Reading Comprehension Questions- R&J

Where is Romeo heading at the end of the scene?

Back to his home

What does Friar Lawrence say to further establish this theme of young love?

He says that he has much to learn

How does Shakespeare set up the mood of the party in the opening lines of the scene? What would you imagine the party looked like? Felt like? What evidence proves that?

It is very tense because Tybalt recognizes Romeo's voice

What does the setting convey to the reader about the mood of this scene?

It started off funny and cheerful, but then it started to get dark

What does the final line of the prologue, "tempering extremities with extreme sweet" suggest about the love between Romeo and Juliet?

It's so tempting but it will end badly

Who is the object of Romeo's desire? (Glance at the beginning of scene 2.) What is ironic about this?

Juliet who is of the feuding family

What does Romeo mean when he describes himself as having a soul of lead? (lines 14-16)

Romeo cannot dance

Where is Juliet while Romeo is speaking? At what point does he realize she is there? How do you know?

Romeo is in the bushes while Juliet is by her window, when she says "Ay, me" because he says "she speaks!"

What do we learn about Juliet's relationship with her parents? What do we learn about the role of women in this time period?

That Capulet cares about her well being because he says that she is too young to marry and women in that time period marry and carry children young.

It is nighttime in this scene, yet Romeo says, "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the East and Juliet is the sun." What is he saying here?

That Juliet seems untouchable

What do we learn about the setting from the prologue? What is the significance of the play being set in Italy, not England?

That even everyday citizens commit murder and Italy was known for having very devious and sophisticated people and were also known for their passion and violence.

How would you describe Paris's treatment of Juliet in scene 1? How does she treat him? Explain. Shakespeare again ties love and death in this scene. How does he do it this time? Trace throughout the scene.

That he wants to get married soon, like he shouldn't call her his wife until after the wedding, because she is uncomfortable with this arrangement. Juliet is willing to "die" to marry Romeo.

What does Friar Lawrence realize about Romeo in lines 40-45? What is he afraid has happened?

That he was "sinning with Rosaline"

What plans do Romeo and Juliet make for the following day?

They will meet at nine o'clock

What does Benvolio promise Romeo's parents that he will do?

To cure him of this sorrow.

what do we learn about masculine honor in Verona through the interactions of these characters?

"To move is to be valiant"

What does this line reveal that the Friar is thinking about when Romeo enters? "For naught so vile that on the Earth doth live but to the earth some special good doth give." What additional lines continue to establish this line of thought?

"Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, and vice sometime by action dignified"

In lines 248-255, what do we learn that Juliet has decided to do? What does this reveal about her character?

She will go to Friar Laurence for an answer. She is determined to be with Romeo.

What does Juliet's response to her mother at the end of the scene seem to imply?

She will look at him and judge his appearance and then if she does she will marry him.

Why does Juliet say that she wishes his name was not Romeo? What does she really mean? Is that possible?

She wishes he had a different name so that they could be together, no.

Why does Capulet invite Paris to the party that evening? What does the invitation reveal about Capulet's feelings about Paris?

So he can talk to Juliet to win her heart.

Track the rhyme scheme of the sonnet and compare it to the sonnet in the prologue. What is Shakespeare implying by tying these two together?

Something bad is going to happen

In lines 113-120, Romeo makes an ominous prediction about the evening. Compare his words here to the idea of "star-crossed lovers" introduced in the prologue. What do they both suggest?

Something bad is going to happen.

How does knowing her decision impact how you read her interactions with the nurse now?

That she cannot trust her nurse

How does Shakespeare use this scene to develop his message about love and sacrifice? About the power of young love?

That they can be foolish

How does Shakespeare develop the theme of good vs. evil in this scene? Explain.

The good is loving Rosaline but the bad is loving Juliet, a Capulet.

Why is it risky for Romeo and his friends to be going to this party?

because he is going to his enemies house

What do we learn about the plot? Themes? Conflict?

the families feud , they hate each other so much they will cut off the maid's heads.

Romeo and Juliet finally meet in this scene. They speak beginning in line 104. How many lines do they speak before they kiss?

14 lines

What is the tone of scene 5? How do you know?

Anxious, Juliet wants to hear Romeo's news, "Is thy news good, or bad? Answer to that. Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance.Let me be satisfied. Is 't good or bad?"

How does Shakespeare characterize Romeo? What diction does he use to show this? How about Benvolio?

A lonely man who is in love, he shows it by having him describe his love. He is a loyal man.

How does this interaction between Romeo and the servingman impact the plot of the play? Track the ways.

Because he found out about the dinner Romeo will probably go to the dinner for Rosaline and to see Juliet.

What are Capulet's motivations for agreeing to have Juliet marry Paris immediately?

Count Paris is very handsome, this marriage is socially acceptable

Why is it ironic that she gets angry at the nurse for criticizing Romeo?

Even though Romeo was the one who killed her cousin, she still defended him

What is the significance of Tybalt's dying words

Even though Tybalt was the one who dies, he thinks that Romeo will die here with Mercutio

What mood does the prologue establish for this scene?

Forbidden to speak, wanting

What does Friar Lawrence give Juliet? What is the plan? How does this plan make you feel? Why?

He gives her a potion that will make her seem dead, she will drink it that night, she wont wake up, then they will presume her dead. I think that this arrangement is strange for her time.

Describe Romeo's self-criticism after Mercutio's death? What do you think about this? How does it relate to Romeo's "two selves" that we discussed in lesson 10?

He has awful luck, he fell in love with a Capulet and now he killed a man when the Prince said that if there was anymore killing someone would be killed.

How does Romeo respond to hearing Rosaline's name? What does Shakespeare's decision to bring Rosaline up again communicate about young love?

He is disgusted, he doesn't like her. He thinks that this crush would go away.

what does Benvolio learn from Romeo about the source of his sadness on pp. 21-23?

He is in love with someone else not his arranged marriage

Why is Romeo hiding? How do you know?

He is looking at Juliet through the bushes and he can't be seen or he will be killed, he says that he just wants to look at her. Because there are guards looking for him

What does Romeo's response reveal/remind the reader about his character?

He is mature for his age.

In lines 50-60, what is Romeo discussing with the servingman? What is ironic about Romeo's declaration? What does Tybalt realize and what is his reaction? Why does Capulet stop him?

He is talking about Juliet's beauty and Tybalt still recognizes his voice, so he has the servingman get his rapier

What does Mercutio mean when he says, "poor Romeo, he is already dead" in line 14.

He knows he is going to die

What is Romeo's reason for refusing to fight with Tybalt?

He loves him like family because he loves Juliet.

In lines 27-28 Mercutio uses a racy pun (he often speaks in puns!) to mock Romeo. What exactly is he mocking Romeo for here?

He makes sexual jokes about Rosaline

What does the line "Oh, I am fortune's fool!" convey about Romeo? How does it further develop the theme of fate?

He really doesn't have good luck but it was meant to happen so Romeo was thrown out of town.

How does Friar Lawrence respond to Romeo's drama?

He says that he is a foolish man

What is Capulet's answer to Paris's request? Track his reasons for saying no.

He says that she is too young and Capulet wants him to win her heart.

How does Shakespeare develop Juliet's character in this scene?

He shows that she has trust in love that she would risk her life.

What is Benvolio's reason for encouraging Romeo to attend the party? How does Romeo respond to this?

He wants him to go to compare the girls and Romeo says yes.

What is the prince's punishment for Romeo? Based on what you know, how do you predict that Romeo's crime and this punishment might impact Romeo and Juliet's relationship?

He was kicked out of Verona. It will make it hard for them to talk to each other, even more so than it is.

How does Romeo react to Friar Lawrence's news? Trace his response from lines 13-73. How would you characterize his response?

He was surprised that the Prince just banished him and not killed him.

In the opening of scene 6, what does Romeo say to Friar Lawrence about his love for Juliet?

He will do anything to make her his.

How does it help to develop the theme of fate?

He will if not run into Juliet and try to talk to her.

What does Juliet ask the nurse for help with in scene 2? When she last saw the nurse, what did she decide?

Help with picking out her clothes for the next day. That she would take the potion.

These lines make up a sonnet that alternates between the two of them. What is the central metaphor of the sonnet? What does the metaphor imply about their love?

Him kissing her is a sin, that their love is a sin

How is the conflict further developed in this scene?

His father doesn't want him to love Juliet, he likes Rosaline as his wife.

Shakespeare uses the motif of light/dark and day/night throughout. What does this motif communicate in this scene?

How late Romeo was staying to talk to Juliet.

Shakespeare ties love to what other emotions in pp. 59 and 61? Why? What is he implying?

How love can spring from hate

Do Romeo and Juliet seem willing to sacrifice their relationships with their families for love? Or are they hoping their families will approve?

I don't think that they care about their families opinions, because Romeo kissed Juliet even though if The Capulets found out he would be killed.

Romeo and Benvolio disagree about the goal of Romeo attending the Capulet party. Whose goal do you think will be accomplished? What evidence supports your answer?

I think that Romeo's will be accomplished because he just wants to talk to her and not compare them.

What does Friar Lawrence's response in lines 9-15 convey? In what ways could Friar Lawrence's message apply to other members of the Capulet and Montague families? How could you restate his message

If he loves to fast, he won't love her down the road. If you love her slow, then you will love her forever.

Have students reread Friar Lawrence's final line from the previous scene. What is the meaning and significance of this line? How does it relate to theme?

If romeo and juliet rush the relationship they will fail.

In line 168, what does the nurse mean when she says, "If you should deal double with her..."?

If you trick her, then she will go after you.

What is Juliet's initial response to her mother's suggestion of marriage? How does Lady Capulet respond to Juliet? Whose response seems wiser?

Juliet wants to wait, while her mother wants her to marry Paris right away because all of the ladies that are her age are already married, i think that Juliet's response is wiser.

Read pp. 7-12 of Street Love. How are Damien and Kevin different from each other? How is their relationship similar to that of Romeo and Mercutio? How does Myers draw upon Romeo and Juliet in this scene?

Kevin is more of a lover and Damien is a leaver. Kevin doesn't want Damien to hook up with the girl because he thinks that is not right,Kevin is like Mercutio because he doesn't want Damien, to do what he is doing with Juliet.

How do Romeo's friends treat the nurse?

Like she doesn't know anything, that she is a lower class.

Based on lines 25-30, what is Mercutio's opinion of Tybalt? What do these lines suggest that Mercutio values? Describe Mercutio and Romeo's interaction over the course of lines 40-95. (If more prompting is needed: What does Mercutio accuse Romeo of and what is Romeo's defense? What kinds of puns are they using? Why?)

Mercutio admires him and thinks he is very strong, loyalty and family, mercutio doesn't want Romeo to marry Juliet, they are using sexual puns

In lines 40-95, what is Shakespeare suggesting about Romeo's true identity? About how Romeo's friends feel about his romance?

Mercutio doesn't like that he is spending this much time with a girl that he shouldn't be with.

Compare Romeo's description of love with Mercutio's (lines 14-26). How are they different? What is Mercutio's opinion about Romeo's brand of love? What do we learn about these characters here?

Mercutio thinks of love as a burden and romeo thinks that it pricks like a thorn

Mercutio does not share Romeo's romantic or melancholy view of love. Prove this by tracking evidence in the remainder of the scene. Mercutio's Queen Mab speech continues to develop his skepticism about love and now about dreams, too. How does Mercutio's view of dreams differ from Romeo's?

Mercutio's view is that he has no time for love, " I mean, sir, in delay.We waste our lights in vain, like lights by day.Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits Five times in that ere once in our fine wits." "Dreams are nothing but silly imagination, as thin as air, and less predictable than the wind, which sometimes blows on the frozen north and then gets angry and blows south." Mercutio's view of dreams is that they are made from the mind and that he doesn't believe in them. While romeo believes that dreams can come true.

What do we learn about the feud between the Montagues and Capulets through these characters and their interactions?

Senseless and ancient feud that is continued each generation They hate each other enough to kill each other.

Who are Gregory and Sampson? Why does Sampson "bite his thumb" at Abram?

Servingmen, To disgrace him

What does Juliet's monologue and her interactions with the nurse help to convey about young love?

She is obsessed to hear Romeo's words, whether good or bad.

Based on Juliet's opening remarks in scene 5, how would you describe her emotional state? What evidence proves this to you?

She is very excited to hear his message, "The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse. In half an hour she promised to return.Perchance she cannot meet him. That's not so.Oh, she is lame! Love's heralds should be thought"

In act 4, scene 3, Juliet is filled with fear and suspicion prior to taking the potion. What is she afraid of? List at least two separate things.

She is worried that it wouldn't work and she is worried that is a poison

How do you think the decision to move the wedding might impact Juliet's plans with the vial?

She might take it too early

What news does the nurse bring? What impact does this news have on Romeo? On the mood of the scene?

She says that she is sad that Tybalt is dead and that she wants to see Romeo so that he can propose to her.

How did you predict that Juliet will react to the news that Romeo has murdered Tybalt and is banished? Is her reaction similar to or different from your expectation? How would you characterize her reaction (both the initial response and how her response develops over the course of the scene)?

She will be surprised, but not believe her because she knows that Romeo wouldn't do something like that without a reason.

Once the nurse arrives, why is Juliet frustrated? Explain using evidence.

The nurse is tired and she doesn't want to talk . "I am aweary. Give me leave awhile.Fie, how my bones ache! What a jaunt have I!"

How does Shakespeare show the reader that Juliet is much closer with her nurse than with her mother? Track the ways.

The nurse knows more about Juliet that Lady Capulet, she is more of a mother than her biological mom. In lines 38-60, the nurse explains Juliet's childhood in detail.

Why does Lady Capulet ask the nurse to stay? What does this show about Lady Capulet? About her relationship with her daughter?

The nurse was probably there to care for Juliet than she was, so she wasn't there to be a good mother. Juliet and her mother aren't as close as Juliet and her nurse.

Juliet is concerned that she will not get to have her wedding night with Romeo. What is the nurse's solution? What do you think about this solution?

The nurse will go and get him and something bad will happen.

What is getting in the way of the servingman being able to deliver the invitations to the party? Who does he ask for help?

The serving man can't read so he asks Romeo.

In the opening of the scene, we meet Friar Lawrence. Where is he and what is he doing?

The tombs, gathering herbs

Who are Benvolio and Tybalt? What role do they play in the brawl?

They are kinsmen, they are the ones who will be fighting.

How do Juliet's mother and father respond to her request to postpone or cancel the wedding? Explain.

They called her horrid names like a horrible daughter because she was objecting to things that she didn't want to do.

How do both Romeo and Juliet react when they learn each other's true identities?

They felt betrayed by love that they fell for the enemy

What does his decision reveal about women's place in society at this time?

They have no say in who they marry or when they can marry.

In lines 40-65, the nurse is relaying a joke that her husband once told about Juliet. What do we learn about Juliet (and other women's lives in Verona at the time) through this joke? When does the nurse stop telling the joke? When does she not? What does this imply?

They like to joke about what happens after marriage, she stopped because it got awkward, that means that the nurse cares about Juliet's feelings.

What is Benvolio's advice to Romeo?

To forget her and focus on something else.

Why does Shakespeare reveal so much about the play in just these few short lines? What might be his purpose in sharing so much from the very beginning?

To make the audience curious to what led up to that point.

Juliet's professions of hatred for Romeo are actually designed to communicate what to her mother? Does her mother realize? How do you know?

To show that she doesn't like him, to make her think that she doesn't know him. She notices that something is off with her becase she goes to bed early before the wedding.

In lines 1-36 of scene 5, what are Romeo and Juliet using the nightingale and the lark to symbolize? What are they actually saying to each other? Which of the two of them ultimately decides it is time for Romeo to go? How does Shakespeare use images of light and dark to convey this?

To symbolize that one of them has to leave, and Juliet decided that it must be Romeo. To show that when there is light there is always darkness

What do Benvolio and Mercutio do to try and get Romeo to appear? Does it work?

To try and scare him with his father and it doesn't work.

Who has challenged Romeo to a duel? Think or look back and recall why.

Tybalt because he is a Montague

What do we already know about Tybalt? In what context have we met him before?

Tybalt gets angry really quick and it is hard for him to calm down, when he knew Romeo was a Montague

What does the prince proclaim? Why?

if they disrupt the streets again then they will kill them for peace. Because they are tired of the feud