1. Where and When Does the Story Take Place?
Romeo and Juliet Study Guide questionsName ______
Prologue
1. Where and when does the story take place?
2. Who is the speaker of the Prologue?
3. In what poetic style is the Prologue written?
4. (1-4) What do we learn about the families of the title characters?
5. (6-9) What do we learn about the fates of the title characters?
Act I, Scene 1
1. With what sort of action does Act I begin? Why is this an effective way to open a play?
2. What sort of character is Benvolio?
3. What sort of character is Tybalt?
4. (68-73) How do Lord Capulet and Lord Montague react to the opening action?
5. (68-73) How do their wives respond to their actions?
6. (90) What does the Prince threaten if the fighting recurs?
7. (99) Who tells Lord Montague about the fight?
8. (124-135) What has Romeo been doing lately that concerns his parents and friends?
9. (157-161) How does Romeo explain his behavior and his mood to Benvolio?
10. (220-221) What does Benvolio suggest that Romeo should do?
11. (222-230) How does Romeo respond to this suggestion?
12. (172-184) What contrasting concepts of love are presented in scene 1?
Scene 2
1. (16-19) What agreement do Lord Capulet and Paris make?
2. (37) What errand does Lord Capulet give a servant?
3. What coincidences result from this errand? (How do Romeo and Benvolio find out about the party?)
4. (85-87) Why does Benvolio urge Romeo to go to the party?
5. (100-101) Why does Romeo finally agree to go to the party?
Scene 3
1. (65-66) What important subject does Lady Capulet discuss with Juliet?
2. (77) How does the Nurse describe Paris?
3. (98-100) What is Juliet’s response to her mother’s request?
Scene 4
1. Characterize Mercutio in this scene.
2. (27-28) What are his views of love?
3. (106-113) Which line is foreshadowing? What does it foreshadow?
4. What is the name of the dream fairy?
Scene 5
1. How do Romeo and his friends manage to get into Lord Capulet’s party?
2. (52, 57) How does Tybalt recognize Romeo? How does Tybalt react?
3. (63-72) Give three reasons why Lord Capulet tells Tybalt to leave Romeo alone.
4. Romeo and Juliet’s first fourteen lines of conversation with each other are written in what poetic style? What other section of the play was written in this style?
5. These fourteen lines and next several convey that Romeo is a pilgrim and Juliet is a saint. Explain.
6. (111-115) Who tells Romeo Juliet’s identity?
7. What is Romeo’s reaction to this information?
8. Who tells Juliet Romeo’s identity?
9. What is Juliet’s reaction to this information?
10. How is their identity the key to the conflict in the play?
Act II, Scene 1
1. (15-16) What do they think Romeo is doing?
2. (17) How do we know that Benvolio and Mercutio are not aware of Romeo’s love for Juliet?
3. Identify the dramatic irony in this scene.
Scene 2 (most famous scene of the play)
1. Where is Romeo as this scene opens?
2. (3,15) When he first sees Juliet, he compares her to the ______. He then says her eyes could take the place of two ______.
3. (33-49) What is main question Juliet ponders during the first sixteen lines of her speech?
4. (58-60) How does Juliet recognize Romeo?
5. (64-65) What is Juliet’s concern about Romeo’s safety?
6. (94-100) How does Juliet overstep bounds of acceptable behavior for young women in those days?
7. (109-111) Why doesn’t Juliet want Romeo to swear his love for her by the moon?
8. (143-148) What agreement do Romeo and Juliet and make for the next day?
9. (189-190) Once he leaves Juliet, where does Romeo say he will be going?
10. (190) For what purpose will he be going to this place?
Scene 3
1. What work is Friar Laurence doing as this scene opens?
2. (24) How does he put these objects to good use?
3. (27-30) How could these objects be put to an evil purpose?
4. (60-64) What favor does Romeo ask of Friar Laurence?
5.(65-72) Why does Friar Laurence scold Romeo?
6. (91-92) What is the main reason that Friar Laurence agrees to Romeo’s request?
Scene 4
1.(6-9) What news does Benvolio tell Mercutio about Tybalt?
2. How might this information add to the conflict?
3. (34-42) How does Mercutio treat Juliet’s nurse?
4. Why does this cause the nurse to become suspicious of Romeo?
5. (155-158) When will Romeo and Juliet get married?
6. (163-164) What should to the nurse give to Romeo? Why?
Scene 5
1. Why is Juliet annoyed with the nurse?
2. (54-56) How does the nurse describe Romeo?
Scene 6
1. In the first two lines of scene six, Friar Laurence says a little prayer. Explain what he is praying for.
2. Knowing what we do know of the future of Romeo and Juliet from the information given to us in the Prologue, how do we know that his prayer is an example of foreshadowing?
Act III, Scene 1 (climax of the drama)
1. Explain how both Benvolio and Mercutio live up to their names in this scene (Benvolio means good-willed; Mercutio means quickly changeable in temper)
2. (55-56) For whom is Tybalt looking for in this scene?
3. (57-60, 63-67) How does Romeo respond to Tybalt’s insults? Why does he respond in this way?
4. Who fights Tybalt when Romeo refuses to do so? What is the result of this duel?
5. (84, 87-88)How is Mercutio misunderstood by his friends?
6. Explain Mercutio’s cry, “A plague o’ both your houses!”
7. Why does Romeo change his mind about fighting Tybalt?
8. What is the result of this duel?
9. (144) Who tells the story to the Prince?
10. What decision does the Prince make?
11. Explain how this scene serves as the climax or turning point of the drama.
Scene 2
1. For what time of day is Juliet waiting? Why?
2. What object does the nurse bring to Juliet?
3. (37-42) What news does the nurse bring to Juliet?
4. (43-45) How does Juliet first misunderstand the nurse?
5. How does Juliet react to Romeo’s sentence?
6. (138-141) Where is the nurse going? Why?
7. What does Juliet think would’ve happened if Romeo hadn’t killed Tybalt?
8. (142) What object does Juliet send to Romeo?
Scene 3
1. Where has Romeo been hiding since the duel?
2. Who tells Romeo about his sentence?
3. How does he react?
Scene 4
1. What plans do Lord and Lady Capulet make with Paris?
2. How will these plans add to the conflict of the play?
3. Identify the situational irony in this scene.
Scene 5
1. Why does Juliet convince Romeo that they’re hearing the nightingale’s song and the lark’s?
2. (11) Why is it important that they realize it is the song of the lark?
3. In this scene Juliet has a feeling of foreboding (as did Romeo in the scene before the party). See Juliet’s words (lines54-59). In light of what the audience knows about the fate of Romeo and Juliet, how are these lines a foreshadowing of what is to come?
4. (69-73) How does Juliet’s mother misinterpret her crying?
5. (78-79,112-115) What do they tell her that they think will cheer her up?
6. What is her response?
7. (142-146) Why don’t they understand her response?
8. (153-155) What does her father threaten?
9. (156-157) What does her father call her?
10. (213-226) When Juliet and nurse are alone, Juliet asks her what to do. What’s nurse’s suggestion?
11. Why is this a turning point in their relationship?
12. (231-234) Where does Juliet say she is going? Why does she say she is going to this place?
13. (242-243) What are her real intentions?
Act IV, Scene 1
1. Who is visiting Friar Laurence when Juliet arrives?
2. (1) When is the wedding to take place?
3. (6-15) Why does Lord Capulet want it to take place so soon?
4. (22-23)Why does Paris think Juliet is there?
5. Why has Juliet really come to see Friar Laurence?
6. (50-67) What does she threaten to do if he can’t help her?
7. (90-94) What is Juliet supposed to do on Wednesday night?
- (95-107) What will happen to her if she does this?
- How long will the potion work?
- (113-117) How is Romeo going to learn about all of this?
Scene 2
1. (17-22) What does Juliet tell her father when she returns home?
2. (24, 35-37) What change in the wedding timing wedding does Lord Capulet make? What complication does this foreshadow?
3. What does Lord Capulet mean when he says, “I’ll play the housewife for this once”?
4. State two examples of irony in this scene.
Scene 3
1. (7-12) How does Juliet manage to be alone so that she can take the potion in privacy?
2. (21-49) Juliet has fears about what may happen to her when she drinks the potion. Explain 3 fears.
3. (54-57) What is her “back-up” plan in case the potion does not work?
Scene 5
1. Who first attempts to awaken Juliet on the morning of the wedding?
2.(25-29) What do the Capulets think has happened to Juliet?
3. (41) Who comes to comfort the family?
4. In the Friar’s long speech (lines 65-83), he rebukes Lord Capulet for carrying on so much out of grief for Juliet’s death. What reason does Friar give that Lord Capulet and his family should be happy?
5. Lord Capulet says (lines 84-90): “All things that we ordained festival Turn from their office to black funeral.”Name at least three of the things that he goes on to mention that were meant to be used for Juliet’s wedding, but will now be used or changed to be used for her funeral.
6. The Friar says to Lord Capulet (lines 94-95): “The heavens do lower upon you for some ill;
Move them no more by crossing their high will.”
- In the first line, what “ill” does the Friar refer to?
- In the second line, what does the Friar mean that the Capulets should stop doing?
Act V, Scene 1
1. Where is Romeo when this scene opens? Why is he at this place?
2. What lines of Romeo’s indicate a foreshadowing? Give the line numbers.
3. (17-23)What news does Balthasar bring to Romeo?
4. What does Romeo plan to do?
5. (58)To what sort of shop does Romeo go?
6. (80) How does Romeo persuade the owner of the shop to sell his what he wants?
Scene 2
1. Why was Friar John not able to deliver Friar Laurence’s letter to Romeo?
2. How does this change Friar Laurence’s original plan of action?
Scene 3
1. (1-9) What instruction does Paris give his page?
2. Where is Paris as the scene opens? Why is he at this place?
3. (22-27) What two instructions does Romeo give Balthasar?
4. (28-39) What explanation does Romeo give Balthasar to explain why he’s entering Juliet’s tomb?
5. What are Romeo’s real intentions for entering Juliet’s tomb?
6. (49-57) Why does Paris think Romeo is at Juliet’s tomb?
7. (71-73) What happens between Romeo and Paris? What is the result?
8. Romeo speaks of Juliet’s tomb in metaphors in lines 45-48. That is, he compares her tomb to other objects. List those two objects and explain why her tomb is like each thing he mentions.
9. (119-120) How does Romeo kill himself?
10. (128-129) How does Friar Laurence learn that Romeo is in Juliet’s tomb?
11. (156-157) Now that Romeo is dead, where does Friar Laurence tell Juliet that he will take her?
12. (158-159) Why does Friar Laurence leave Juliet alone in the tomb?
13. (161-166) What does Juliet do when she hears people approaching the tomb?
14. Why do the people who gather at the tomb speak of Juliet as “newly dead” and “new killed”?
15. (210)Who else does the audience learn has died?
16. Who explains the truth of the whole situation that has led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
17. Who else does this person say can back up his story?
18. (275) What further written evidence or testimony helps to prove that the Friar’s story is true?
19. The Prince says, “All are punished” and “I, for winking at your discords, have lost a brace of kinsmen.” How has he been punished? What two relatives dear to him has he lost?
20. (298-304) What do the fathers of Romeo and Juliet promise to do that indicates that the families will finally end the violence between them?
Additional questions to ponder (be sure to respond to these before studying for your test)
Act I
In a play, a dramatic foil is a character who contrasts with or sets off the personality or traits of another character. In Act I, Scene 5, how is Capulet a dramatic foil for Tybalt?
a. Capulet and Tybalt are the only ones who know the Montagues are present at the party.
b. Capulet’s enjoyment of the guests differs from Tybalt’s experience.
c. Capulet and Tybalt are both somewhat upset.
d. Capulet’s tolerance of the Montagues contrasts with Tybalt’s outrage.
What is Benvolio’s main function in Act I?
a. He shows concern for Romeo and tries to keep the peace between the families.
b. He threatens to challenge Tybalt to a duel.
c. He secretly loves Juliet but agrees to sacrifice for Romeo.
d. He delivers an imaginative speech about the queen of fairies.
Read the following passage from Act I:
Scene iii. A room in Capulet’s house.
[Enter CAPULET’s wife and NURSE.]
This passage is an example of which of the following?
a. dialogueb. text aidsc. stage directionsd. metaphor
Which of the following is NOT true about the dialogue in a play?
a. It advances the action of the play.
b. It reveals the personalities and relationships of characters.
c. It generally follows the name of the speaker.
c. It is always set off with quotation marks.
Which of the following is a helpful strategy when you want to summarize a passage?
a. Skim the passage rapidly.
b. Compare and contrast the passage with the text that immediately precedes it.
c. Examine the passage for foreshadowing.
d. use text aids to understand the meaning of a passage.
What is the purpose of text aids?
a. to keep track of scenes
b. to provide information about unfamiliar language
c. to indicate the setting and give stage directions
d. to indicate who is speaking
In Act I, scene 1, what detail about Montague helps to make him a round, complex character that goes beyond the stereotype of an old angry man?
a. the description of his home
b. the concern he shows over his son’s unhappiness
c. the description of his relationship with his wife
d. the way he treats Benvolio
When you summarize a piece of writing, which of the following do you do?
a. explain the difficult words in a text
b. briefly state the main points in a piece of writing
c. use your own words to list all the main ideas and details in a text
d. explain a writer’s allusion or references to mythology
Act II
Which of the following correctly defines blank verse?
a. any type of verse lacking end rhyme
b. verse with extended metaphors and similes
c. verse written in rhymed couplets
d. unrhymed verse written in iambic pentameter
In Act II, Benvolio’s and Mercutio’s sociability helps to emphasize what about Romeo?
a. moodinessb. sense of humorc. talkativenessd. temper
In agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet, what does Friar Lawrence show?
a. He makes independent judgments.b. He favors young lovers.
c. He dislikes the Capulets. d. He looks beyond the immediate event.
Which of the following best compares or contrasts Benvolio’s personality with that of Mercutio?
a. Benvolio is more playful than Mercutio.
b. Benvolio is more serious than Mercutio.
c. Benvolio is more romantic that Mercutio.
d. Benvolio is more talkative than Mercutio.
In Shakespearean drama, what are characters who do not speak in blank verse are likely to be?
a. importantb. minor or comicc. noble or aristocraticd. heroic.
Act III
Which of the following speeches is a soliloquy?
a. In scene 1, Benvolio gives a long explanation to the Prince of the “bloody fray.”
b. In scene 2, Juliet, alone in her room, expresses impatience and anxiety.
c. In scene 3, the Friar and Romeo are alone when the Friar tells Romeo of his banishment.
c. In scene 4, the conversation between Juliet and Lady Capulet is full of double meanings.
Choose the statement that best describes the circumstances of a monologue.
a. In scene 1, prior to the fight, the characters banter back and forth.
b. In scene 2, Nurse seems to withhold information as Juliet rattles out questions.
c. In scene 3, Friar Lawrence speaks sternly to Romeo about his feeling sorry for himself.
d. In scene 5, Juliet dismisses the nurse, and then she states her decision to visit Friar Lawrence.
Which of the following best describes a paraphrase?
a. a summary of the main pointsb. a recitation of someone else’s words
c. a translation from another languaged. a restatement in your own words
In an aside, who does a character speak to?
a. one other characterb. a group of other characters
c. the audience while alone on staged. the audience while other characters are on stage
Act IV
Which word best describes Friar Lawrence’s role in dealing with Juliet in Act IV?
a. judgeb. advocatec. enemyd. ally
Which of the following is a helpful strategy when you want to summarize a long passage of Shakespeare dialogue?
a. Make a list of all of the speakers involved.
b. Break down long sentences into shorter ones.
c. Determine if the iambic meter is a regular pattern.
d. Make a list of the figurative language in the passage.
After the nurse discovers Juliet in bed on the day of the wedding, Capulet delivers a speech that ends with these lines: “Death lies on her like an untimely frost / Upon the sweetest flower of all of the field.” What makes this speech an example of dramatic irony?
a. Juliet is actually sleeping.b. Juliet has been dead for hours.
c. Capulet causes Juliet’s death. d. Juliet will die sooner than Capulet knows.
Act V
Which of the following correctly defines a character’s motive?
a. the reasons behind the character’s thoughts or actions
b. the goal the character hopes to achieve
c. the contrast between what a character really thinks and what he or she says
d. the individual’s characteristic manner of speaking
Which of the following character traits is the flaw that causes Romeo’s downfall?
a. moodinessb. indecisivenessc. impulsivenessd. vengefulness