Romeo & Juliet 10 English HL

Full title: The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Author: William Shakespeare
Genre: Tragic drama
Time and place written: London, mid-1590s, first published in 1597
Setting: Verona & Mantua (cities in northern Italy) in the 15th century (Renaissance)
Protagonist: Romeo; Juliet
Antagonist: The feuding Montagues and Capulets, and Fate

Summary

In Verona, Italy, during the Renaissance, two noble families, the Montagues and
Capulets, are locked in a bitter feud. After a series of public brawls between both the
nobles and the servants of the two families, Prince Escalus, the ruler of Verona, declares
that anyone in either family involved in any future fighting will be put to death.
Every year the Capulets hosts a masquerade ball. The Montagues, of course, are not
invited. Capulet and Lady Capulet, hope that this year their daughter Juliet will fall in
love with Paris at the ball, since at thirteen she is almost of marriageable age and Paris
would be a good match. But two Montagues, sixteen-year-old Romeo and his cousin
Benvolio, along with their friend Mercutio, a kinsmen of Prince Escalus, crash the party.
Romeo attends the party only because he wants to see Rosaline, a young woman he
has been unsuccessfully pursuing for quite some time. That lack of success has made
him noticeably lovelorn of late. But at first sight of Juliet, Romeo falls in love. Juliet is
equally smitten. They speak, and kiss. As the party ends Romeo and Juliet separately
discover that they belong to rival families, and are both distraught. Yet Romeo is
already so in love that instead of leaving the Capulet’s residence with his friends, he
jumps a wall and hides beneath her balcony. Suddenly she emerges, and tells the night
sky about her forbidden love for Romeo. Romeo jumps out from his hiding place. They
exchange vows of love. The next day, with the help of Friar Lawrence and Juliet’s Nurse,
Romeo and Juliet are secretly married.
That same day, Benvolio and Mercutio encounter Tybalt, who is Juliet’s cousin. Tybalt is
furious that the Montagues crashed the Capulet party (he spotted them). He has
challenged Romeo to a dual. While Mercutio mocks Tybalt, Romeo himself shows up.
Tybalt challenged him to fight. Romeo, who is now secretly Tybalt’s kinsmen by
marriage, refuses. Before Romeo can explain his reasons, Mercutio disgustedly steps in.
Romeo tries to separate them, but Tybalt stabs and kills Mercutio under Romeo’s arm.
Mercutio dies cursing both Montagues and Capulets. In a rage, Romeo kills Tybalt.
Because Romeo at first tried to stop the fighting, instead of ordering him executed the
Prince banishes him from Verona. Juliet is devastated when she learns that Romeo killed

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her cousin, but she decides that her loyalty must be with her husband. That night
Romeo comes to her room and the lovers are able to spend one glorious night together
before Romeo, at dawn, must flee Verona to Mantua.
The death of Tybalt affects Lord Capulet deeply. He decides to marry Juliet to Paris
immediately. Juliet refuses. Capulet threatens to disown her. Lady Capulet sides with
her husband, and even the Nurse advises Juliet to marry Paris and forget Romeo. Juliet
rushes to Friar Lawrence, who comes up with a plan: he gives her a potion that will
make it seem like she’s died but will really only put her to sleep. She will be laid to rest in
the Capulet tomb, and there will wake up. Meanwhile, the Friar promises to get news to
Romeo so that he’ll secretly return from Mantua and be there when she wakes up. She
follows the Friar’s advice. The next morning the Capulet household wakes to discover
Juliet has died. Instead of a wedding, they have a funeral. Juliet’s body is put in the
tomb.
But the Friar’s letter to Romeo goes astray. Romeo hears only that Juliet has died. In
despair, Romeo buys poison and, after fighting and killing a grieving Paris, sneaks into
Juliet’s tomb. In the tomb, Romeo gazes on what he thinks is the dead body of his
beloved, drinks the poison, and dies. Seconds later, Juliet wakes. She sees Romeo’s
body. Friar Lawrence rushes into the cell too late. He tells Juliet what happened, but
hears people approaching. He begs Juliet to come with him, but she refuses. He flees.
In order to be with Romeo, Juliet kills herself with his dagger.
The Montagues and Capulets are grief-stricken when they learn the truth. They agree to
end their feud.
Romeo and Juliet is a true tragedy in the literary sense because the families gather
sufficient self-knowledge to correct their behaviour but not until it is too late to save the
situation.
~♥~

Characters
Romeo Montague: Romeo is the only son of Lord and Lady Montague. He is young,
impulsive, and above all else, passionate. Once Romeo sets his heart on something he
is convinced that there are no other alternatives. At the beginning of the play, Romeo is
so heartbroken over Rosaline that he can barely function. He devotes every waking
breath and thought to the woman he cannot have, but he forgets about her as soon
as he lays his eyes upon Juliet. Once he meets her, his ideas of love mature with him.
While he can finally grasp the true meaning of love, he is still unable to control his
impulsive behaviours. As a result, Romeo acts before he thinks, and he often suffers
consequences that could have otherwise been avoided. The most obvious case of this
type of behaviour is when Romeo drinks poison because he believes his wife is dead.

Juliet Capulet: Though she is not yet 14 years old, Juliet’s maturity far exceeds that of
Romeo. At first, she seems to be merely obedient and her actions strive to please those
she cares about. As the play progresses and Juliet falls in love with Romeo, she

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becomes rational, strong, and mature. She chooses her words wisely and rarely acts on
impulse. When Romeo was banished from Verona, Juliet could have easily packed her
bags and left with him. Instead, she chose to do the logical thing and wait for a time
when they could be peacefully reunited. Unfortunately, there would never be a time
for them to reunite. When Juliet realizes this, she chooses death over life without her
husband. However, it is important to note that she kills herself over her pure grief, not
because she needs a man to survive.

Friar Lawrence: Though he is a kind and religious man who often gives good advice,
Friar Lawrence is also responsible for a great deal of conflict in this play. He frequently
comes up with good-intentioned schemes that make situations worse than they need
to be. However, he cannot be blamed for all that happened. Romeo and Juliet’s
largest downfall was fate—Father Lawrence simply lent fate a helping hand.

The Nurse: Juliet’s Nurse is a kind, funny woman who loves Juliet as if she were her own
child. She has nursed Juliet since infancy and the two of them are extremely close to
one another. She goes out of her way to make Juliet happy, and she only wants what is
best for her. The Nurse is Juliet’s only friend and confidante until she gives Juliet advice
that she doesn’t want to hear.

Mercutio:
Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend and the Prince’s kinsman. He is a clever, witty character
who loves to make puns. His cold logic is the foil to Romeo’s love-crazed personality.
Mercutio is a good friend to Romeo, Benvolio, and nearly everybody he meets—so long
as they are not Capulets. Mercutio strongly believes in honour and self-respect, which is
why he becomes so enraged when Romeo allows Tybalt to verbally attack him.

Tybalt: Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin and he is deeply loved by his family. He typically thinks
with his sword, not with his head. He is easily angered and it does not take much
persuasion for him to draw his sword. He takes great joy in fighting, especially when he
fights with the hated Montagues and of course Romeo.
~♥~

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Plot Analysis
ACT 1
Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love. Two things stand in the way of their love: the feud
between their families; and Juliet’s parents’ wish for her to marry Paris.
PROLOGUE (Exposition)
The Chorus tells us that there is a feud between the families of the Montagues and the
Capulets. The Chorus tells us that two young lovers will die and the feud will end.
SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3 SCENE 4 SCENE 5
(Exposition) (Development)
Sunday morning Sunday morning Sunday morning Sunday evening Sunday evening
Street in Verona Capulet mansion Capulet mansion Street outside Hall in Capulet
Capulet mansion mansion
There is a fight Paris asks Lord Lady Capulet Romeo and his The Capulet
between young Capulet if he and the nurse friends are on party: Tybalt
Montagues and can marry Juliet. encourage Juliet their way to the wants to fight the
Capulets in the Lord Capulet is to marry Paris Capulet party. Montagues but is
streets of planning a party because “he is a Romeo feels stopped by Lord
Verona. The that night. He fine and worthy uneasy. Capulet. Romeo
Prince threatens invites Paris. young man”. sees Juliet and is
to execute attracted to her.
anyone who Romeo and Juliet
fights again. meet and speak
Romeo thinks of their love.
he loves
Rosaline.
ACT 2
The lovers marry secretly with the help of Juliet’s nurse and Friar Lawrence
PROLOGUE (Development)
The Chorus tells us that Romeo and Juliet are now in love – despite the feud between their
families.
SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3 SCENE 4 SCENE 5 SCENE 6
(Development)
Sunday night Sunday night Monday Monday Monday Monday
morning morning midday afternoon
Outside Cap Capulet Friar L’s cell Street in Capulet Friar L’s cell
orchard orchard Verona garden
Romeo hides Juliet Romeo visits Romeo’s Juliet waits Friar
in the Capulet appears on Friar friends make impatiently Lawrence is
garden while her balcony. Lawrence fun of him for news of worried about
his friends Unaware of who agrees and Juliet’s Romeo. The Romeo and
look for him. Romeo’s to help nurse. nurse Juliet’s rush
They make presence, Romeo to Romeo and eventually to marry. He
fun of his love she declares marry Juliet the Nurse tells Juliet warns against
for Rosaline. her love for in the hope of discuss the she will marry unchecked
him. Later ending the secret Romeo that passion, but
they declare feud. marriage. afternoon. still marries
their love and them.

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their intention
to marry.

ACT 3
Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona. A date is set for Juliet to marry Paris; Juliet
refuses to marry him.
SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3 SCENE 4 SCENE 5
(Climax) (Denouement)
Monday Monday Monday early Monday late Tuesday early
afternoon afternoon evening evening morning
Street in Verona Capulet mansion Friar L’s cell Capulet mansion Juliet’s bedroom
Tybalt fights Juliet waits Romeo is Paris asks Lord After spending
Mercutio. impatiently. The desperate and Capulet about his the night
Romeo tries to Nurse tells her asks Friar marriage to Juliet. together, Romeo
stop them, but the bad news Lawrence for Capulet decides must go to
Mercutio is about Tybalt help. The nurse the wedding Mantua. Lady
killed. Romeo and Romeo. tells them that should take place Capulet says she
kills Tybalt in The nurse Juliet is very on Thursday. will avenge
revenge. The agrees to sad. Friar Tybalt’s death.
Prince orders arrange for Lawrence says She then tells
Romeo to leave Romeo and that Romeo can Juliet of the plans
Verona. Juliet to spend go to Juliet, but for her marriage
one night he must leave to Paris. Juliet
together before for Mantua tells her parents
he leaves before dawn. she will not marry
Verona. After being Paris. Her father
pardoned, he threatens to
could perhaps reject her as his
return to Verona daughter.
in the future.

ACT 4
Friar Lawrence suggests a plan for Juliet but it is destined to fail. Juliet’s marriage to Paris is
brought forward by a day.
SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3 SCENE 4 SCENE 5
(Denouement)
Tuesday morning Tuesday evening Tuesday evening Tuesday night Wednesday morn
Friar L’s cell Capulet mansion Juliet’s bedroom Capulet mansion Juliet’s bedroom
Juliet is in Juliet goes Juliet drinks the The Capulets The nurse cannot
despair. She home and potion and falls prepare for Paris wake Juliet up.
goes to Friar pretends to into a deep and Juliet’s She thinks Juliet
Lawrence, who apologise to her sleep. wedding. is dead and calls
suggests a plan: father. Lord the Capulets.
he gives Juliet a Capulet says
potion to drink that the
to make her marriage to
seem dead. Paris will now
Friar Lawrence happen on

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will write a letter Wednesday – a

to Romeo to tell day earlier than
him to fetch planned!
Juliet from the
tomb.

ACT 5
The plan fails: Romeo thinks Juliet is dead so he kills himself with poison. She wakes and kills
herself when she sees Romeo is dead. The Prince blames their deaths on the family feud.
SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3
(Denouement & moment of final suspense) (Resolution)
Thursday morning Thursday evening Thursday night
Street in Mantua Friar Lawrence’s cell Churchyard & Capulets’ tomb
Romeo waits in Mantua for Friar John was supposed to Romeo goes to Juliet’s tomb.
news. He does not receive deliver Friar Lawrence’s letter Paris confronts him. They
the letter from Friar to Romeo explaining that Juliet fight and Paris is killed.
Lawrence to say that Juliet is not dead, but he did not Romeo drinks the poison and
has taken a sleeping potion. deliver it. Friar Lawrence writes dies. Juliet wakes, sees
His servant, Balthasar, tells another letter to Romeo, and Romeo is dead and stabs
him that Juliet is dead. goes to herself. The Prince tells the
Romeo believes him so he Juliet’s tomb. Montagues and Capulets
gets poison from the they have each lost a child
apothecary. He will use it to and must agree to reconcile
kill himself when he goes to and end their feud. Two
Juliet’s tomb. golden statues are to be
erected in memory of their
children.

Themes

Fate and Free Will

● In its first address to the audience, the Chorus states that Romeo and Juliet are
“star-crossed” — that is to say that fate controls them.
● This sense of fate fills the play, and not just for the audience; Romeo and Juliet
constantly see omens.
● When Romeo believes that Juliet is dead, he cries out, “Then I defy you, stars,”
completing the idea that the love between Romeo and Juliet is in opposition to the
judgments of destiny.
● Romeo’s defiance itself plays into the hands of fate, and his determination to spend
eternity with Juliet results in their deaths.
● The mechanism of fate works in all of the events surrounding the lovers:
⇨ the feud between their families (this hatred is never explained; rather, the
reader must accept it as an undeniable aspect of the world of the play)
⇨ the horrible series of accidents that ruin Friar Lawrence’s seemingly
well-intentioned plans at the end of the play

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⇨ the tragic timing of Romeo’s suicide and Juliet’s awakening

● These events are not mere coincidences, but rather manifestations of fate that help
bring about the unavoidable outcome of the young lovers’ deaths.

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Love, Hate and Death

L Shakespeare ultimately suggests that the kind of love that Romeo and Juliet feel
leads lovers to enact a selfish isolation from the world around them. Romeo and
Juliet shun their commitments to anyone else, choosing to act selflessly only towards
one another. Their youthful lust is one of many reasons why their relationship grows so
intense so quickly.
L Considering that no other relationships in the play are as pure as that between
Romeo and Juliet, though, it is easy to see that Shakespeare respects the power of
such a youthful, passionate love but also laments the briefness of it.
☠ The Chorus establishes the story's tragic end at the beginning of the play, which
colours the audience's experience from the start – we know that this youthful,
innocent love will end in tragedy as a result of the two families’ hatred.
☠ Death is everywhere in this play. Even before the play shifts in tone after Mercutio's
death, Shakespeare makes several references to death being Juliet's bridegroom.
The threat of violence that pervades the first acts manifests itself in the latter half of
the play, when key characters die and the star-crossed lovers approach their terrible
end.
☠ The structure of the play as a tragedy from the beginning makes Romeo and Juliet's
love even more heart-breaking because the audience is aware of their impending
deaths. The journey of the play is the cycle from love to death – and that is what
makes Romeo and Juliet so lasting and powerful.

Youth and old age: the ‘generation gap’

A breakdown in understanding between the young and their elders is known as a
‘generation gap’. The elders think that they know everything and want to control the
young; the young rebel against this. Romeo and Juliet rebel against the custom of their
society which says that parents decide who their children should marry. This conflict
results, in part, in the death of the young lovers.
🖐 The characters in the play can all be categorised as either young, passionate
characters or older, more functional characters.
🖐 The youthful characters are almost exclusively defined by their energy and
impulsiveness – like Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio, and Tybalt. Meanwhile, the older
characters all view the world in terms of politics and expediency.
🖐 The Capulet and Montague patriarchs are certainly feisty competitors, but think in
terms of victory as a concept, ignoring the potential emotional toll of their feud.
🖐 Friar Lawrence, who seemingly represents Romeo and Juliet's interests, sees their
union in terms of its political outcome, while the young lovers are only concerned
with satisfying their rapidly beating hearts.
🖐 While Shakespeare does not suggest a moral to the divide between young and old,
it appears throughout the play, suggesting that the cynicism that comes with age is
one of the many reasons that humans inevitably breed strife amongst themselves.

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🖐 It also implicitly provides a reason for young lovers to seek to separate themselves
from an 'adult' world of political violence and bartering.

Appearance and Reality

Sometimes things are not what they first seem: we can be fooled by appearances.
Some of the characters in the play are confused by appearances. For example, Juliet
appears to be dead in Act 5, Scene 3, and Romeo is fooled. As readers, we know, of
course, that she has taken a potion and is actually alive.
This theme is closely linked to secrecy and lies. Both Romeo and Juliet tell lies about their
relationship. They keep their relationship and marriage a secret, which adds to the
conflict in the plot and ultimately works against their happiness.
D The two “star-crossed lovers” meet at a masked ball where identities are hidden by
wearing masks. Their relationship starts without them knowing the other’s true
identity.
D Their marriage is a secret to which only the Nurse and Friar Lawrence is privy.
D Juliet and Lady Capulet’s discussion regarding Tybalt’s death is filled with double
meanings from Juliet to hide her true feelings.
~♥~
Foreshadowing
F The Chorus’s first speech declares that Romeo and Juliet are doomed to die and
are “star-crossed.”
F The lovers frequently think of death: “My grave is like to be my wedding bed” (Juliet,
1.5.132).
F The lovers have thoughts of suicide, as when Romeo threatens to kill himself after
killing Tybalt.
F Friar Lawrence warns them to behave moderately if Romeo and Juliet wish to avoid
tragedy: “These violent delights have violent ends / Therefore love moderately”
(2.6.9–14).
F The lovers have a mutual impression that the other looks pale and deathlike after
their wedding night (3.5).
F Juliet fakes her death by Friar Lawrence’s potion (4.5).
F Romeo has a dream-vision of Juliet kissing his lips while he is dead (5.1).
F Romeo has outbursts against fate: “O, I am fortune’s fool!” (3.1.131) and “Then I defy
you, stars” (5.1.24).
~♥~

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Transactional Writing Activities

1. Write a newspaper report about the opening street brawl and Prince Escalus’s verdict. (I 1)
2. Write a magazine article featuring the masked ball – include film for costumes. (I 5)
3. Write Tybalt’s formal letter addressed to Romeo to challenge him to a duel. (II 4)
4. Write an obituary for Mercutio. (III 1)
5. Write an interview between a reporter and Paris about his upcoming marriage to Juliet
Capulet. (III 4)
6. Write Juliet’s friendly letter addressed to the Nurse to say goodbye. (IV 2)
7. Write an obituary for Juliet. (IV 5)
8. Write a newspaper article about the true deaths of Romeo and Juliet. (V 3)
9. Write Friar Lawrence’s formal letter of apology addressed to Prince Escalus. (V 3)
10.
~♥~

Scene Questions
PROLOGUE
1. Who speaks the Prologue?
2. What is the purpose of the Prologue?
3. In what poetic form is this Prologue?
4. Underline lines 5 and 6. Explain the importance of these two lines.
5. Why does Shakespeare tell us how the story is going to end?
6. What themes are established in the Prologue?

~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~

ACT 1 SCENE 1
1. How does Shakespeare start the play so that he gains the attention of the
“groundlings?”
2. Underline lines 56-57. Our first introduction to Benvolio comes when he says these
words. What do they reveal about his character?
3. Underline lines 58-59. Our first impression of Tybalt occurs in these lines. What do we
learn about his character?
4. Underline lines 89-90. What is the tone of the Prince’s speech? In these lines he
makes a new decree. What is it, and why is it important?
5. When we first see Romeo he shows all the signs of a Petrarchan Lover. How does
Romeo act (lines 123-134)?
6. When describing his feelings to Benvolio, Romeo uses oxymorons in lines 168-174 and
184-188. Why does he speak in contradictions and paradoxes?
7. We then learn that Romeo is suffering from Unrequited Love. What suggestion does
Benvolio make to Romeo to help him get over is unrequited love for Rosaline (lines
218-220)?

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ACT 1 SCENE 2
1. In this scene Lord Capulet talks to Paris about marrying his daughter Juliet. What two
reasons does he give for not wanting Juliet to marry at this time (lines 8-13)?
2. Underline line 16-19. On what condition will Lord Capulet agree to Juliet’s marriage
with Paris?
3. What does this reveal about Lord Capulet’s love for his daughter?
4. From the servant who cannot read we learn that Rosaline, with who Romeo believes
he is in love, will be at the Capulet party. Why does this excite Benvolio? What is his
plan (lines 81-83)?
5. Underline lines 81-83. Explain Benvolio’s analogy.
6. Why does Romeo agree to go to the party (lines 96-97)?
7. What coincidence takes place in this scene? Explain what theme is being
developed.

ACT 1 SCENE 3
1. What is the nurse’s relationship with Juliet?
2. How would you describe the nurse’s personality?
3. Underline lines 60-61. What is the nurse’s one wish for Juliet and why?
4. When Lady Capulet asks Juliet how she feels about being married, what is Juliet’s
answer (line 67), and what does it reveal about her character?
5. The nurse and Lady Capulet are both excited and pleased by Paris’ proposal but for
different reasons.
a. The nurse says Paris is “a man of wax” and at the end of the scene
encourages Juliet to “Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.” What does
the nurse see in Paris, and what does it reveal about her attitude toward love
and marriage?
b. Lady Capulet’s lines 82-95 compose a conceit (an extended, exaggerated
comparison or metaphor between two unlike things – in this case, between
Paris and a book that needs to be bound). What does Lady Capulet see in
Paris that would make him a good match for Juliet? What is Lady Capulet’s
attitude toward love and marriage?
6. Underline lines 98-100. Explain Juliet’s answer to her mother when asked if she can
love Paris. What does it reveal about her knowledge of being in love? What is her
attitude toward love and marriage?

ACT 1 SCENE 4
1. Mercutio refers to Queen Mab. Who is she and why does Mercutio talk of her in this
speech (lines 53 – 95)?
2. Underline lines 106-111. Why does Romeo feel uneasy about going to the party?
What dream-like premonition has he had?
3. What decision does Romeo make in lines 112-113, and what is the thematic
importance of this decision?

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ACT 1 SCENE 5
1. We learn from Romeo’s soliloquy that he is struck by love at first sight when he sees
Juliet at the party. Paraphrase Rome’s speech (lines 41-50). To what does he
compare Juliet?
2. How does this speech about his love for Juliet compare to his speeches about being
in love with Rosaline?
3. Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice and tries to start a fight. What two reasons does
Lord Capulet give for stopping him (lines 63-67)?
4. Underline lines 88-89. What threat does Tybalt make as he agrees to withdraw?
5. The dialogue between Romeo and Juliet is set in sonnet format (lines 90 – 103). Why?
6. Provide a plausible reason for all the religious connotations in this sonnet.
7. Dramatic Irony is when the audience knows something the characters do not. What
is ironic about Juliet’s line 132?

~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~

ACT 2 SCENE 1
1. Provide the time and place setting of this scene.
2. What is the function of this short scene?

ACT 2 SCENE 2
1. Answer the following questions about lines 2-24:
a) Romeo repeats the light and dark images he introduced when he saw Juliet for
the first time. Why does Romeo compare Juliet to the sun?
b) Why does he want the sun to kill the envious moon?
c) Why is the moon envious?
d) Why does he compare Juliet’s eyes to the stars?
e) Why is this comparison to stars another example of foreshadowing?
2. Underline lines 32-35. Juliet is still unaware that Romeo is nearby. Paraphrase these
lines.
3. Underline lines 42-46. What is Juliet’s attitude toward the feud that has separated
the two families?
4. After Juliet asks some pertinent questions (lines 61-78), she realizes that Romeo has
overheard her intimate thoughts about him. How does her attitude change in lines
84-105? What is she worried about?
5. Why does Juliet object to Romeo’s swearing on the moon (lines 108-110)?
6. Juliet speaks of her fears in lines 115-119. Explain.
7. Paraphrase lines 143-148.

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ACT 2 SCENE 3
1. Friar Lawrence is introduced in a lengthy soliloquy in which he philosophies about
nature and about mankind. Summarise his philosophy.
2. Why does Shakespeare show Friar Lawrence working with herbs in the beginning of
this scene?
3. What does Romeo tell Friar Lawrence, and what does he want from the Friar (lines
48-64)?
4. What is Friar Lawrence’s reaction to hearing of Romeo’s new love (lines 65-80)?
5. Underline lines 91-92. What reason does Friar Lawrence give for agreeing to marry
Romeo and Juliet?

ACT 2 SCENE 4
1. This scene shows us more of the nurse’s character as she trades quips and puns with
Mercutio. What malapropisms does the nurse use (line 109)?
2. What message does Romeo urge the nurse to give to Juliet (lines 154-157)?

ACT 2 SCENE 5
1. Juliet is very impatient to hear news from Romeo (lines 1-17). What images does she
use in her soliloquy to express this?
2. The nurse knows Juliet is impatient, but she keeps putting her off. Why does the nurse
do this?
3. Why does the Nurse agree to help Juliet marry Romeo?

~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~

ACT 3 SCENE 1
1. Why do you think Tybalt approaches Mercutio and Benvolio and wants a “word”
with one of them (line 36)?
2. Mercutio tries to provoke Tybalt to fight (lines 37-38). Why doesn’t Tybalt want to
fight him (line 53)?
3. After Tybalt insults Romeo, Romeo responds with lines 59-62. Explain his lines. What is
the “reason” Romeo has for ignoring the insult?
4. Underline lines 65-69. Explain the meaning of the lines and the dramatic irony.
5. Why does Romeo’s answer to Tybalt’s insults upset Mercutio? What does he think
Romeo is doing (line 70)?
6. Even when he is dying, Mercutio continues to joke and to make puns. Explain the
pun he makes in lines 94-96.
7. Underline lines 103-105. Mercutio repeats the following line (106) three times and
then adds the next line. Explain what he means: “A plague O’ both your houses! /
They have made worm’s meat of me.”
8. What does Romeo mean when he says lines 119-121?

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9. After Mercutio dies, why does Romeo decide to kill Tybalt instead of accepting
Mercutio’s death as an unfortunate accident?
10. Underline line 134. What does Romeo mean?
11. Underline lines 175-176. What reasoning does Lady Capulet use in begging the
Prince for vengeance for Tybalt’s death?
12. Underline lines 183-185. What is Lord Montagues’ reasoning in his attempt to
persuade the Prince not to kill Romeo for killing Tybalt?
13. What is the Prince’s decree, and what are the reasons he gives for making it (lines
185-186)?

ACT 3 SCENE 2
1. In lines 37-70 the nurse confuses Juliet as she tells Juliet of the fight. What
misconception does Juliet make?
2. Underline line 71. When Juliet receives news of Tybalt’s death, what is her first
reaction?
3. Underline Juliet’s lines 90-92. When the nurse agrees with Juliet, Juliet has a different
reaction to Romeo’s killing of Tybalt. Explain.
4. How does the scene end?

ACT 3 SCENE 3
1. Underline line 12. What is Romeo’s reaction when he learns that he has been
banished?
2. From the beginning of the play, Romeo acts impulsively. In what way is he still
impulsive in this scene (lines 102-108)?
3. Friar Lawrence tells Romeo to count his blessings. What are they (line 135-140)?
4. Explain Friar Lawrence’s plan (lines 146-154).

ACT 3 SCENE 4
1. Only a day before Lord Capulet refused to consider a marriage to Paris as he
thought Juliet too young. Why does he change his mind so suddenly?
2. Do you think Paris truly loves Juliet or does he just want to marry into the Capulet
family? Explain your answer.

ACT 3 SCENE 5
1. Is Lady Capulet sensitive to Juliet’s feeling of loss? Provide a suitable quote to
validate your answer.
2. What does Juliet say about Tybalt and Romeo to keep the truth from her mother
(lines 67-102)?
3. What is Juliet’s response when she is told the news that she is to marry Paris (lines
116-123)? How has she changed since Act 1?
4. What is her mother’s reaction to Juliet’s response (line 124 and lines 139-140)?
5. Underline lines 190-194. What is Lord Capulet’s response to Juliet’s refusal to marry
Paris?

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Romeo & Juliet 10 English HL

6. What does the Nurse advise Juliet to do (lines 212-225)? What is her reasoning?
7. After the Nurse leaves and Juliet is alone, what does Juliet decide to do?

~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~

ACT 4 SCENE 1
1. Why is Paris visiting Friar Lawrence?
2. What is Juliet’s solution to her situation (lines 50-67)?
3. Underline lines 68-70. The Friar says he has thought of a way out, but what would it
require?
4. What is Juliet’s answer to the Friar in her effort to convince him that she will do
anything to avoid the marriage with Paris (lines 76-88)?
5. Summarise Friar Lawrence’s plan as described in lines 89-120.

ACT 4 SCENE 2
1. What does Juliet say that makes her father happy?
2. How does Capulet change the wedding plans? What implications does this have?
3. Why does Capulet say “All our whole city is much bound to [Friar Lawrence]” (line
32)?
4. Describe how each of the following characters feel at the end of this scene and
what they are each expecting to happen:
a. Juliet
b. Lord Capulet
c. Lady Capulet
5. Why do you think did Juliet decide to make amends with her family in this scene?

ACT 4 SCENE 3
1. Juliet tells her mother she has culled such necessities / As are behoveful for our state
tomorrow (lines 7 – 8). In other words, she has gathered everything she needs for
tomorrow. Explain the ambiguity in these lines.
2. Read lines 14 – 59 carefully and answer the following questions:
a. List five fears that Juliet has.
b. What is her back-up plan?
c. What overrides all of her fears?
3. How does Juliet show her maturity and independence in this scene?

ACT 4 SCENE 4
1. Quote a line to indicate that the Capulets want the wedding feast to be grand.
2. Explain the dramatic irony in this scene.

ACT 4 SCENE 5
1. Describe how the theme of appearance and reality comes into play in this scene.

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Romeo & Juliet 10 English HL

2. Describe the imagery Shakespeare uses in describing Juliet’s “death” as uttered by

Lord Capulet (lines 25-40).
3. Do you think Lady Capulet’s outburst of emotion in lines 43 – 48 is sincere? Explain
your answer.
4. How does Paris feel about Juliet’s ‘death’?
5. What does Friar Lawrence say to comfort the Capulet family (lines 65-83)?
6. What event are the Capulets preparing for now?
7. Explain Friar Lawrence’s words to the Capulets: “The heavens do lour upon you for
some ill; / Move them no more by crossing their high will.” (lines 94 – 95)
8. Explain the role of the musicians at the end of this scene.

~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~~♥~

ACT 5 SCENE 1
1. What premonition does Romeo have at the beginning of this scene (lines 1-11)?
2. What news does Balthasar bring? How does this disrupt the Friar’s plan?
3. Underline line 24. Explain. Why is this a brazen thing to say?
4. What does Romeo decide to do after he hears Balthasar’s story (lines 34-57)?

ACT 5 SCENE 2
1. What story does Friar John tell Friar Lawrence as explanation as to why he could not
deliver the letter to Romeo?
2. Discuss how the theme of fate/destiny comes into play in this scene.

ACT 5 SCENE 3
1. How does Paris reveal his feelings for Juliet in the opening of this scene?
2. Why, according to Paris, did Romeo come to the Capulets’ tomb?
3. Underline lines 91-96. What does Romeo notice about Juliet? Explain the dramatic
irony.
4. Underline line 161. What does Juliet realize about the situation?
5. Underline lines 169-170. Explain the lines.
6. Identify and explain the personification used by the Prince in his final speech.
7. Explain the last two lines of the play.

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PROLOGUE
1. The chorus speaks the prologue
2. To introduce the play to the readers. It summarises the story about Romeo and
Juliet and gives some background information.
3. The prologue is in the form of an Elizabethan / Shakespearean sonnet.
4. It talks about the feud between the two families and that their children will fall in
love and ultimately die.
5. To prepare us for the outcome, and maybe to focus more on the relationship
and life of Romeo and Juliet.
6. Love, hatred, and fate and free will.

ACT 1 SCENE 1
1. He starts the play with a brawl between both of the families’ servants. This gains
the attention of the groundlings because they’re able to relate to the situation
because most are in the same position. Groundlings are the poor people (mostly
servants) who would literally be standing on the ground in front of the stage
while watching the play.
2. Benvolio scolds the servants for their silly and wrongful behaviour. This reveals his
maturity and peace-keeping nature.
3. Tybalt is a trouble maker and has a quick temper. He comes across as
condescending and aggressive.
4. The Prince’s tone is serious. He shows the townspeople that he is in charge and
who should be listened to. He declares that the next person who starts a fight will
be executed.
5. Romeo is "in love" with Rosaline or so he thinks. He goes off alone, thinking about
her and their love. According to his father he cries, sighs and stays inside. He
appears to be melancholic.
A Petrarchan Lover loves being in love but doesn’t realise what the true word
means or ways of expressing it. Later we learn that Romeo loves how pretty and
graceful Rosaline is, but doesn’t know her very well. He feels that it’s a sin but a
sin worth it. This love creates more stress on Romeo than he needs in his life.
6. Romeo is showing the readers how unhappy, miserable and confused he is
regarding his love for Rosaline. The paradoxes help the reader relate to Romeo’s
confusion.
7. He tells Romeo to look around at other pretty ladies and compare them to
Rosaline to see if she’s really the prettiest one.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
1. He feels Juliet is still very young and doesn’t yet understand love. She hasn’t
experienced much and Capulet wants Juliet to gain a little more age and
understanding of the world before she marries.
He also states that his wife was forced into marriage much too young, and it’s
broken them apart and he doesn’t want that to happen to his daughter.
2. Lord Capulet wants his daughter to agree to marry Paris and not be forced to
marry someone she doesn’t love or know.

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3. Lord Capulet is not like every father of this time. He’s not forcing his daughter to
marry Paris if she doesn’t want to. He shows that he really cares for and loves his
daughter and wants her to be happy.
4. Benvolio sees this as an opportunity to show Romeo that Rosaline isn’t the
prettiest girl. He wants Romeo to compare all the ladies at the masquerade to
Rosaline to see if Romeo still feels that he’s in love with her, and if he still thinks
she’s the prettiest in Verona.
5. Benvolio uses contrasting images for beauty and the lack thereof – swans and
crows. He says that, at the masquerade, there will be such pretty girls that
Romeo will think that Rosaline is as ugly as a crow.
6. Romeo will only go to the party to see Rosaline and to bask in her beauty.
7. Lord Capulet sends an illiterate servant to invite his guests. In search of someone
who can read he comes across Benvolio and Romeo who then learn of the
masquerade and that Rosaline will be there.
The themes of fate and love are being developed, illustrating that Romeo and
Juliet is destined to meet and fall in love.
ACT 1 SCENE 3
1. The Nurse is close with Juliet. She was her wet nurse and now sort of a
chambermaid. The Nurse has a better relationship with Juliet than her mother
and it seems that she cares more about Juliet than her mother.
2. The Nurse is humorous and is always seen in the play to be laughing and having
a good time. She is loud and quirky, sometimes lewd, and makes her presence
known. The Nurse is essentially a humorous part of the play to relieve tension.
3. The Nurse says that Juliet was the prettiest baby who she has taken care of.
4. She answers: "It is an honour I dream not of".
She thinks marriage is an honour, but something she’s just not quite ready for. She
hasn’t really put much thought nor effort into the decision process of being
married to Paris. Her response reveals a mature outlook on marriage and
relationships.
5a. The nurse thinks that Paris is good-looking and she wants Juliet to be happy and
have fun. The Nurse sees love as romantic.
5b. Lady Capulet believes that Paris is an excellent match for Juliet. He is handsome
and rich and Lady Capulet wants to marry her daughter off whether Juliet likes
him or not. Lady Capulet is a hypocrite when it comes to love and marriage. She
is unhappy in her marriage because she was forced into it when she was
younger than Juliet yet she is forcing Juliet to do the same as her.
6. Juliet says that she will try to like him and get to know him but she will not force
the matter. This answer is very intelligent and mature. She decides to take her
time to get to know Paris. Juliet is not desperate to get married or fall in. She
probably gets her ideas from what she sees at home between her father and her
mother. Maybe she thinks that’s what marriage is about so she doesn’t want to
rush into the same fate.
ACT 1 SCENE 4

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1. Queen Mab is a character created by Shakespeare – he borrowed the

character of the fairy queen from Irish mythology. She is described as very small
and a ‘hag’ and there is something sinister about her. Mercutio refers to her to
make fun of love and passion. It is also meant as criticism of Romeo’s dreamy,
fanciful state regarding Rosaline.
2. Romeo tells Mercutio and Benvolio that he has a bad feeling, that bad things are
going to happen to him, possibly at the party – he fears his life is at stake.
3. Romeo decides to let destiny guide him and he will go to the masquerade.
ACT 1 SCENE 5
1. Romeo is in awe of Juliet’s beauty – it is like she lights up the room. He compares
her to a jewel and a dove.
2. In this speech Romeo’s passion is clear. He speaks from his heart and not from his
mind, talking without thinking. What he says is very sentimental.
With Rosaline Romeo was overthinking it; the love was in his mind and not his
heart. Romeo wanted to be in love with Rosaline.
3. Romeo is a fine gentleman who is respected in Verona.
Lord Capulet does not want any fighting or argument to start in his house, on this
night, because of the Prince’s decree.
4. He promises to not fight or tempt Romeo tonight, however, he will get revenge
for Romeo’s intrusion at a later stage.
5. Sonnets were traditionally used to express love and passion. As this play is a
tragedy the sonnet helps to highlight the bit of romance.
6. The religious imagery symbolises the purity of the love between Romeo and
Juliet. Shakespeare also continues with Romeo’s use of religious imagery used for
Rosaline, indicating that Romeo falls deeply in love. Perhaps it could also be to
contrast with how insincere the marriage process was back then.
7. Juliet states that she would rather die than marry anyone but Romeo. It is ironic
as the audience knows that she will die rather than marry Paris and she will also
die because she is married to Romeo.

ACT 2 SCENE 1
1. Just after the masked ball (late Sunday/early Monday), outside Capulet’s
orchard.
2. This is a filler scene providing time for a change in the set. It also provides some
comic relief.
ACT 2 SCENE 2
1a. He compliments her beauty by saying that the universe revolves around her, and
that she could light up a room. Romeo says that Juliet lights his life up like the sun
lights up the universe. Her beauty is so great it glows or shines like the sun does.
1b. Juliet is prettier than the moon and Romeo wants her to shine brighter. By killing
the envious moon Juliet will be free of the moon’s envy.
1c. The moon is jealous of Juliet’s beauty. The moon possibly represents Rosaline.

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1d. To Romeo, her eyes are brighter and more beautiful than the stars. This is
revealing his sentimentality and could also be a subtle reminder of their fate that
is written in the stars.
1e. Comparing Juliet’s eyes to the stars is a reminder that they are “star-crossed
lovers” as foretold in the prologue. This reminds the audience of their death.
2. Juliet wants to know why Romeo has to be Romeo. She wants him to give up his
surname so he will not be her enemy. If he is not willing to do this she wants him
to confess his love to her and she will change her surname – this is a hint at
marriage.
3. Juliet doesn’t like that she has to hate the Montagues just because of the feud.
She makes a point that a name should not define the sort of person you are, only
your actions should tell the world what type of person you are. To her, the feud
seems ridiculous.
4. She is embarrassed and worries that he will think her too forward. She’s worried
that he doesn’t love her and that she’s moving too fast and confessing her
feelings to someone that doesn’t love her back
5. Juliet doesn’t want Romeo to swear on the moon because its position in the sky
always changes. She is afraid that his love may then be inconsistent.
6. Juliet fears that they are going about this all wrong. She thinks that their
relationship and confessing their love are happening too fast and they aren’t
thinking rationally about the relationship or the consequences.
7. Juliet states that if Romeo’s intentions are pure, and he wants to marry her, he
must tell her tomorrow. She will send a messenger to learn where and when to
be married. She promises to love him and be a loyal wife.
ACT 2 SCENE 3
1. The friar believes that man, just like plants, can be both good and evil. He uses
examples of pretty flowers that can be poisonous and bad-tasting medicine that
is good for us. He believes that there is nothing on earth that is so bad that it has
no good in it.
2. To show the audience that he is a healer and has knowledge of herbology as
later in the play he will give Juliet a potion, which will make her appear dead, to
help her out of marrying Paris.
3. Romeo tells the Friar that he’s forgotten all about Rosaline and is not going back
to her. He says that he has been with Juliet, he is in love with her and that she
loves him back. He wants the Friar to marry him and Juliet later that day.
4. He is surprised that Romeo has forgotten Rosaline so quickly. He scolds Romeo for
falling in love with “looks”. The friar is wondering if Romeo truly loves Juliet.
5. He agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet as he believes joining these two families will
give them a reason to love and not to hate. He hopes it will end the feud.

ACT 2 SCENE 4
1. “confidence” instead of conference
2. Juliet needs to tell her family that she is going to confession. She will then meet
Romeo at Friar Lawrence’s cell in the afternoon so they can be married.

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ACT 2 SCENE 5
1. The messengers that carry love's important messages should be transported by
thoughts as thoughts are faster than sunbeams that can drive away shadows.
She says that is why fast-flying doves carry Venus (goddess of love) and Cupid
has wings – so that love does not have to wait.
2. The Nurse is teasing Juliet as she wants to build the suspense – this way the
surprise will be better for Juliet.
3. Juliet is like the Nurse’s daughter and all she wants is to see Juliet happy and
married, have kids and live a long and rewarding life with the one she loves the
most.
ACT 3 SCENE 1
1. Tybalt wants to make it known that he has a problem with Romeo. He wants
Romeo’s friends to deliver a message and spread the word that he wants to fight
Romeo.
2. Tybalt’s problem is with Romeo. He still feels insulted that Romeo attended the
masquerade and Lord Capulet did not allow him to fight with Romeo. Thus he
feels that to regain his honour he must fight Romeo.
3. Romeo does not want to hurt Tybalt because Tybalt is now Romeo’s cousin; they
are family joined by marriage. Romeo loves and respects Tybalt for reasons that
Tybalt doesn’t understand and probably never will.
4. Romeo knows the reason why he was to like Tybalt but Tybalt doesn’t. Tybalt
thinks that Romeo is insulting him, and Romeo’s friends think Romeo is being
weak and dishonouring the Montague name and everything it stands for. The
audience, however, has all the information.
5. Mercutio feels that Romeo is dishonouring his family name and losing his pride.
6. Mercutio jokes around and says that the cut isn’t that deep, it’s not as deep as a
church door but it’s enough to hurt. He says to his men that if anybody asks for
him tomorrow he’ll be a sad man, buried at the bottom of a grave.
7. Mercutio is mad at himself for getting in the middle of an ancient battle. He’s
mostly mad at Tybalt and Romeo and their houses for being enemies and always
fighting against each other. He wants them to suffer now like he’s suffering.
8. Romeo is really angry, and he’s mad at himself for loving Juliet, because it has
made him weak and made him deny fights, only to get his best friend killed. He’s
past reasoning with Tybalt now. He says that his anger can take over and make
him do whatever it pleases to get revenge for his best friend, Mercutio.
9. Romeo is angry at himself for not fighting Tybalt in the first place he wants to be a
“man” again and earn his honour. Mercutio was his best friend and he wasn’t
supposed to die; Romeo was supposed to fight Tybalt. Romeo wants revenge for
his best friend, and wants to prove to everyone that he can be a man.
10. After Romeo kills Tybalt he realises that he’s done a terrible thing. He let rage
take over and he killed Tybalt, his cousin, so in turn will receive the death penalty.
He says that he has rotten luck, and a bad man for letting it happen.

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11. She says that Romeo must die because he killed Tybalt. Benvolio’s loyalties lie
with the Montagues so she feels he will not be unbiased in his account of the
fight.
12. Montague mentions that Romeo killed Tybalt who would have been sentenced
to death due to killing Mercutio and he mentioned that Romeo had to avenge
his friend death and does not deserve to die for that.
13. Romeo’s life will be spared but he is exiled. If he ever is seen in Verona that hour
will be his last because the law will take his life. No mercy is shown for people
that kill other people, no exceptions.
ACT 3 SCENE 2
1. The Nurse is extremely upset over Tybalt’s death and in delivering the news leads
Juliet to believe Romeo is dead as well as Tybalt.
2. Juliet is very confused that her new husband killed her dear cousin. It doesn’t
make sense to her that he would do this sort of thing that would make her sad.
3. Juliet gets angry at the Nurse for being disloyal to Romeo. When the Nurse
agreed, Juliet realised that she has to stand up for Romeo.
4. Juliet asks the nurse to go the Friar’s cell and ask Romeo to come to her room to
spend their wedding night together and to deliver a ring to him as a token of her
love.
ACT 3 SCENE 3
1. Romeo does not think the Prince is showing mercy towards him, he thinks that
he's punishing him for avenging Mercutio’s death. Romeo thinks that banishment
or exile is worse than being sentenced to death because then he can’t be with
Juliet anywhere in Verona which makes him very sad and angry with himself.
2. Romeo tries to kill himself without thinking. He believes that by cutting out the
chamber where his name is embedded in himself it will get rid of his sins and
make Juliet love him again. He also thinks by doing this he can spend the night
with Juliet and not be the Romeo who is banished from the city by the Prince’s
orders.
3. Juliet is still alive. Romeo is still alive and was not killed by Tybalt. He has been
banished instead of given the death penalty.
4. Friar Lawrence tells Romeo to spend the night at Juliet’s so they can spend their
wedding night together. He tells Romeo that he must leave at the crack of dawn
for Mantua. Once there, the Friar will send a man to update Romeo on the
Prince’s decision to his banishment.
ACT 3 SCENE 4
1. He may think it might bring joy to the Capulet household. It might also be that he
is stubborn and refuses to be disobeyed.
2. Open answer. Not enough is known at this stage about Paris. We do know that
he is very courteous and understanding.
ACT 3 SCENE 5
1. No “Some grief shows much of love; / But much of grief shows still some want of
wit.”

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2. Juliet wished that Romeo is dead and that Tybalt is alive. She wished that Romeo
would pay for what he did, and that she was the one to kill him. She said she will
not be satisfied unless Romeo is dead and joins Tybalt in heaven.
3. Juliet absolutely refuses to marry Paris. Juliet begs her mother not to make her
marry Paris because she's not ready yet, especially after Tybalt’s death. In Act 1
she was open to the idea of marrying Paris when her mother discussed it with her.
4. She is angry and almost disgusted with her daughter as Juliet refuses to be
married to a fine man, and refuses her and her husband’s wishes. She tells Juliet
to tell her father herself and see what his reaction will be.
5. He is really angry. He thinks that Juliet is not grateful for everything her parents
have done for her. He is shocked that Juliet is not proud of the match he has
found for her. He thinks she is not worthy of such a wonderful man as Paris.
6. The Nurse says that Romeo is banished and he’ll never get to be with Juliet. She
says that Paris makes Romeo look like a dishrag. She thinks that Paris is a much
better man than Romeo and that Romeo’s not worth it because he is as good as
dead.
7. She tells the Nurse that she will go to Friar Lawrence’s cell to make a confession
to get rid of her sins, before she gets married. After the Nurse leaves, Juliet vows
never to trust the Nurse or her opinions again. She will get advice from the Friar
and if he cannot help her, she will commit suicide.
ACT 4 SCENE 1
1. Paris is giving Friar Lawrence news of the marriage between him and Juliet and
that Lord Capulet insists on it taking place on Thursday.
2. Juliet is willing to commit suicide if Friar Lawrence cannot help to prevent her
marrying Paris.
3. Juliet will have to take a sleeping potion that will slow down her metabolism
drastically. This will make her appear dead and keep her in this state for two
days.
4. Juliet says she will rather leap from the highest tower, take up thievery, take on
snakes and bears and even hide in graves. She says that she will willingly and
without fear do any of these things if it will prevent her from having to betray
Romeo.
5. Juliet is to take the potion on Wednesday night, before the supposed wedding.
The next day she will be discovered “dead” and her body will be put in the
Capulet vault. Friar Lawrence will let Romeo know who will then come to Verona
where he and the friar will await Juliet’s “awakening”. Juliet will then run away
with Romeo to Mantua.
ACT 4 SCENE 2
1. Juliet begs her father’s forgiveness and tells him that she has confessed her sins
against her parents and now agrees to marry Paris. She declares her continual
obedience to Lord Capulet.
2. Lord Capulet decides that the marriage will take place the next day
(Wednesday) which means Juliet and Friar Lawrence’s plan has one day less.

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3. He is grateful that Friar Lawrence could persuade Juliet to agree to marry Paris.
He thinks it will be a good match and make everyone in Verona happy and give
everyone a reason to celebrate.
4. (a)Juliet – scared / insecure about the possible consequences of the potion, she
hopes for the plan to work out so that she would not have to marry Paris.
(b)Lord C – he is satisfied that things are going according to plan, he expects
Juliet to marry Paris and be happy.
(c) Lady C – flustered about the short notice for the wedding as she feels their
party would not be grand enough, she expects help from everyone
5. Juliet knows that she will possibly never see her family again and wants to make
peace so that her death might be less painful to bear.
ACT 4 SCENE 3
1. Juliet wants her mother to believe that she has everything she needs to be ready
for the wedding. What she really means is that she has everything she needs to
carry out Friar Lawrence’s plan.
2. a) Juliet fears being alone, she fears the potion will not work, she doubts the
friar’s honesty – it may be poison, she fears she might suffocate in the vault
and she is terrified of being alone in the vault with the dead bodies and that
she might go mad with fear.
b) She has a knife with which she will kill herself.
c) She loves Romeo and wants to be with him and not be unfaithful to him.
3. Juliet has to face all her fears regarding the potion on her own. She asks to be
left alone to say all her prayers and make "the heavens bless her". She remains
calm and think things through before acting hastily.

ACT 4 SCENE 4
1. “Spare not for cost”
2. The Capulets are preparing for a wedding ceremony and celebrating Juliet’s
decision. This all happens while Juliet has already taken the potion and will be
lying dead-still in her bedroom nearby.
ACT 4 SCENE 5
1. The potion makes Juliet appear dead – all the signs of a corpse is listed by her
father when he sees her on her bed. Her family thinks she is dead, but the
audience knows she is not.
2. Lord Capulet says that Juliet has been dead for some time – she is cold, stiff and
pale. She’s dead, like a beautiful flower, killed by an unseasonable frost. He also
says that his tongue is tied so he can’t speak (speechless and in shock). He tells
Paris that Juliet has been “deflowered” by Death and that Death has married
her and left him without an heir.
3. No. In Act 3 Scene 5 she wishes Juliet “were married to her grave” and that she
was done with her and did not care what happened to her. In contrast to her
husband, she also only speaks once.
4. He is angry and upset about her death. He feels as if Death has deceived him
and stolen his bride from him.

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5. Friar Lawrence tells the Capulet family that they should be ashamed of
themselves for yelling and screaming at the heavens. The heavens helped give
birth to Juliet and now she is a part of it. He says she is in a better place now and
heaven will give her eternal life. He said it’s natural to shed tears for her, but in
fact they should be happy for her that she’s in heaven, and now has a much
higher status.
6. Instead of preparing for Juliet and Paris’s marriage, all the preparations and
decorations will now be changed into funeral decorations so they can put Juliet
"to rest" and hold a memorial.
7. He says that the gods in heaven are punishing the Capulets for their sins and
they should not make the gods any angrier by disrespecting them.
8. They comment on the action that has taken place and create some comic relief
after a sad scene. This also serves as “filler role” to create time for the other
actors to change sets and costumes.

ACT 5 SCENE 1
1. He had a dream that his lady will come and find him dead, and wake him up by
kissing him on the lips and then he was an emperor. He says that having love
makes him so happy and this makes him feel that good news is at hand.
2. Balthasar tells Romeo that Juliet has died. This will cause Romeo to return to
Verona without knowing the truth.
3. Romeo says that he will rebel against the stars. He doesn’t care what will
become of him at this point wants to do something bold to perhaps force the
stars to listen to him.
During the 14th century people placed a lot of faith in the stars/fate/destiny and
would fear cursing it.
4. He decides to leave for Verona to be with Juliet “tonight”. He plans to bribe a
poor potion maker (apothecary) for poison which he plans to drink when he
reaches Juliet. This will allow him to forever be with Juliet.
ACT 5 SCENE 2
1. Friar John went looking for another friar to accompany him to Mantua. This friar,
however, was in Verona visiting the ill. Health officials stopped the two friars from
leaving the house they were at and put them under quarantine. They also
refused to let the letter leave the house for fear of spreading the plague.
2. Friar John wanting company caused him to be quarantined and thus the letter
never gets delivered and foils Friar Lawrence’s plans. Friar Lawrence blames
fortune for ruining his plan. He believes that their lives are controlled by Destiny.
ACT 5 SCENE 3
1. Paris takes flowers to Juliet’s grave and promises to visit her grave every day.
2. He thinks Romeo wants to disrespect the bodies / graves of the Capulets due to
extreme hatred.
3. Romeo says that Juliet is beautiful even in death. He mentions her cheeks are still
bright and red, and that it doesn’t look like she’s dead. The audience knows that

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the potion is wearing off therefore Juliet’s body is becoming “alive” again,
explaining why she appears so lifelike.
4. Juliet notices the cup in Romeo’s hand and realises that he poisoned himself as
he thought she was really dead. She kisses him in the hopes that there is still
poison on his lips. Commenting on the warmth of his lips reveals that all of this has
happened quite recently. She realises how untimely his death was.
5. She uses Romeo’s dagger to kill herself. She compares her body to the sheath
wherein the dagger will remain permanently.
6. “The sun for sorrow will not show his head.” Everyone is so sad about the deaths
that even the sun is too upset to shine.
7. The circumstances surrounding Romeo and Juliet’s love and the tragedy
surrounding their deaths makes this a timeless, sad love story

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