Romeo and Juliet: Act 3 (English 1, BHS)

At the beginning of the scene, why does Benvolio think that there will be a fight? The heat brings out the worst of people and makes them want to fight
What does Mercutio accuse Benvolio of in lines 15-30? He accuses Benvolio of how he always starts the fights
When Tybalt and Mercutio first begin arguing, what does Benvolio try to them to do? He tries to get them to go somewhere else because it is foolish to fight in public
What does Tybalt call Romeo? A boy and ratcatcher
Why won’t Romeo fight Tybalt? He loves Tybalt just as much as Juliet because he is married to Juliet, but won’t tell him that
What does Mercutio think is the reason Romeo refuses to fight? He is scared and “soft” from his love
Why does Mercutio keep repeating, “A plague o’ both your houses”? He isn’t a member of either house, yet they killed him
What does Romeo say that Juliet’s love has done to him? It has made him weak
Why does Romeo call himself “fortune’s fool”? He is a fool to his fortune. His future is bad and he claims himself to be a “fortune’s fool” because he has been treated badly in luck. He loves someone from the opposite family, he kills someone from the other family that doesn’t help the families’ feud, etc.
When Benvolio relates to the Prince what happened, what does he say Romeo tried to before Mercutio was killed? Romeo was trying to be peaceful, but Tybalt wanted a fight.
What does Lady Capulet accuse Benvolio of? Why? He accuses him of lying because he is a Montague
What is Romeo’s punishment for killing Tybalt? Banishment
Why is Juliet so impatient for the nurse to return? She wants to know about Romeo
Describe Juliet’s rapidly changing attitudes toward Romeo in this scene. She was mad because Romeo killed Tybalt, but became less mad because he is her husband
What piece of news has upset Juliet the most? The banishment of Romeo
What does the nurse promise to do? Get Romeo to comfort Juliet, who is thinking of suicide
Explain Romeo’s reaction to the news of his banishment. He is ungrateful because he won’t be able to see Juliet
Romeo tells Friar Laurence that the priest cannot know or understand how Romeo feels. Why? Friar has never felt real love
What argument does Friar Laurence use to prevent Romeo from killing himself? Juliet is alive, Tybalt is dead, and he isn’t set to a death sentence
What does the nurse give to Romeo? The ring from Juliet
What does Capulet tell his wife to say to Juliet? Juliet is getting married to Paris on Thursday
As Romeo is preparing to leave Juliet, what argument does she use to convince him to stay? It is actually still the night (a meteor, not the sun is rising)
Later, why does Juliet think Romeo should leave? She doesn’t want Romeo to die because of her
Just as Romeo is about to descend the rope ladder and leave Juliet, what does Juliet say about the way Romeo looks? He looked pale and as if he came from a tomb
Why does Lady Capulet think Juliet is crying? Tybalt (her cousin) is dead
When Lady Capulet threatens to send someone to Mantua to poison Romeo, what does Juliet say? Juliet says something in a way to the Lady that seems like she is ok with this, but she phrased it so it is more like her heart is dead, instead of being satisfied if Romeo were to die
After Lady Capulet breaks the news about Paris, what is Juliet’s response? She doesn’t want to marry Paris, but Romeo
If Juliet’s mother does not arrange to delay the marriage, what will Juliet do? She will kill herself
What is Capulet’s reaction to Juliet’s threats? He threatens to beat and kick Juliet out
What is the nurse’s advice to Juliet? Forget about Romeo and marry Paris
How does Juliet’s attitude toward the nurse change? She will never trust her again
What “scheme” does Juliet devise to get rid of the nurse and to get out of the house? She claims she is going to confession (like how she said in the marriage) at Friar Laurence’s cell, but she really is asking for advice about her forced marriage to Paris.
August 15, 2019