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Guided Reading Notes – A Deeper Understanding

Romeo and Juliet – Act Two

PROLOGUE

Line 6: What attracted Romeo and Juliet to each other?

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Lines 9-12: What problem now faces Romeo and Juliet?

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SCENE ONE

Summarize Scene One in three sentences. One must be a compound sentence.

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SCENE TWO

Line 1: What is Romeo saying about Mercutio?

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Literary Analysis: Soliloquy (Lines 2-25)

What is a soliloquy? Define it. Look in the Glossary of Literary Terms in the back of the textbook.

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What does the soliloquy tell you about Romeo’s thoughts?

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Lines 11-14: Why is Romeo so reluctant to let her know he is in the garden?

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Line 35: What is the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) meaning of wherefore?

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Lines 35-38: What does Juliet ask Romeo to do? What does she promise to do?

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Comprehension Check (Lines 1-53) – Questions 10-12

Who speaks first at the beginning of the scene, and to who is that speak spoken to?

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Who speaks second in the scene, and who is that speech spoken to?

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Why is Juliet worried about Romeo’s name?

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Literary Analysis: Conflict (Lines 69-84) – Why is Juliet worried when she sees Romeo? What is causing her to feel this way?

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Lines 73-78: What warning does Juliet give?

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Lines 84-88: Explain what you think Romeo means. Do you think he is seriously thinking of death here, or is he just exaggerating because he is head over heels in love? Explain your answer with textual evidence.

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Lines 94-98: Why is Juliet embarrassed that Romeo overheard her?

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Lines 101-102: Why is Juliet worried?

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Literary Analysis: Imagery (Lines 116-117)

What is imagery? Define it. Look in the Glossary of Literary Terms in the back of the textbook.

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What does Shakespeare describe in these lines?

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READING SKILL: Predicting

Make a prediction using Lines 118-135. Will Romeo remain in love with Juliet or forget her as quickly as he forgot Rosaline? Use textual evidence to support your response.

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Lines 118-120: Why doesn’t Juliet want Romeo to swear by the moon?

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Lines 128-131: What is Juliet’s attitude at this point? Do you agree with her feelings about the relationship?

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Comprehension Check (Lines 54-149) – Questions 23-25

What is Romeo’s response to Juliet’s concern for his life?

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What does Juliet fear will happen if Romeo swears that he loves her?

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How does Juliet respond when Romeo asks her for a vow of true love toward him?

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Comprehension Check (Lines 150-213) – Questions 26-27

What does Juliet suggest Romeo do if he is serious about her?

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Why does Juliet call Romeo back after she has said goodbye?

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SCENE THREE

Lines 46-47: Where does he think Romeo has been?

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ACTIVE READING: Reading Shakespearean Drama

Shakespeare worked in a poetic tradition that was fascinated by paradoxes. Explain the seeming contradictions in what Romeo says in lines 52-58.

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LITERARY ANALYSIS: Conflict

The friar and Romeo disagree about the validity of his love in lines 92-96. Romeo says that the reason his love for Juliet is valid and should be taken seriously is that Juliet returns his love, whereas Rosaline did not. The friar suggests that the reason Rosaline scorned him was that she realized that his love was shallow and fickle. Write a paragraph where you discuss this conflict. Who is right, the friar or Romeo? Why? Provide textual evidence to support your response.

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Lines 73-74: How would you paraphrase this sentence?

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Lines 75-85: What is his opinion of Romeo’s rapid change of affections from one girl to another?

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Lines 101-103: How is the Friar’s warning similar to Juliet’s fears in the previous scene?

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Comprehension Check (All Lines) – Questions 34-37

What is the main point of Friar Laurence’s soliloquy?

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What does Romeo ask Friar Laurence to do?

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What is the friar’s immediate reaction?

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Why does the friar agree to help Romeo?

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SCENE FOUR

LITERARY CONCEPT: Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is a device that an author uses to prepare a reader for an event or action that is to happen later in the story. An author often uses foreshadowing to help the reader understand, in retrospect, how or why certain events happened. Read lines 20-27. What might Mercutio’s concern with Tybalt’s expertise at sword fighting foreshadow?

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Comprehension Check (Lines 1-105) Questions 39-41

What did Tybalt send to Romeo’s house?

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Why is Mercutio concerned about Tybalt?

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Why is Mercutio pleased when Romeo exchanges puns with him?

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Comprehension Check (Lines 106-220) Questions 41-44

How doe Mercutio act toward the nurse when she arrives?

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How does the nurse react to Mercutio?

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Why is the nurse worried about Romeo at first?

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What does Romeo propose to do?

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SCENE FIVE

READING SKILL: Prior to reading Scene Five, predict what Juliet’s reaction to the nurse’s news will be.

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Lines 54-55: Considering the Nurse’s feelings for Juliet, is this really an angry curse?

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SCENE SIX

LITERARY CONCEPT: Foreshadowing – Find examples of foreshadowing in Scene 6.

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Lines 9-16: How likely is it that Romeo will follow this advice?

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READING SKILL: Predicting

Make a prediction about the type of scene to which Shakespeare will shift after this scene of love and happiness.

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