Guided Reading Questions for Romeo and Juliet
Prologue
1. Where is this play set?
2. What problem exists in this city?
3. What does the term “star- crossed lovers” mean?
Act One Scene One (I.I)
4. What are Sampson and Gregory’s motivations for fighting with Montague’s men?
5. Benvolio and Tybalt come upon the servants fighting. Contrast their reactions to the fight.
6. What ended the skirmish? Why is the prince so angry? What does he threaten to do to Capulet and Montague?
7. What worries Lord and Lady Montague about Romeo?
8. Who is Benvolio in relation to Romeo?
9. Why is Romeo so sad?
10. What advice does Benvolio give Romeo?
Act One Scene Two (I.II)
11. In Act 1 Sc. 2, Paris asks Capulet for Juliet’s hand in marriage. What is Capulet’s reply?
12. Why is Capulet giving a feast?
13. How does Romeo find out about the feast and why does he intend to go?
Act One Scene Three (I.III)
14. Describe Juliet’s relationship with her family in Act 1, Scene 3.
15. What does Juliet’s mother tell her?
16. What is her response?
Act One Scene Four (I.IV)
17. At the end of Act 1 Sc. 4, what does Romeo tell Benvolio, foreshadowing future action in the play?
18. How do the Montagues expect to enter the Capulets’ house?
19. Why does Romeo say he won’t be able to dance?
Act One Scene Five (I.V)
20. What is Romeo’s reaction to his first sight of Juliet? (quote!)
21. What does Romeo mean when he says, “Oh, dear account! My life is my foe’s debt?”
22. What is Tybalt’s reaction when he hears Romeo’s voice?
23. What does Lord Capulet say to Tybalt?
24. Tybalt obeys him, but what does he say?
25. How does Juliet react to the news of Romeo’s identity?
Read the following lines from Act One and interpret what they say about each character:
1.1.77-78
1.1.84-86
1.1.103-104
1.1.195-199
1.1.225-226
1.1.235-236
1.2.47-48
1.2.12
1.2.13
1.2.16-17
1.3.77-78
1.3.101
1.3.103-105
1.4.27
1.4.106-111
1.5.89-90
1.5.115
1.5.135-136
Act Two Scene One (II.I)
26. Where does Mercutio think Romeo is?
27. What does this say about their friendship?
Act Two Scene Two (II.II)
28. In Act 2 Scene 2, Romeo and Juliet profess their love for one another. Discuss this scene in detail giving specific examples of the things they say and the decisions they make.
29. Name a metaphor that Romeo uses for Juliet.
30. As Juliet points out, Romeo is risking his death being there. What is his response?
31. When Romeo swears by the moon, what does Juliet tell him?
32. After an exchange of vows, the Nurse calls and Juliet must leave. What are Romeo’s feelings as he stands there?
33. What are the lovers plans as they end the scene?
Act Two Scene Three (II.III)
34. What is Friar Lawrence’s reaction when Romeo says it is not Rosaline he is marrying?
35. Why does Friar Lawrence agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?
Act Two Scene Four (II.IV)
36. What change in Romeo does Mercutio comment upon?
37. What worries does the Nurse have about Romeo?
38. What message does Romeo tell the Nurse to give Juliet?
Act Two Scene Five (II.V)
39. As Juliet waits for the Nurse to return, what is her mood?
40. How does the Nurse tease Juliet?
41. What does the Nurse tell Juliet to tell her parents?
42. What does this say about her relationship with Juliet?
Act Two Scene Six (II.VI)
43. What warning does Friar Lawrence give Romeo that foreshadows future events of the play?
Read the following lines from Act Two and interpret what they say about each character.
2.2.2-3
2.2.33-35
2.2.42-43
2.2.183-184
2.3.69-70
2.3.90-94
2.4.19-24
Act Three Scene One (III.I)
44. How does Benvolio show himself to be a reasonable man?
45. How does Mercutio show himself to be the more irrational of the two?
46. What is Romeo’s response to Tybalt’s challenge?
47. In what way is Romeo responsible for Mercutio being stabbed?
48. What is foreshadowing about the last line that Mercutio says?
49. What is Romeo’s reaction to Mercutio’s death?
50. What does Lady Capulet request of the Prince?
51. What is the Prince’s decision?
Act Three Scene Two (III.II)
52. What position is Juliet in after Tybalt’s death?
53. What does she decide to do after the nurse gives her the news?
Act Three Scene Three (III.III)
54. How does Romeo react to the news that he has been banished?
55. What does the Friar accuse him of?
56. For what things does the Friar say Romeo should be happy?
57. What does the Friar tell him to do?
Act Three Scene Four (III.IV)
58. What do the Capulet’s think is the cause of Juliet’s grief?
59. What is Capulet’s decision? Why do you think he makes it?
Act Three Scene Five (III.V)
60. What is going on in the interchange between Romeo and Juliet at the opening of this scene?
61. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about the plans for her marriage to Paris, what is Juliet’s reaction?
62. Why does Lord Capulet get so angry when he hears that Juliet won’t marry Paris?
63. What do you learn about Juliet’s relationship with her parents during this scene?
64. What advice does Nurse give to Juliet? What advice would you have given?
65. What does Juliet tell the Nurse about going to Friar Lawrence’s, and why is she really going?
Read the following lines from Act Three and interpret what they say about each character.
3.1.73-75
3.1.102
3.1.138-141
3.2.130-131
3.5.9-11
3.5.55-56
3.5.190-196
Act Four Scene One (IV.I)
66. What does Juliet tell the Friar?
67. What plans do Friar Lawrence and Juliet make?
Act Four Scene Two (IV.II)
68. Why is Lord Capulet happy?
Act Four Scene Three (IV.III)
69. If the potion does not work, what is Juliet’s plan?
70. What are Juliet’s fears?
Act Four Scene Four (IV.IV)
71. What does all the action in the house indicate?
Act Four Scene Five (IV.V)
72. How do the mother and father react to the news of Juliet’s death?
73. Does their grief seem sincere?
74. How does the Friar try to comfort them?
Read the following lines from Act Four and interpret what they say about each character.
4.3.19-20
4.5.38
Act Five Scene One (V.I)
75. Who brings news of Juliet’s death to Romeo and how does Romeo react?
76. Although it is illegal to sell poisons in Mantua, how is Romeo able to purchase some?
Act Five Scene Two (V.II)
77. Why was Friar John not able to go to Mantua and deliver the message?
78. What revision does Friar Lawrence make in his plan?
Act Five Scene Three (V.III)
79. Why is Paris at the vault?
80. What are the circumstances of Paris’ death?
81. What does Romeo give to Balthasar, and what does he tell him to do? Why doesn’t Balthasar do it?
82. Describe Romeo’s soliloquy in the tomb.
83. What happens after he drinks the poison?
84. What does Juliet do?
85. What happens to Romeo’s mother?
86. Comment on the Prince’s final words of the play.
Read the following lines from Act Five and interpret what they say about each character.
5.1.6-8
5.3.59-60
5.3.160-167
5.3.309-315