| What are two different meanings for the word “fatal”? What double meaning does “fatal” have in context of the Prologue? | Causing death; lead to failure or disaster”From forth the fatal loins of these two foes”1. Fateful/inevitable2. Death by their families |
| Explain why and how Romeo and Juliet are called “star-cross’d lovers”? | The term “star-cross’d” means inevitably doomed so the audience should understand that Romeo and Juliet’s love is doomed from the beginning |
| Why would the verbal fight between the servants of the Montagues and the Capulets turn physical when their masters entered the scene? | It turned physical because they wanted to prove their honor and loyalty towards each of their serving families. |
| Who tries to break up the fighting? How does Tybalt react to this? | Benvolio; Tybalt does not want the fight to be broken up because his hot-headed temper calls for revenge. |
| What threat does Escalus the Prince of Verona make to Lord Montague and Lord Capulet? | If the families are caught fighting in the streets of Verona again, execution will take place for the guilty parties. |
| When Romeo sees that there had been a fight he states, “Here’s much to do with hate but more with love”. What does he mean by this? | This line basically describes the central theme of the play. In one sense, the play is about the hatred b/w the Montague and Capulet families. Yet, the play is more about love; love b/w Romeo and Juliet and the way love eventually triumphs over hate. |
| Why is Romeo so melancholy (sad)? | He is deeply in love with Rosaline and she refuses to love him back. |
| What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo? How does he suggest Romeo do this? | Benvolio’s advice is to forget about Rosaline. He suggests Romeo do this by telling him to “examine other beauties”. |
| What does Paris ask of Capulet? What is Capulet’s first answer? | Paris asks if he can date(court) Juliet. Capulet ‘s first answer was not right now b/c Juliet is too young. |
| What does Paris say in response? What can you infer about this setting and society from this response? | Paris says that there are many girls younger than Juliet who are already wives and mothers. You can infer that parents married their daughters at a very young age. Sometimes as young as 12 years old. |
| What is the name of the woman Romeo loves? What is she like? How does Romeo describe her? | -Rosaline-She has declared that she will never love a man.-Romeo says there is no match to her beauty found in the world. |
| What do Romeo and Benvolio decide to do after meeting with the page? | They decide to go to the party/feast at the Capulet house |
| What kind of mother is Lady Capulet? What kind of relationship does the Nurse have with Juliet? | -Lady Capulet doesn’t spend much time with her daughter and doesn’t know very much about her.-The Nurse has basically raised Juliet since she was a baby and knows everything there is to know about Juliet. |
| When lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about marriage, what is Juliet’s answer? Why would this be Juliet’s answer? | -She hasn’t thought of marriage/doesn’t care about it.-She feels like she’s too young to be thinking of marriage. |
| Does Lady Capulet listen to Juliet’s response? | No. She tells Juliet to think of marriage b/c Paris wanted to marry her. |
| According to Mercutio, who/what is Queen Mab? What does she/it do? | Queen Mab is a fairy that brings dreams to people while they sleep. She makes them dream of all kinds of different things. |
| What do Mercutio and Romeo say about dreams at the end of the scene 4? | Romeo says that he had a dream that indicated something bad was going to happen at the party. Mercutio said that dreams don’t have any meaning to them. |
| What does Romeo “fear” at the end of scene 4? How does this foreshadow the rest of the story? | -Something bad will come from attending the Capulet party.-They both commit suicide in the end. |
| What was Romeo’s initial reaction to Juliet? | Romeo sees Juliet and forgets about Rosaline (a.k.a. love at first sight) |
| How does Tybalt recognize Romeo? Why would Romeo’s presence at the party be considered an insult? | -By his voice-Families hate each other; he had the nerve to show up at their house. |
| Why does Capulet call Tybalt a “princox”? What does this mean? Why would this be insulting to Tybalt? | Princox: Cocky boy-Tybalt thinks he can kill Romeo w/o any consequences-Lord Capulet was taking Romeo’s side and not his |
| What great realization do both Romeo and Juliet make at the end of Act I? | Romeo realizes that Juliet is a Capulet and Juliet realizes Romeo is a Montague |
Romeo and Juliet Act I
July 5, 2019