus | prince of verona, concerned about maintaining peace in the city. |
| Paris | Asked to marry juliet, gets granted to marry her. |
| Montague | Romeo’s father, the patriarch of the Montague clan and bitter enemy of Capulet. At the beginning of the play, he is chiefly concerned about Romeo’s melancholy. |
| Capulet | Father of Juliet, husband of Lady Capulet, and enemy, for unexplained reasons, of Montague. He truly loves his daughter, though he is not well acquainted with Juliet’s thoughts or feelings, and seems to think that what is best for her is a “good” match with Paris. |
| Romeo | The son and heir of Montague and Lady Montague. He is handsome, intelligent, and sensitive, and a likeable character. Beginning of the play in love with Rosaline, soon after falls in love with Juliet. |
| Mercutio | Romeo’s close friend, overflows with imagination and he loves word play. He finds Romeo’s romanticized ideas about love tiresome |
| Benvolio | Montague’s nephew, Romeo’s cousin and thoughtful friend, he makes a genuine effort to defuse violent scenes in public places, though Mercutio accuses him of having a nasty temper in private. He spends most of the play trying to help Romeo get his mind off Rosaline, even after Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet. |
| Tybalt | A Capulet, Juliet’s cousin on her mother’s side. Vain, fashionable, supremely aware of courtesy and the lack of it, he becomes aggressive, violent, and quick to draw his sword when he feels his pride has been injured. |
| Friar Laurence | A Franciscan friar, friend to both Romeo and Juliet. Kind, civic-minded, a proponent of moderation, and always ready with a plan. Person who secretly marries romeo and juliet. |
| Balthasar | Romeo’s dedicated servant, who brings Romeo the news of Juliet’s death, unaware that her death is a ruse. |
| Sampson, Gregory | two servants of the house of Capulet, who, like their master, hate the Montagues. At the outset of the play, they successfully provoke some Montague men into a fight. |
| Peter | A Capulet servant who invites guests to Capulet’s feast and escorts the Nurse to meet with Romeo. He is illiterate, and a bad singer. |
| Abraham | Montague’s servant, who fights with Sampson and Gregory in the first scene of the play. |
| An Apothecary | an apothecary in Mantua. Had he been wealthier, he might have been able to afford to value his morals more than money, and refused to sell poison to Romeo. |
| Three Musicians | They are referred to by the names of Simon Catling, Hugh Rebeck, and James Soundpost. Musicians at juliet’s wedding. |
| Lady Montague | Romeo’s mother, Montague’s wife. She dies of grief after Romeo is exiled from Verona. |
| Lady Capulet | Juliet’s mother, Capulet’s wife. A woman who herself married young, she is eager to see her daughter marry Paris. She is an ineffectual mother, relying on the Nurse for moral and pragmatic support. |
| Juliet | The daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. Beautiful. Begins the play thinking about marrying Paris, and then falls in love with romeo. |
| Nurse to Juliet | filled in as juliet’s mom, provides comic relief with her frequently inappropriate remarks and speeches. The one who tells Romeo and Juliet who each one of them are at the party. |
| Rosaline | The woman with whom Romeo is infatuated at the beginning of the play. Rosaline never appears onstage, but it is said by other characters that she is very beautiful and has sworn to live a life of chastity. |
| 1.Why is it appropriate that Scene 1, in light of the information given in the Prologue, begins with men in search of a fight? Why does Shakespeare first depict the servants of both houses fighting, rather than the noblemen? | This is appropriate because it shows the hatred between both the families and how bad they wanted to fight. He picks servants to show that the class does not define the hate |
| 2.What is your impression of Benvolio? Do you think he is a coward? Why does he try to stop the fight? What is your first impression of Tybalt? Why does he encourage the fight? | I think Benvolio is a very peaceful guy and not a coward but I think Tybalt has a lot of anger and wants to fight because he hates the other family. |
| 3. How does the entrance of Prince Escalus of Verona emphasize the seriousness of the Montague-Capulet feud? What does the Prince do to prevent further outbreaks of violence? | It shows how serious it is because even the prince has to get involved in stopping this feud.He then threatens with death |
| 4.What do we learn of Romeo through Benvolio and Montagues conversation about him? What information does Benvolio receive when he asks Romeo,”What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?” | We learn that Romeo is very upset and lonely because the girl of his dreams does not love him |
| 5. What is your first impression of Romeo? How does Benvolio influence him? With whom is Romeo in love? What does she think of him? Is there anything unusual about Romeo and “his love”? | I think Romeo is a good guy just very lonely. Benvolio influences him to try. Romeo loves Rosaline but she wants to be a nun |
| 1.Why has Paris engaged in conversation with Old Capulet? What reasons does Capulet give for not wanting to accept Paris’ offer? How old is Juliet? | Paris wants to marry Juliet. He says Juliet is too young to marry since she is 13. |
| 2. What are old Capulet’s feelings for his daughter? | He loves her and wants the best for and wants her to take her time |
| 3. How does the servant become an instrument for the involvement of Romeo in the affairs of the Capulets? | He informs Romeo about the party at Juliet’s |
| 4. How does Benvolio persuade Romeo to attend the Capulet’s party? Why does Romeoaccept? How is the ending of this scene foreshadowing? | He tells Romeo there will be pretty girls including Rosaline. He accepts just to see her. The foreshadowing is the awaiting of Romeo and Juliets meet |
| 1.What argument does Lady Capulet present to convince Juliet to marry Paris? How does she describe him? Juliet says, “I’ll look to like if looking liking move.” What does this mean? | Her argument was that daughters of other noble families were already married. She describes Paris saying there is no flower in Verona as fine as him. Juliet means she will see if she likes him or not. |
| 2.Describe the Nurse’s personality. What is the Nurse’s view of Paris? | The Nurse is very kind and outgoing. She also loves Juliet like her own child. The nurse thinks that Paris is a fine young man and very attractive. |
| 3. How has Juliet shown herself to be respectful and obedient? | Even though Juliet says she is not interested in getting married at this age she is still obeying her mother and seeing if she likes him or not. |
| 1. From what Mercutio has said do you react favorably or unfavorably to him? Who is Queen Mab? Why does he speak about her at length? | I react favorably to him. Queen Mab is the fairies midwife. |
| 2. What do Romeo’s friends think of him? | They think he is speaking nonsense. |
| 3. What is the subject of Romeo’s speech right before he enters the house of Capulet? How does it contrast with the setting? | The subject of Romeo’s speech is about the future and what the dance could lead to. It contracts with the setting because the party is occurring and he talks about dying and as the reader we know he will. |
| 1.What qualities make Capulet a good host for a party? | Capulet makes a good host because he wants to make sure everyone is having a great time and does not want the party to get ruined. He is very outgoing as well. |
| 2.How does Romeo first describe Juliet? What comment does he make about his love for Rosaline? How could he have forgotten her so quickly? | he says that Juliet stands out from the crowd and is beautiful. . He also says he has not loved until now. |
| 3.How does Tybalt recognize Romeo? Is his anger reasonable? How does Capulet react to the information concerning Romeo’s presence at the party? What does he say about Romeo? | Tybalt recognizes Romeo by his voice. His anger is not reasonable. Capulet acts uninterested in Romeo’s appearance because he is not causing trouble. Capulet says Romeo is a gentlemen |
| 4.What indication does Tybalt give that he will make trouble at some future date? | He says that Romeo will be bitter soon and that Tybalt is full with rage |
| 5.How do the two lovers respond to each other? Why does Shakespeare have the lovers use poetic comparisons related to religious worship? | The two lovers kind of flirt with each other. Shakespeare uses comparison to religion to show the setting and time period of religion. Also how sacred their love is |
| 6.How does Romeo discover who Juliet is? How does Juliet discover who Romeo is? How does each react? | The nurse tells Romeo who her mother is and nurse tells juliet who Romeo is. They react in awe and confusion. |
| 7. Why does Shakespeare place Romeo, Juliet and Tybalt in the same room?Hint: What could it foreshadow? | They put them all in the same room to signify how each of them feel about each other and the waiting trouble and love. |
| Act 2: Prolouge | Characters: ChorusSummary: Romeo is falling in love with Juliet and his love for Rosaline is ending. Their love grants them power and chances to meet. |
| Act 2: Scene 1 | Characters: Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio, Tybalt, Mrs. Capulet, CapuletSummary: They go into party (Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio); Tybalt recognizes Romeo by voice; Capulet says not to mess with him(Romeo) because he is a good person; Romeo and Juliet meet and use sacred talking to describe each other; they then discover that they are each other’s enemies. |
| Act 2: Scene 2 | Characters: Romeo, Juliet, and the NurseSummary: Romeo wanders about outside of Juliet’s balcony and catches her talking about him. They have their first conversation by themselves about their love for each other and how their last name/family feud is an interference. They are almost caught talking to each other by the nurse, yet Romeo leaves just in time, happy that he has talked to his love. |
| Act 2: Scene 3 | Characters: Friar and RomeoSummary: Friar thinks that Romeo moved on too quickly from Rosaline but he will help Romeo and Juliet get married because it might turn the hatred between the families into pure love. |
| Act 2: Scene 4 | Characters: Mercutio, Benvolio, Romeo, Juliet, Nurse Summary: Benvolio and Mercutio are on the streets of Verona wondering where Romeo is. Benvolio discovered that Tybalt has sent Romeo a challenge to duel and Mercutio assumed that there will be an encounter between Romeo and Tybalt. Romeo tells the nurse to tell Juliet to meet him in Friar Laurence’s cell to get married. |
| Act 2: Scene 5 | Characters: Peter, Nurse, JulietSummary: The nurse comes back to the Capulet house to inform Juliet about what Romeo has said, but keeps stalling. Juliet begs for the information where she tells Juliet that Romeo is waiting at Friar’s cell to get married. She thanks the nurse and runs off. |
| “But passion lends them power, time means, to meet, Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.” | Their passion for each other gives them the power to go against their family and to keep fighting for their love. |
| “My only love sprung from my only hate.” | Juliet’s only love is from the enemies family |
| “He jests at scars that never felt a wound” | Benvolio and Mercurio mocks Romeo for things they never felt |
| “Wise and slow. They stumble that run fast” | It means that you have to go wisely and slowly, because those who rush will stumble and fall. |
| “These violent delights have violent ends” | These sudden joys have sudden ending. |
| “O, swear by the moon, th’ inconstant moon/ That monthly changes in her circled orb/ lest that thy prove likewise variable” | The moon is always changing so Juliet doesn’t want Romeo to swear by it because that means he will not keep his promise. |
| Act 2:What are the factors working against the success of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship? | The factors are that the families are rivals and their parents would not approve. Also, Juliet is engaged. |
| Act 2:Why is this scene set in the dark? | So you can concentrate on the conversation more than setting. Emphasizes feelings. |
| Act 2:Why is Juliet worried about the lateness of the Nurse? What is Juliet’s attitude toward the Nurse? How does she treat the Nurse? | She is worried the nurse could not find Romeo. She is very nice to the nurse and thankful for what she is doing. |
| Act2:here does Romeo first see Juliet? How does he describe her? What is her position on the stage? | he sees her at the party and says she is beautiful and stands out. |
| Act 2:As Juliet speaks, what lines indicate the seriousness of her love? How does she answer her own question, “What’s in a name?” What sacrifice is Romeo willing to make? What does she promise him? | She says she loves him. And they speak of religion. Romeo is willing to get married and keep secret |
| Act 2:How does Juliet feel when she discovers that Romeo has been listening? Do the lovers sense the danger they are in? What does Romeo say would protect him from” twenty of their swords”? | She acts surprised. They sense the danger. He said their love |
| Act 2:Why does Romeo seek out a priest at the end of the scene? | To consult marriage |
| Act 2:Why does the Friar worry about the early appearance of Romeo? What are the Friar’s feelings about the relationship between Romeo and Rosaline? Why does he scold Romeo for his sudden change of heart? Why is he willing to help him? | Friar worries about Romeo because he thinks he is upset and anxious about something. Friar thinks it is good that Romeo is not with Rosaline. He scolds Romeo because he spent all this time on Rosaline he was just obsessed with her. He is willing to help to stop the hate between the families. |
| Act 2:How would you characterize Friar Lawrence? What is his relationship to Romeo? | Friar is very honest and only wants the best for others. He is very wise. I think he is like a mentor or guardian to Romeo |
| Act 2:How do Mercutio and the Nurse react to each other? Is Mercutio taking advantage of an old lady? | Mercutio is very rude to the nurse and she responds very mad. He is taking advantage of her |
| Act 2:How does the nurse drive Juliet “Mad” with impatience for her news? Is the Nurse deliberately unkind? What news does she finally relate, and how does she propose to help the lovers? | The nurse keeps complaining and not telling Juliet the news of Romeo. She is deliberately unkind in this situation. She tells Juliet to go to Friars to marry Romeo right now and helps keep it a secret. |
| Act 2:.What is the meaning of the speeches the lovers make to each other before the marriage? | The meaning of it is that they really love each other even though they just met and can not wait to be husband and wife |
| Act 2:Is the Friar convinced that Romeo and Juliet are in love? How do you know this? In what way does the Friars advice to Romeo place a touch of gloom on this scene? | He believes they are in love but he thinks it is happening way too fast and will blow up in their faces. He makes the scene gloomy by setting some nonbelief |
| Act 3: Scene 1 | Characters: Benvolio, Mercutio, Tybalt, Romeo, Citizen, Prince, Lady Capulet, and Montague.Summary: Benvolio and Mercutio are roaming the streets when Tybalt arrives looking for Romeo. Tybalt wants to fight Romeo, but because Romeo and Juliet are now married, Romeo refuses to fight so Mercutio does on his behalf. Romeo, trying to stop the fight, comes between them and Tybalt stabs Mercutio under his arm. Romeo gets angry and kills Tybalt. Romeo flees in fear of getting in trouble by the prince. When the prince finds out from what Benvolio said, he banishes Romeo from the city. |
| Act 3: Scene 2 | Characters: Juliet and Nurse Summary: In this scene Juliet’s Nurse is informing Juliet of the news that Romeo has killed Tybalt and his punishment was to be banished from the town. Later throughout this conversation, the Nurse and Juliet are discussing about what they will do with their marriage and with Tybalt’s death. |
| Act 3: Scene 3 | Characters: Friar Lawrence, Romeo, NurseSummary: Friar Lawrence tries to convince Romeo that he should be grateful that he wasn’t put to death. Romeo is convinced that banishment is worse than death because Juliet is his world. Romeo tries to kill himself, but the nurse and Friar Lawrence stops him and tells him to run away with Juliet to Mantua. |
| Act 3: Scene 4 | Characters: Paris, Capulet, Lady CapuletSummary: Due to recent events and tragedies in the Capulet household, Paris and Capulet decide to move the wedding to thursday. Juliet is upset due to Tybalt’s death and has been locked in her room crying since. |
| Act 3: Scene 5 | Characters: Juliet, Romeo, Nurse, Lady Capulet, CapuletSummary: Romeo and Juliet meet with each other once again because it is the night time. After expressing their love to one another, Romeo leaves before they get caught. Juliet tells her mother how she is still grieving Tybalt’s death. Her mother tells her that she needs to stop weeping Tybalt’s death. Her mother says how she hopes to see Romeo dead. |
| “Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain.” | Romeo, there’s only one thing I can call you. You’re a villain |
| “I do protest I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason my love, and so , good capulet, which name i tender as dearly as mine own, be satisfied.” | I disagree. I’ve never done you harm. I love you more than you can understand until you know the reason why I love you. And so, good Capulet—which is a name I love like my own name—you should be satisfied with what I say. |
| A plague o both your houses, they have made worm’s meat of me. I have it, and soundly to your houses.” | This means that he hates the feud between the houses because it has caused the death of him. |
| “O! I am fortune’s fool!” | Romeo is unlucky |
| “Immediately we do exile him hence […] Else when he is found, that hour is his last. | This quote means that because of Romeo’s crime he is hereby exiled from Verona and if he is found he will be killed. |
| Act 3: How does Romeo behave when challenged by Tybalt? Why is he acting this way? How does this lead to a fight between Mercutio and Tybalt? | Romeo did not want to fight him. He is acting like this because he loves Juliet and Tybalt is her family. Mercutio jumps in because he keeps trying to fight Romeo. |
| Act 3: Who explains Romeo’s actions to the Prince? Is the version accurate? Why is the Prince personally affected by the violence? In what way do Lady Capulet’s words reflect the hatred that exists in Verona? | Benvolio told Prince. It was accurate. Mercutio was the Princes relative. Lady Capulet was saying how much she hated the montagues and blamed them. |
| Act 3:In her opening soliloquy what reasons does Juliet give for preferring night to day? | She prefers night because she can see Romeo. |
| Act 3:What does the Nurse’s way of telling Juliet the terrible news reflect her Loyalty to the Capulets? Juliet does not understand the Nurse’s news. What mistake does Juliet make? | She keeps saying He’s dead He’s dead and Juliet thinks it’s Romeo but Nurse is very upset. Juliet’s mistake was talking better of Romeo than Tybalt. |
| Act 3:Does the nurse really mean that,” Tybalt was the best friend I ever had”? Why does she claim this? Why doesn’t she mention Mercutio’s murder? | Nurse meant that he meant alot to her. She claims this because she loves Tybalt and that’s her family. She does not mention Mercutio because he is a montague. |
| Act 3:How does the Nurse save Juliet from despair? What information does she have for Juliet? | She goes and finds Romeo. She says he is in Friar Lawrence’s cell. |
| Act 3:How does Romeo react to the news of his banishment? Why does Friar Lawrence feel that Romeo’s attitude shows ingratitude? | He acts mad and wish he got death. Friar thinks he is ungrateful because the prince put sympathy on Romeo and only exiled him |
| Act 3:.Romeo tells why his banishment is torture and not mercy. Why is it so to him? Why is he angry at the friar? | He says banishment is worse since he won’t see Juliet anymore. He is mad at friar because he does not understand his situation and how much he wishes he would be dead. |
| Act 3:.How does the Friar hope to achieve a “happy ending” for the lovers? | To make the marriage public by slowly having time take its toll and making peace between the families |
| Act 3:What is Capulet’s attitude toward the death of Tybalt as he mentions it to Count Paris? What promise does he make to Paris? Why do you think he has changed his plan and decided to rush matters? How does this affect the Friar’s plan? | The Capulet’s attitude towards the death is that the family is very upset especially Juliet. He promises the marriage on Thursday. Because the town will think they do not care about the death of tybalt and only the marriage. This affects Friar’s plan because she is already married to Romeo. |
| Act 3:How does Lady Capulet interpret Juliet’s weeping and grief? How does Juliet manage to appear loyal as a Capulet and at the same time express her love for Romeo? What excuse does she give her mother for refusing to marry Paris? How does Capulet react to his daughter’s refusal to marry Paris? | She calls Juliet and tells her she cannot grief forever. She speaks to herself saying Romeo is not a villain but aloud she says she wishes he was dead. Juliet says there is no rush and he has not come to court her. Capulet is angered by Juliet |
| West Side Story Setting: | New York City |
| The Jets= | The montagues |
| Bernardo= | Tybalt |
| Maria= | Juliet |
| Anita= | Nurse |
| Chino | Paris |
| The sharks= | Capulets |
| Doc= | Friar |
| Shrank= | Prince |
| The balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet most closely resembles… | the fire escape scene in West Side Story |
| The Capulet’s party in Romeo and Juliet most closely resembles… | the dance at the gym in West Side Story. |
Romeo and Juliet Act 1-3 test: Holladay
October 22, 2019