The Tragedy of
Romeo and Juliet
By: William Shakespeare
Act 1, Scene 1
Setting: Early morning. A public square in Verona, Italy.
Comprehension Questions
- How does the fight between the two rival families start?
- What threat does the Prince make to the Capulet and Montague families?
- How many fights have these families started?
- What is wrong with Romeo? How is he acting? What does he do all day?
- What might Montague mean when he says that he doesn’t know if Romeo is a “good friend to himself?”
- On page 737, Romeo says that the fight between the servants has “more to do with love” than hate. What might he mean by this?
- Give two examples of a paradox found in Romeo’s speech on page 737.
Act 1, Scene 2
Setting: Later that afternoon. A street near Capulet’s house in Verona.
Comprehension Questions
- How old is Juliet? How old does Capulet, Juliet’s father, think she should be before she gets married?
- Capulet eventually agrees to consider allowing Paris to marry Juliet. Under what conditions?
- On page 742, Romeo says
“A woman more beautiful than the one I love? The sun itself has never seen anyone as beautiful since the world began.”(translation – lines 94-95)
How is this line an example of hyperbole? What point is Romeo trying to make?
- Why does Benvolio think Romeo should go to the Capulet’s party?
Act 1, Scene 3
Setting: Later that evening, before the party. A room in Capulet’s house.
Comprehension Questions
- What do Juliet’s mother and the nurse think about Paris? (find a quote to support this).
- When Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about marriage, what is Juliet’s answer?
- What kind of relationship does the nurse have with Juliet? What advice does the nurse give her at the end of the scene?
Act 1, Scene 4
Setting: Later that night. A street in Verona.
Comprehension Questions
- Who is Queen Mab? What sorts of things does she make people dream of?
- Why would Mercutio tell Romeo the Queen Mab story?
- What is Mercitio’s opinion of dreams and dreamers?
Act 1, Scene 5: Capulet’s Party
Setting: Night. A hall in Capulet’s house.
Comprehension Questions
- What does Romeo think of Juliet the first time he sees her? What does he say that indicates he was never really in love with Rosaline/
- Tybalt is mad that Romeo showed up to his uncle’s party. Why does he think Romeo is there
- What does Capulet tell Tybalt he must do?
- Read Tybalt’s last statement on page 751. What do you predict might happen between Tybalt and Romeo?
Act 1, Scene 5: Romeo and Juliet Meet
Setting: Night. A hall in Capulet’s house.
Comprehension Questions
- To what does Romeo compare his lips?
- To what does Romeo compare Juliet?
- What is sin? According to Romeo and Juliet, how is it passed from one person to another?
- What sad fact do Romeo and Juliet realize almost immediately after meeting each other?
- What does Juliet mean by the following statement?
“My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!”(753).
Prologue & Act 2, Scene 1
Setting: Night after the party. Near Capulet’s house.
Comprehension Questions
- Why does Romeo give up on Rosaline?
- Where does Mercutio think Romeo went? What does he think Romeo is doing?
Act 2, Scene 2: The Balcony Scene
Comprehension Questions
- What is Juliet’s opinion of names?
- Imagine that a lover asked you to deny your last name or family ties. Would you? Why or why not? How would you feel about it?
- Think about your answer to your last question. Now think about Romeo’s answer when Juliet asks him if he is a Montague,
“My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself… had I it written I would tear the word.”
Do you think Romeo is doing the right thing by answering this way? Is he being disloyal to his family? Why or why not?
- At the end of this scene, what do Romeo and Juliet decide to do?
- Find at least ONE SIMILE in Act 2, Scene 2. Copy it here.
Act 2, Scene 3
Comprehension Questions
- Why does the Friar think love is in young men’s eyes and not their hearts?
- Why does the Friar finally agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?
- On page 766, the Friar says,
“Virtue turns to vice if it’s misused. Vice sometimes becomes virtue through the right activity.”(translation)
What does this statement mean? How does your answer to question #2 relate to this quote?
Act 2, Scene 4
Comprehension Questions
- Why is the Nurse so bothered by Mercutio?
- Where will Romeo and Juliet meet to be married?
Act 2, Scene 5
Comprehension Questions
- The nurse is supposed to be gone only a half hour, but she is actually gone for how long?
- How is the Nurse behaving that is frustrating to Juliet?
Act 2, Scene 6
Comprehension Questions
- In this scene, the Friar makes the following statement,
“These sudden joys have sudden endings…Therefore, love each other in moderation. That is the key to long-lasting love. Too fast is as bad as too slow.”(translation)
What does the Friar mean when he says these lines? Do you think that Romeo and Juliet love each other in moderation? Why or why not?
Act 3, Scene 1
Comprehension Questions
- Why does Romeo suddenly love Tybalt? How does Mercutio respond to Romeo’s newfound love of Tybalt?
- Mercutio speaks his most famous line as he dies at the beginning of this scene.
“May a plague strike both your houses!” (translation) (786)
How is this line an example of foreshadowing?
- Do you believe in the death penalty or in life in prison for huge crimes? Why or Why not?
- What is Romeo’s punishment for killing Tybalt? Do you think the Prince’s decision is wise?
Act 3, Scene 2
Comprehension Questions
- What internal struggle does Juliet have in this scene? What side does she take at the end? Do you think she makes the right choice?
Act 3, Scene 3
Comprehension Questions
- Do you think Romeo is overreacting to the Prince’s banishment? Why or why not?
- The Friar does not think that banishment is such a terrible punishment. Why?
- What is the Friar’s plan for Romeo at the end of the scene?
Act 3, Scene 4
Comprehension Questions
- Juliet’s parents make a decision without her during this scene. What do they decide and when will it happen?
- Make a prediction. What kinds of problems might Capulet and Lady Capulet’s decision create? Why?
Act 3, Scene 5
Comprehension Questions
- Why does Juliet dislike the lark?
- Shakespeare foreshadows Romeo’s death on page 191. Write the clue here.
- How does Capulet respond when Juliet says she won’t marry Paris? What threat does Capulet make?
- What advice does the Nurse give Juliet on page 205? How does Juliet react to this advice?
Act 4, Scene 1
Comprehension Questions
- Juliet and the Friar come up with two very different solutions for the troublesome marriage to Paris on Thursday. What is Juliet’s solution to the problem? What is the Friar’s solution to the problem?
Act 4, Scene 2
Comprehension Questions
- How does Juliet trick her father into forgiving her?
Act 4, Scene 3
Comprehension Questions
- Please find an example of foreshadowing in one of Juliet’s lines on page 821.
- Juliet tells the audience she is afraid. Name at least three things or experiences she fears (Hint: Look in her long speech).
Act 4, Scene 4 & Scene 5
Comprehension Questions
- Who discovers that Juliet is dead? How does her family react?
- On page 241, the Friar tells the Capulets,
“The heavens hang threateningly over [your family] for some past sin.”(translation)
What does this phrase mean? How could this be an example of foreshadowing? How might this be an example of dramaticirony? (page 828)
Act 5, Scene 1
Comprehension Questions
- What complicates the Friar and Juliet’s plan?
- What is Romeo’s plan? Why does he visit the apothecary?
- How does the apothecary make himself feel better about breaking the law?
Act 5, Scene 2
Comprehension Questions
- What does the Friar (Lawrence) decide to do in this scene?
Act 5, Scene 3
Comprehension Questions
- Romeo gives a long speech on pages 839-841. What does he notice about Juliet as he talks that SHOULD be clues that she is not actually dead?
- How do Romeo and Juliet die?
- How does Lady Montague die?
- Do Capulet and Montague make peace in the end? How do you know?