What city is the setting for the play? | Verona, Italy |
Why are Romeo and Juliet called “star-crossed lovers”? | They are lovers whose relationship is doomed by outside forces. |
What is the format of the prologue? | It is in sonnet form. |
The audience knows the outcome of the play before the actors take the stage. What kind of irony is this? Why? | Dramatic irony because the audience has information that the characters don’t. |
Who is fighting at the beginning of the first scene in Scene 1? | The Montagues and Capulets are fighting. |
What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word/ As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee”. In this passage, Tyalt is portrayed as the _______________. | Antagonist |
What threat does the Prince make to Lord Montague and Lord Capulet? | If these families fight again, the Prince says the punishment will be death. |
Romeo: “O brawling love! O loving hate! The literary device utilized here is ________________. | oxymoron |
Romeo: “Love is a smoke raised with fume of sighs” The literary device used here is _______________. | metaphor |
Romeo “Out of her favor, where I am in love” What does Romeo mean? | He loves Rosaline, but she doesn’t love him. |
What line proves Romeo is undergoing internal conflict? | Tut, I have lost myself. I am not here. |
What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo? | Get over her – look at other beautiful women. |
What does Benvolio’s name mean? How does it fit him? | Goodwill – he is a peacemaker. |
Capulet to Paris “My child is yet a stranger in her world/she hath not seen the change of fourteen years”. What does Capulet mean? How old is Juliet? | Capulet thinks Juliet is too young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. Juliet is 13 and not ready for marriage. |
Capulet appears to change his mind about Paris’ question. What does he then tell Paris? | He tells Paris that he must woo Juliet so that Juliet will decide for herself to accept his proposal. |
What is ironic about the way Romeo and Benvolio are invited to the Capulet party? | Situational irony – they are invited by a servant of the Capulet family. |
What does Romeo hope will happen at the party? | He can see Rosaline. |
What does Benvolio hope will happen at the party? | Romeo will get over Rosaline. |
When Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about marriage, what is Juliet’s answer? | Juliet says she has not given marriage any thought, but she will look upon Paris at the feast to see if she can love him. |
Juliet has a lengthy conversation with her mother. Describe their relationship. | Their relationship is distant and formal. Juliet is much more relaxed with the nurse. |
Mercutio compares love to dreams. Based on this metaphor, what is Mercutio’s opinion of love? | It is meaningless and for fools. |
In what ways does Mercutio serve as a foil character to Romeo? | Mercutio doesn’t take anything seriously. Romeo is overly passionate about everything. |
What does Romeo think of Juliet the first time he sees her? | He compares her to light. Love at first sight. |
When Tybalt is ready to seize Romeo and throw him out of the party, what does Capulet say to Tybalt? | Capulet orders Tybalt to contain his anger. Capulet says Verona speaks well of Romeo, and it’s not worth ruining the party. |
Why would Shakespeare use religious diction (word choice) when writing about young lovers meeting for the first time? | To show they think their love is something so real and powerful that it’s sacred. |
What does pilgrims mean? Why does Romeo call his lips two blushing pilgrims? | People journeying to a holy place. His lips want to journey to pay respect to the shrine that is Juliet. |
Romeo climbs the orchard wall to see Juliet. In what ways are these walls symbolic? | The wall is symbolic of the families’ hatred separating the two lovers. |
What does Mercutio say about blind love? | Love is random and means nothing. |
Mercutio is still the jester, taunting Romeo. How do his taunts contrast with Romeo’s situation with Juliet? | Romeo and Juliet’s new love, discovered moments before, seems pure and sincere, when compared to Mercutio’s rants and his contempt for all romantic love. |
Romeo and Juliet – Story Questions – Prologue and Act I
August 2, 2019