CollectionsGrade 9Guiding Questions

Collection 4

The Tragedy of Romeo and Julietby William Shakespeare

ACT I

Read the drama The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Then, reread the lines indicated with each question below. Answer each question, citing text evidence.

  1. Prologue, Lines 1–14: What do you learn about the two families from the phrase “both alike in dignity”? According to lines 3–4, what is the relationship like between the two families? According to line 6, what does the Prologue say has happened to Romeo and Juliet?
  2. Sc. 1, Lines 1–13: Explain the characters’ play on the word move by discussing which definition each speaker uses. How does this dialogue affect the mood of this scene?
  3. Sc. 1, Lines 27–48:What does Sampson do when he sees the Montague servants? Why? Why does he take back his gesture? What do the servants’ actions reveal about the conflict between the two families?
  4. Sc. 1, Lines 51–65: Why does Gregory’s attitude toward fighting change?
  5. Sc. 1, Lines 59–65:Explain how Tybalt’s actions contrast with Benvolio’s. What characteristic of Benvolio’s is brought out through this contrast? What characteristic of Tybalt’s?
  6. Sc. 1, Lines 68–73:What support is in these lines for the inference that Lady Montague and Lady Capulet are more sensible than their husbands?
  7. Sc. 1, Lines 74–96:Summarize the Prince’s warning to the two families about their feud.
  8. Sc. 1, Lines 109–116:What metaphor is in Benvolio’s response to Lady Montague? What image does this metaphor create? What practical information does it also convey?
  9. Sc. 1, Lines 117–123:Explain what Benvolio was doing when he saw Romeo, and why. What does this information about Benvolio suggest about Romeo? What is Lord Montague’s feeling about his son?
  10. Sc. 1, Lines 149–150: What can you infer about why Benvolio makes this offer to Lord Montague?
  11. Sc. 1, Lines 155–167:What is Benvolio’s purpose in this conversation? Does Romeo suspect his intention? Why or why not?
  12. Sc. 1, Lines 169–175:Describe the language Romeo uses in this speech to express his feelings about love. What do these contradictory terms reveal about his feelings about love?
  13. Sc. 1, Lines 190–204:Summarize what you learn about the plot that is developed in these lines.
  14. Sc. 1, Lines 201–231:Explain why the woman does not return Romeo’s love. How would you describe Romeo’s reaction to his problem? What inferences about his character can you make from his behavior and words? How does Benvolio vow to help Romeo resolve this conflict?
  15. Sc. 2, Lines 9–19:Explain Paris’s purpose in visiting Lord Capulet. Why does Lord Capulet appear somewhat reluctant to immediately give his consent?
  16. Sc. 2, Lines 56–81:Summarize what happens in this passage. Explain why you think Romeo will take the chance of attending the party at the Capulet house. What could possibly happen if Romeo does attend?
  17. Sc. 2, Lines 82–102:What does Benvolio mean when he says “Compare her face with some that I shall show,/ And I will make thee think thy swan a crow” in lines 86–87? Why is Benvolio so confident that he can make Romeo get over Rosaline?
  18. Sc. 3, Lines 1–19: At this point in the play, how old is Juliet? When is her next birthday, and how old will she be?
  19. Sc. 3, Lines 17–49: How does the nurse feel about Juliet? What can you infer about the nurse’s character from what she says and how she says it?
  20. Sc. 3, Lines 59–75: What inferences can you make about Juliet’s feeling toward the nurse? How would you describe Juliet’s attitude toward her mother?
  21. Sc. 3, Lines 80–95: What is the comparison in the extended metaphor? Explain the features of Paris that Lady Capulet emphasizes in her comparison. What attribute is suggested in line 94, “So shall you share all that he doth possess”?
  22. Sc. 3, Lines 98–100: Explain Juliet’s reply in these lines. What do Juliet’s words reveal about her character?
  23. Sc. 4, Lines 11–22: What puns are in these lines? What do they reveal about Romeo’s mood?
  24. Sc. 4, Lines 23–43: How would you describe Romeo’s conversation with Mercutio? What kind of friend is Mercutio to Romeo?
  25. Photograph: What mood is created by the scene in the photograph? Why?
  26. Sc. 4, Lines 53–95: Explain where dreams come from according to Mercutio.
  27. Sc. 4, Lines 106–113: Do Mercutio’s efforts to minimize the importance of Romeo’s dream work? Why or why not? What do lines 112–113 suggest about the reason Romeo goes to the party in spite of his feelings?
  28. Sc. 5, Lines 1–13: What is the purpose of this scene?
  29. Sc. 5, Lines 42–51: Explain what has happened to Romeo. What example of hyperbole is in this speech? What effect does it have on the audience’s realization of Romeo’s feelings? How does he use similes to convey her beauty in his eyes?
  30. Sc. 5, Lines 52–57: Who is Tybalt? What is Tybalt’s reaction when he hears Romeo’s voice? What does he want to do?
  31. Sc. 5, Lines 63–71: How does Lord Capulet react to Romeo’s presence at the ball? Why?
  32. Sc. 5, Lines 80–90: What is foreshadowed by Tybalt’s reaction to his uncle’s command to leave Romeo alone?
  33. Sc. 5, Lines 91–105:Explain to what Romeo compares Juliet in lines 92 and 101. How do other references in these lines develop this comparison? Explain what idea about their relationship this metaphor conveys.
  34. Sc. 5, Lines 111–117: What does Romeo’s remark in line 117 show that he realizes? What does the audience know that Romeo does not about a circumstance that will affect their relationship?
  35. Sc. 5, Lines 136–139: How does Juliet’s language in this speech relate back to Romeo’s in lines 169–176 of Scene 1? Explain what idea about love this literary device conveys.
  36. Sc. 5, Lines 141–142: Why does Juliet respond to the nurse’s question as she does? What quality does her response show that was not apparent previously?