The following is a list of most of the characters appearing in Romeo and Juliet. List each under the family to which he or she is related by blood or allegiance.
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Chorus |
Benvolio |
Abraham |
|
Prince Escalus |
Lady Montague |
Lady Capulet |
|
Paris |
Tybalt |
Nurse |
|
Montague |
Friar Laurence |
Balthasar |
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Capulet |
Friar John |
Peter |
|
Romeo |
Sampson |
Apothecary |
|
Mercutio |
Gregory |
Juliet |
|
Montague |
Capulet |
Neutral |
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| Act One | Act Two | Act Three | Act Four | Act Five |
1. The names of the two households (families) mentioned in the first lines of the Prologue are:
___________________________ ___________________________
2. From the Prologue, the audience learns that the conflict of the play will be in the form of a __________________________________________.
3. Identify the phrase which tells the reader that this is not a new conflict: ________________________________
4. According to the Prologue, what is the only thing that eventually will remove or resolve the feud: ___________________________________________________.
5. Are the lovers in control of their lives? _______________________. If not, who or what is according to the Prologue? ____________________________________.
6. What atmosphere does the Prologue suggest will be most strongly stressed in the play?
1. The servants, friends, and relatives in this scene are somewhat confusing because it is difficult to determine who belongs to which warring household.
These people belong to which house? ________________________________
ű Sampson
ű Gregory
ű Tybalt
2. These people belong to which house? ________________________________
ű Balthasar
ű Abraham
ű Benvolio
ű Mercutio (not really aligned with this house, but associated with it)
3. When the scene starts, what are Sampson and Gregory discussing?
4. What happens once Abraham and Balthasar enter the scene?
5. What can we tell about the nature and scope of this family feud?
6. Starting on line 79, what does Prince Escalus say about the feud? With what does he threaten both families?
7. What do we learn about Romeo’s recent mood from his father (Montague) and Benvolio, starting on line 116?
8. On line 154, what does Benvolio tell Montague that he will do about the Romeo situation?
9. What does Romeo tell Benvolio his problem is in lines 168 and following?
10. What do we find out about Romeo’s “love” in lines 205-221?
11. What is Benvolio’s advice to Romeo in lines 223-224?
12. In lines 9-11, what does Capulet say to Paris when Paris asks for Juliet’s hand in marriage?
13. What is the only circumstance under which Capulet would allow Paris to marry Juliet?
14. How does Romeo get to go to a CAPULET party?
15. In lines 85 and following, what advice does Benvolio give to Romeo?
16. How does Lady Capulet feel about the prospect of Paris marrying Juliet?
17. What is Juliet’s response to her mother’s words about Paris in this scene?
18. Why is Romeo so depressed? With whom is he in love?
19. How does Romeo feel when he first catches sight of Juliet?
20. When Tybalt tells his Uncle Capulet that there is a Montague at the party, what is Capulet’s response?
21. What is the meaning of line 135, spoken by Juliet?
22. What is Juliet saying in lines 138-141?
ACT TWO, scene one
23. What is Mercutio saying to Romeo in this scene?
ACT TWO, scene two
24. Translate lines 33-36 into modern English: “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father…”
25. What does Juliet mean in lines 43-49 (“What’s in a name?…”)?
26. In lines 90-106 (“Dost thou love me?…”), Juliet cautions Romeo NOT to do something. What is it? Explain what she means in these lines.
27. Juliet will only take serious interest in Romeo if his purpose is _________________.
28. What do you think of Juliet and her words to Romeo and thought about Romeo thus far? Is she being sensible?
29. Lines 45-46 read, “With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No! / I have forgot that name, and that name’s woe.” What do these lines tell us about Romeo? With what adjectives can we describe him based on these lines?
30. When does Romeo want to marry Juliet? How long has it been since they met?
31. In lines 65 and following, what is Friar Laurence’s response to Romeo’s wish to marry Juliet?
32. IMPORTANT: Why does Friar Laurence finally agree to marry Romeo and Juliet? You will find this answer at the end of Act 2.3.
33. What challenge is being spoken of in lines 11 and following?
34. According to Mercutio in lines 19 and following, what kind of fighter is Tybalt?
35. What is Mercutio saying about Romeo in lines 83-87?
36. What does Romeo want the Nurse to tell Juliet (lines 172 and following)?
37. Why is Juliet frustrated with the Nurse in this scene?
38. What does Friar Laurence caution Romeo about in lines 9 and following?
39. Do Romeo and Juliet get married in this scene, in between this scene and the next, or not at all?
40. What is Romeo saying to Tybalt in lines 63-64?
41. Why does Romeo say he “loves [Tybalt] better” than he can imagine in lines 67-71?
42. What does Mercutio mean when he says, “A plague o’er both your houses!” in line 90?
43. What is the progression of killing in this scene? In other words, who kills whom in what order?
44. What punishment does the Prince say Romeo must suffer?
ACT THREE, scene two
45. Why is Juliet so upset in this scene? What does she mean by stating lines 26-28?
46. Who does the Nurse tell Juliet is dead? Why does this compound Juliet’s misery in lines 97 and following?
47. What does the Nurse promise to do for Juliet at the end of this scene?
ACT THREE, scene three
48. What is Romeo’s reaction when the Friar tells him that he has been banished by the Prince and not condemned to die?
49. Why do both the Nurse AND Friar Laurence criticize Romeo in lines 87 and following? What does the Friar warn him about?
50. What does the Friar tell Romeo to do in lines 146-147?
51. Where does the Friar tell Romeo to go after he does what he was instructed to do (by the Friar) in question 50?
52. When Romeo returns to Verona after his banishment, what does the Friar predict will happen (lines 150-154)?
53. How will Romeo know what is going on in Verona when he is in exile (lines 169-171)?
ACT THREE, scene four
54. Why do Lord and Lady Capulet believe Juliet is grieving?
55. What is Lord and Lady Capulet’s new marriage plan for Juliet (lines 19-21)?
ACT THREE, scene five
56. How are Romeo and Juliet feeling at the beginning of this scene? What is about to happen?
57. Who is the “villain,” according to Lady Capulet (lines 79-81)?
58. What does Lady Capulet say they are going to do for “vengeance” upon the “traitor murderer” (lines 88 and following)?
59. Why does Juliet tell her mother that she will “never be satisfied” until she “beholds him [Romeo] – dead” (lines 94 and following)?
60. What is Juliet’s response when her mother tells her that she will be marrying Paris on the following Thursday (lines 117 and following)?
61. What is Lady Capulet’s reaction to Juliet’s words from question 60?
62. What is Lord Capulet’s reaction to Juliet (lines 161 and following)? What does he threaten to do to Juliet in lines 190 and following?
63. Juliet, distraught by her parents’ harsh words, asks the Nurse for comfort. What is the Nurse’s advice (lines 215 and following)?
64. How does Juliet feel about the Nurse’s advice?
65. What does Juliet decide to do at the end of this scene?
ACT FOUR, scene one
66. Who is meeting with Paris at the start of this scene? Why is this meeting taking place?
67. How does Juliet treat Paris when he speaks to her of their coming marriage?
68. Alone with the Friar, what does Juliet threaten to do if he cannot prevent her marriage to Paris (lines 50 and following)?
69. What does the Friar suggest to Juliet that will allow her to avoid marriage to Paris (lines 89 and following)?
70. What is the expected outcome of this dangerous plan (lines 105 and following)?
71. How does Juliet react to the Friar’s suggestion?
ACT FOUR, scene two
72. When Capulet asks Juliet where she has been, what is her reply (lines 17 and following)?
73. Why is Capulet so happy at the end of this scene?
ACT FOUR, scene three
74. What does Juliet worry about before she swallows the potion (lines 15 and following)? What are some of the possibilities that go through her head?
ACT FOUR, scene four
75. What is going on in this brief scene?
ACT FOUR, scene five
76. What is happening as the scene opens?
77. What do you think of Friar Laurence’s words in line 33: “Come, is the bride ready to go to church?”
78. What does Friar Laurence say to Juliet’s grieving family in lines 64 and following?
79. What is the function of the conversation between Peter and the Musicians at the end of this act?
ACT FIVE, scene one
80. Why is Romeo so happy at the beginning of this scene?
81. What does Balthasar tell Romeo in lines 18 and following?
82. What is the misunderstanding that has clearly taken place here?
83. What does Romeo ask for at the apothecary’s shop (lines 59 and following)? Why?
ACT FIVE, scene two
84. According to Friar John, what prevented Friar Laurence’s message about Juliet’s supposed “death” from being relayed to Romeo in Mantua?
85. How does Friar Laurence react to the news that Romeo did not get his message (lines 17-19)?
86. What is Friar Laurence’s alternate plan for getting the message to Romeo?
87. Where does Friar Laurence plan to reunite the lovers after the misunderstanding is cleared up?
ACT FIVE, scene three
88. What is Paris doing at Juliet’s tomb?
89. What instructions does Romeo give to Balthasar, starting on line 22?
90. Does Balthasar follow Romeo’s instructions exactly? If not, what part does he disobey?
91. Why doe Paris think Romeo has come to visit Juliet’s tomb (lines 49 and following)?
92. Paris challenges Rome to a fight, but what is Romeo’s initial response (lines 58 and following)?
93. What happens when they fight? What is Paris’ last request as he is dying?
94. What does Romeo do after he lays Paris in the tomb?
95. When Juliet awakens and the Friar tells her about Romeo, what does she decide to do?
96. What does Friar Laurence say about being suspected of the murders in lines 223 and following?
97. What does Romeo’s letter say?
98. At the end of the scene, what exchange occurs between Capulet and Montague?