Act III Reading Guide

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Pd: Act III

Romeo and Juliet

Act III Reading Guide

Scene i

1)  Mercutio makes fun of Benvolio in scene I. What are two things he says about him?

2)  Why does Romeo refuse to fight Tybalt at first in this scene?

3)  What does Mercutio mean when he says “Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man”?

4)  What curse does Mercutio utter before he dies? What usually happens when someone is cursed in classic literature?

5)  What is Romeo’s punishment for killing Tybalt? Under Verona’s laws, what should his punishment be?

Scene ii

6)  What is Juliet waiting for at the beginning of this scene?

7)  Why does Juliet believe that Romeo has been killed?

8)  In lines 73-85, what is Juliet saying about Romeo?

9)  What does Juliet realize that makes her feel better about Tybalt’s death?

10) What is Juliet willing to do when she learns that Romeo has been banished?

Scene iii

11) What do you think about Romeo’s behavior in this scene? Is it justified?

12) On page 759, why is Romeo jealous of every cat, dog, mouse and fly in Verona?

13) According to the friar, what are three reasons that Romeo has to be happy?

Scene iv

14) How has Capulet just complicated matters?

Scene v

15) How does Juliet try to get Romeo to stay at the beginning of this scene?

16) What foreshadowing does Juliet provide in lines 54-57?

17) What is Lady Capulet’s plan to kill Romeo?

18) What is Lord Capulet’s reaction when Juliet refuses to marry Paris? What does he threaten to do to Juliet?

19) Explain the Nurse’s advice to Juliet at the end of this scene? How do you think Juliet receives this advice?

20) How would you compare scene ii to scene iii? What are the major differences between the two?