Notes for Romeo and Juliet

Prologue (introduction)

· 2 very rich families (Capulet & Montague).

· From the town of Verona, Italy.

· Both families have been in a terrible dispute for decades.

· Both Romeo and Juliet will eventually kill themselves because of their love for each other.

· Their deaths will be the action/tragedy that brings both families together.

ACT 1 SCENCE 1

· The servants from both families start a fight in the streets.

· The prince and the police stop the fight and threaten to kill anyone who fights again.

· This is the 3rd street fight between the families.

· Tybalt starts this violent fight.

· Rosaline does not like Romeo and Benvolio wants Romeo to find other girls to like.

· Romeo cannot sleep – depressed!

· Prediction: may “get over” Rosaline when he see Juliet.

ACT 1 SCENE 2

· Juliet’s father is going to let her marry Paris, if she wants.

· The servant cannot read the party list so he asks for help reading from Benvolio and Romeo.

ACT 1 SCENE 3

· Juliet, her mother, and the nurse discuss marriage with Juliet.

· Juliet does not want to be married, but says she will give Paris a look.

· Nurse seems to love Juliet more than her own mother.

ACT 1, SCENE 4

· Romeo and his friends are walking to the Capulet party. They have masks and torches.

· Romeo doesn’t feel like dancing or having fun. Mercutio and Benvolio try to make feel better.

· We learn that Mercutio is a fun guy, but he is sad on the inside. We know this from his talk about having bad dreams.

· They walk into the party.

ACT 1, SCENE 5

· At the party, Romeo sees Juliet and falls in love.

· Tybalt recognizes Romeo and wants to kill him. Capulet stops Tybalt from starting a fight, but Tybalt vows revenge.

· Romeo and Juliet talk, and they kiss twice.

· Romeo and his friends have to leave because they are afraid of trouble at the party; they don’t want to risk it anymore.

· Romeo and Juliet find out their identities. They are sad to know that they are enemies.