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.

Act II, Scene 1

ACT III, Scene III

  • Romeo has gone to Friar Laurence’s house for help.
  • They speak of Romeo’s banishment.
  • Romeo is holding a dagger and wants to kill himself.
  • Friar tries to talk him out of his decision to kill himself and offers a plan to visit Juliet and then he will leave alone and go to Mantua until the families make up.

Act III, Scene 4

  • Juliet’s father has plans for her to marry Paris on Thursday…it’s currently Monday.
  • PROBLEM: Juliet is already married to Romeo.

Act III, Scene 5

  • Scene opens on Tuesday morning.
  • Romeo must leave to Mantua now.
  • FORESHADOWING: Romeo looks pale as he climbs out the window…looks like a dead body.
  • Juliet is told she WILL marry Paris.
  • Juliet refuses to marry Paris.
  • Juliet’s parents are furious with her because she does not want to marry Paris.
  • The nurse advises her to forget about Romeo and marry Paris.